IRS

IRS Has the Funding to Hire Tens of Thousands. Can It Actually Do So?

IRS hiring has been thrust into the spotlight, but augmenting the agency's workforce is still far from guaranteed.

  • By Eric Katz

IRS Executes Summons for Financial Records of Crypto Transactions

The federal regulatory agency is asking for details from trading platform sFOX on users who engaged in at least $20,000 worth of transactions. 

  • By Alexandra Kelley

Lawmakers Push IRS on Backlog and Customer Service Problems

The agency says it's aiming to get to a "healthy" backlog level by the end of the year, but in June, the National Taxpayer Advocate said that would be "difficult" for the agency to do.

  • By Natalie Alms

House Sends Package that Includes an IRS Hiring Boost and USPS EV Funding to Biden

The measure aimed at lowering health care costs and fueling the fight against climate change received only Democratic support.

  • By Eric Katz

Some Specifics Emerge on How the Senate-Backed Tax-and-Climate Bill Would Impact Agency Staffing Levels

One agency will grow less than some claim, while another would see an unexpected boost.

  • By Eric Katz

Senior GOP Senator Asked Watchdog to Report After ‘Whistleblower’ Action at IRS

The request of the watchdog agency followed the release of confidential information leading to a detailed news report of how the mega rich avoid paying taxes.

  • By Mariam Baksh

Equitable Tax Policy Demands Household Data on Race, Gender

A GAO report outlines the biases potentially lurking in the current tax code, and calls for better interagency data sharing laws.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

IRS Leader Explains Why the IRS Went to ID.me 

The agency needs to be able to identity proof online users at a certain level to be able to offer a full menu of online services, Rettig told lawmakers.

  • By Natalie Alms

IRS Digitizing Tax Form 709 With New Tech

The agency is ramping up its modernization efforts, focusing on digitization and automation.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

IRS Awards $70 Million Contract For Digital Modernization

The contract lays a foundation for machine learning and automation within the IRS’s business operations.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

Officials Work to Create a More Empathetic Government

Recent customer experience policy changes are ushering in more human-centered agency practices.

  • By Frank Konkel

IRS announces new office focusing on taxpayer experience

One of several lines of effort at the IRS to improve customer experience is digital services, which will include efforts ranging from digital signatures to expanded online payment options.

  • By Natalie Alms

IRS will pivot to GSA's Login.gov after this tax season

The tax agency is modifying its use of the ID.me identity proofing service for the current tax season, but plans to switch to the federal government's homegrown solution after the 2022 filing deadline.

  • By Natalie Alms

IRS Suggests Need to Disclose Crypto Exchange Information to Law Enforcement

A letter the tax bureau sent to a key senator says stronger penalties for failure to report cryptocurrency-based income gains might also help deter cyber criminals.

  • By Mariam Baksh
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Agencies Are Tapping a Facial Recognition Company to Prove You’re You. That Raises Concerns about Privacy, Accuracy and Fairness

Federal and state governments are turning to a facial recognition company to ensure that people accessing services are who they say they are. The move promises to cut down on fraud, but at what cost?

  • By James Hendler, The Conversation

Beware of Emails Promising a Third Stimulus Check, FTC Says

The emails are impersonating the IRS and soliciting personal and financial information.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

IRS Should Prioritize Auditing and Customer Service Modernization, Former Officials Say

Machine learning could be used to better serve taxpayers and help close the tax gap, they said.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

IRS’ New Digital Case Management System Failed to Meet Early Expectations

The first releases did not include functionality end-users were expecting and failed to meet Section 508 accessibility standards.

  • By Aaron Boyd

After 3 Years, Key IRS Systems Still Aren’t Properly Encrypted

The inspector general attributed the delays in the agency’s data at rest encryption program to additional mandates and poor adherence to program management best practices.

  • By Aaron Boyd

Audit: IRS Needs to Improve How It Wipes Taxpayer Data  from Devices

Computer and laptop hard drives that aren’t properly scrubbed could allow exposure of private taxpayer data.

  • By Frank Konkel

IRS’ Criminal Investigators Want Help Breaking into Physical Crypto Wallets

The agency’s digital forensics unit is looking for a small business to help make routine processes out of some nascent research into related hardware hacking techniques.

  • By Mariam Baksh