Digital Government

How the IRS accidentally tagged thousands of taxpayers as dead

The IRS confirmed that 6,821 tax accounts were marked as deceased and locked — meaning that the agency wouldn’t process the tax returns associated with it — when the person was, in fact, alive.

Digital Government

GAO: IRS must enhance cyber oversight of third-party vendors, modernize online services

The IRS continues to ignore GAO’s recommendation to streamline oversight of third-party tax vendors’ cyber practices, despite concerns about mitigating digital threats.

Digital Government

IRS seeks states’ input on its direct file pilot

States have until Sept. 4 to tell the IRS if they’re interested in participating.

Digital Government

IRS to get a new acting CIO

The current occupant of the top tech job at the tax agency is going back to his post at Treasury at the end of June.

Modernization

Budget and tech challenges loom over IRS's direct file pilot

The news of the forthcoming pilot was followed this week by a compromise debt ceiling bill that includes reallocating $20 billion of the funding the IRS got as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Cybersecurity

GAO identifies new infosec deficiencies in IRS system controls

The watchdog's annual audit of the agency turned up new recommendations on system access controls and security configurations, alongside a limited release report and previous recommendations.

Digital Government

The IRS Answered 2.4M More Taxpayer Phone Calls During 2023 Filing Season

Inflation Reduction Act funding paid dividends for the IRS during the 2023 tax filing season.

Modernization

IRS system doesn’t meet all cloud security requirements, watchdog says

The tax agency did not meet requirements like malicious code protection and timely risk mitigation, the department's internal watchdog reported.

Cybersecurity

IRS System Doesn’t Meet All Cloud Security Requirements, Watchdog Says

Treasury’s Inspector General found the IRS did not meet requirements like malicious code protection and timely risk mitigation.

Digital Government

IRS Taxpayer Advocate Says Congress Shortchanged IT Modernization Efforts

Lawmakers didn’t allocate the $80 billion provided to the IRS in the right way, claims National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins, adding that IT modernization and taxpayer services aren’t getting the money they need.

Modernization

IRS Plans to Approve Use of Login-dot-gov as Tax Day Nears

The tax agency intends to add Login this filing season—and as early as next week—as the integration is in final rounds of testing.

People

IRS watchdog seeks crackdown on feds who owe back taxes

While civil servants overwhelmingly pay their taxes, the delinquency rate has ticked up for several years.

Digital Government

Biden’s IRS Pick Says He Wants to Move Agency’s Systems into the 21st Century

Nominee for IRS commissioner Danny Werfel, a self-professed “government geek,” talked customer experience, cybersecurity and IT modernization with senators at a Wednesday hearing.

Emerging Tech

IRS Names Advisors on Possible Government-run Direct Filing System for Taxpayers

The IRS tapped New America to report on the feasibility of a free, public-facing IRS-hosted tax filing infrastructure for ordinary taxpayers.

Emerging Tech

GAO: IRS Not Capturing the True Cost of its Legacy IT Footprint

An oversight report requested by Rep. Gerry Connolly found that the tax agency lacks timelines for decommissioning decades-old legacy systems and isn't tracking how much they are paying for upkeep of out-of-date software.

Ideas

5 Things Holding Innovation Back at the IRS

Believe it or not, the IRS has some budget and the will to modernize in the interest of public service.