IRS

House Passes Revamped Bipartisan IRS Reform Bill

The Taxpayer First Act would redesign the agency and boost identity theft protection.

  • By Charles S. Clark

IRS Authority To Regulate Tax Prep Cybersecurity Has Gaps, Watchdog Says

Digital tax fraud schemes are on the rise but the IRS can only do so much to regulate third-party providers without more authority.

  • By Aaron Boyd

IRS’ Outdated App Security Leaves Taxpayers at Risk of Identity Theft, Watchdog Says

The agency is updating identity verification controls for its suite of web applications, but the effort won’t be wrapped up until 2023.

  • By Jack Corrigan

IRS Details Six-Year Modernization Plan

The plan will cost somewhere around $2.5 billion.

  • By Frank Konkel

IRS’ Plan to Modernize Old Tech Will Cost About $2.5 Billion

The agency is seeking $290 million this year as part of a six-year modernization plan.

  • By Frank Konkel

IRS and Private Partners Tout Success in Combating Identity Theft

Numbers of reported taxpayer victims fell 71 percent from 2015 to 2018.

  • By Charles S. Clark

IRS Turns to Automation Amid Shrinking Workforce

The tax agency is preparing to launch a bot that would reduce a critical contracting compliance measure from multiple hours to two minutes.

  • By Jack Corrigan

IRS Is Catching More Phony Tax Refunds Before They Go Out

The agency is finding fewer fraudulent tax returns but is getting better at stopping payments on the ones it does.

  • By Heather Kuldell

IRS Wasted $3.4 Million on Software It Never Used, Watchdog Says

Auditors also found the agency bought a software product without testing that it worked for its intended purposes. It didn’t.

  • By Jack Corrigan

Treasury Department Wants Smart Currency to Combat Counterfeiting

The agency’s printing office is asking for “novel and not commercially available” ideas for embedding tech in U.S. currency.

  • By Aaron Boyd

IRS Wants to Be a Testbed for Bleeding-Edge Tech

The new pilot would create a phased buying process with ample testing in IRS environments.

  • By Aaron Boyd

The IRS Wants to Use Social Media to Catch Tax Cheats

Auditors would use the tool to shore up previously identified cases.

  • By Justin Rohrlich, Quartz

The IRS Is Now…on Instagram

The agency is trying to meet taxpayers where they are.

  • By Hanna Kozlowska, Quartz

Government Data Detectives

A special report on how agency data shops are fighting fraud.

  • By Nextgov Staff

Ohio Now Accepts Bitcoin For Tax Payments. What Could Go Wrong?

Is this about grabbing some of the sizzle that comes with all things blockchain and crypto?

  • By Matthew De Silva, Quartz

IRS Failed to Track 11,000 Breached Social Security Numbers for Tax Fraud

The tax agency also failed to review another 15,000 breached taxpayer ID numbers it received for possible fraud monitoring, an audit found.

  • By Joseph Marks

IRS Spent Millions to Set Up Virtual Assistance Centers That No One Is Using

Of the millions of taxpayers looking for help last year, only 2,700 used the Virtual Service Delivery stations.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Watchdog: IRS Declined to Patch Known Weakness Ahead of Tax Day Crash

An inspector general report says the agency opted not to go with an untested patch based on a contractor’s recommendation.

  • By Aaron Boyd

FTC Warns Citizens About Government Imposter Scams

No, the IRS doesn't demand gift cards.

  • By Caitlin Fairchild

IRS Has A Plan to Verify Taxpayers’ IDs. Now It Needs to Do It.

The agency has a plan to improve taxpayer authentication but needs to work out details on funding and execution, according to a government watchdog.

  • By Aaron Boyd

The IRS Doesn’t Know How to Get in Touch With American Expats. But It Can Revoke Their Passports

The tax agency reportedly struggles to send mail to foreign addresses.

  • By Aamna Mohdin, Quartz