Emerging Tech

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?

Cybersecurity

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.

Cybersecurity

IRS missed 11,000 compromised SSNs

An IRS office charged with monitoring and mitigating the impact of external data breaches is faltering when it comes to keeping track of the problem, according to an IG audit.

Emerging Tech

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.

Modernization

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.

Digital Government

Watchdog dings contractors for IRS tax day outage

The tax agency plans to seek damages from one contractor as a result of contractual performance targets missed during an embarrassing 2018 system failure.

Cybersecurity

Federal agencies reacted unevenly to Equifax breach

The federal government's central cyber incident response agency played a minor role in the wake of the Equifax breach, while agencies wondered who was in charge.

Modernization

Why modernizing human capital systems is so hard

Treasury, DOD and others are working to modernize talent management, but budgetary, cultural and political challenges complicate their progress.

Cybersecurity

The IRS can do more with its fraud detection system

A GAO audit found that the tax agency's Return Review Program has made strides in recent years that can be applied to number of other enforcement activities.

Digital Government

GAO, TIGTA call out IT shortcomings at IRS

The tax agency's acquisition processes, broader information security systems and troubled enterprise case management solution drew criticism in three separate reviews.

People

New bill would restore IRS critical pay for IT hires

A new bill by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) would reinstate a key hiring tool to boost IT talent at the Internal Revenue Service.

Cybersecurity

IRS makes infosec strides after Get Transcript breach, but challenges remain

IRS officials charged with protecting and authenticating taxpayer data are getting better at their jobs – but so are fraudsters.

Cybersecurity

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.

Cybersecurity

There’s Even More Bad News About IRS Information Security

A board charged with overseeing the agency’s sprawling active directory networks isn’t fulfilling its basic responsibilities.

Emerging Tech

IRS Wants Artificial Intelligence To Guard Taxpayer Data

The tax agency wants to know if the AI and machine learning are mature enough to secure its systems from cyberattacks.

Modernization

Trump IRS pick faces massive IT challenge

Charles Rettig, the Trump administration's pick to lead the IRS, told lawmakers at his June 28 confirmation hearing that the tax agency's legacy tech is one of its most critical challenges.

Cybersecurity

Tech is center stage in global IRS tax crime partnership

The IRS announced a global partnership with four other nations that will focus on information and technology sharing, cooperation on criminal and financial investigations, cybercrime and cryptocurrencies.

Cybersecurity

IRS wants cloud-based AI to sniff out insider threats

The tax agency is looking for a cloud-based, artificially intelligent analytical platform that can identify and mitigate cyber and insider threats within the agency.