Langwasser & Company CPAs Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation
Received an August 2026 breach notice from Langwasser & Company CPAs?
Dapeer Law, P.A. is investigating a potential class action against Langwasser & Company CPAs, a California accounting firm based in Upland, on behalf of tax and accounting clients whose personal information may have been exposed in the tax-related fraud incident the firm disclosed in August 2026.
Who may qualify
You may be eligible to participate in a class action if any of the following applies:
- You received a data breach notification letter from Langwasser & Company CPAs dated August 2026.
- Your letter offered enrollment in a complimentary Experian IdentityWorks identity-protection membership at no cost to you.
- You had personal or financial information held by the firm in its capacity as your tax preparer or accountant.
- No proof of harm required to consult with counsel. You do not need to have already suffered identity theft to explore your legal options.
- Excluded: individuals who did not receive a breach notice and whose information was not involved in the incident.
Not sure if you qualify?
Send us your notice, we'll confirm your eligibility at no cost.
What happened
Langwasser & Company CPAs, an accounting firm founded in 1991 and headquartered at 99 C Street in Upland, California, learned on May 5, 2026 that a limited number of unauthorized tax returns had been filed. The firm states that it opened an immediate investigation with external cybersecurity professionals, notified the Internal Revenue Service, and began reviewing its security measures and client files. The public filings do not disclose how the underlying client data was accessed or over what period.
The firm filed notice with the California Attorney General on August 17, 2026 and notified impacted clients individually. A parallel filing with the Massachusetts Attorney General reports 22 Massachusetts residents notified and indicates that financial account information and Social Security numbers may have been involved. Impacted clients are being offered a complimentary membership in Experian IdentityWorks identity-protection services, with enrollment instructions included in the letter. Notice came roughly three and a half months after the May 5, 2026 discovery date.
Because the firm prepares tax returns, the client files it holds typically combine Social Security numbers with income, dependent, and bank account details, which is the combination needed to file a fraudulent return or open credit in someone else's name. Whether Langwasser & Company CPAs maintained reasonable safeguards over that data, and whether the notification timeline caused additional harm, are among the issues being evaluated.
What to do if you received a letter
Keep your notice letter
Do not discard it. Your letter contains the activation code for the Experian IdentityWorks membership and is important evidence if you decide to participate in a lawsuit.
Enroll in the free Experian IdentityWorks membership
Enroll in the Experian IdentityWorks identity-protection membership offered in your letter before the deadline printed there. Accepting this benefit does not waive your right to pursue legal action.
Place a fraud alert or credit freeze
Contact Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to place a fraud alert or freeze on your file. Request a free weekly credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com, and use the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov recovery guide. Because this incident involved fraudulent tax filings, also file IRS Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit, if a return has already been filed in your name, and consider requesting an IRS Identity Protection PIN.
Speak with a data breach attorney
Consultations with Dapeer Law are free and confidential. We'll review your notice, explain your options, and advise whether you may be eligible to join a class action.
Submit your notice for a free review
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Breach timeline
Compensation you may be entitled to
Out-of-pocket expenses
Credit freezes, identity restoration services, and other costs incurred responding to the breach.
Time spent monitoring
Hours spent reviewing accounts, disputing fraudulent charges, and dealing with identity theft issues.
Identity theft & fraud losses
Unreimbursed funds stolen from accounts, unauthorized credit lines, fees paid to resolve fraudulent filings with the IRS, or tax refund fraud tied to the breach.
Statutory damages
Certain state data breach and consumer protection statutes provide for fixed damages regardless of actual loss.
Injunctive relief
Court orders requiring the firm to implement stronger data security practices for the client tax files it holds going forward.
Compensation categories depend on applicable state law, the types of data exposed, and documented losses. No recovery is guaranteed.
Common questions
I received a data breach letter from Langwasser & Company CPAs. What should I do? +
Keep the letter, activate the free Experian IdentityWorks membership using the instructions printed in it, and place a fraud alert or security freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Because this incident involved unauthorized tax filings, also watch for IRS notices about returns you did not file, and file IRS Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit, if you suspect tax fraud. Keep copies of all correspondence, then contact a data breach attorney for a free consultation. Enrolling in the identity-protection membership does not waive your right to sue.
Am I eligible to join a class action against Langwasser & Company CPAs? +
If you received the August 2026 breach notice from Langwasser & Company CPAs, you are likely eligible for a free case evaluation. Eligibility depends on your state of residence, the categories of your data that were involved, and any losses or out-of-pocket costs you have incurred, including time and fees spent resolving a fraudulent tax filing. Dapeer Law will review your notice at no cost.
How much money could I receive from a class action lawsuit? +
Data breach class action recoveries vary significantly. Settlements typically range from a few hundred dollars for basic out-of-pocket losses to several thousand dollars for documented identity theft, with class size, damages, and negotiation all affecting the final amount. No payout is guaranteed, and this investigation has not yet resulted in a settlement.
What personal information was exposed in the breach? +
The filing with the Massachusetts Attorney General indicates that financial account information and Social Security numbers may have been involved. The public notice does not itemize every category of data for every client. Because the firm prepares tax returns, the files it holds can also include income figures, dependent information, and bank account details. Your individual letter should specify the categories of your data that were involved.
Did Langwasser & Company CPAs offer free credit monitoring? +
Yes. Impacted clients are being offered a complimentary membership in Experian IdentityWorks identity-protection services at no cost. The letter contains the enrollment instructions and the deadline to activate. The term of the membership is stated in your letter. Enrollment is separate from, and does not waive, your right to pursue a claim.
How many people were affected by the Langwasser & Company CPAs breach? +
The total number of affected clients has not been publicly disclosed. The firm reported 22 impacted residents to the Massachusetts Attorney General, and the firm describes the incident as involving a limited number of unauthorized tax returns. This page will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Is there a deadline to take legal action? +
Yes. Statutes of limitations for data breach claims vary by state and legal theory, typically ranging from one to six years. Waiting can permanently bar your claim. Contact us as soon as possible for a free evaluation.
How do I get a copy of the official breach notice? +
Copies of the notice are available from two state regulators. The letter filed with the California Attorney General is posted on the California Attorney General's data breach site, and the Massachusetts filing is posted on the Massachusetts state website. Both are linked in the Sources section below. If you received a letter but no longer have it, Dapeer Law can help you obtain a copy during your free consultation.
Sources & references
- Official breach notice filing · California Attorney General, Langwasser & Company CPAs notice letter (PDF)
- Massachusetts filing · Massachusetts Attorney General, Langwasser & Company CPAs breach notice 2026-1379 (PDF)
- Company · Langwasser & Company CPAs (langwasser.com)
- Credit bureau freezes · Equifax · Experian · TransUnion
- Free weekly credit reports · AnnualCreditReport.com
- Identity theft recovery guide · FTC IdentityTheft.gov
Don't let the deadline decide for you. Submit your claim today.
You only have a limited window to act. Our team will review your notice, explain your options, and tell you whether you may be eligible to recover compensation, at no cost to you.
