Digital Government
Lawmakers press IRS, Education on cyber weaknesses
Two House committees pressed IRS and Education on information security concerns for a key online tool that handles millions of Social Security numbers as it facilitates students' applications for financial aid.
Cybersecurity
Trump's 2018 budget plan hacks civilian spending for defense, homeland
As promised, a budget blueprint from the Trump administration prioritizes military and homeland security spending, and pays for increases with dramatic cuts to civilian agencies.
Digital Government
IRS IT contracts could leak sensitive info, says watchdog
The IRS needs to implement more controls for IT contracts to meet federal requirements to protect agency systems and sensitive information.
Cybersecurity
IRS reports ID theft complaints are down
A raft of public/private initiatives to combat online tax fraud are beginning to show results, according to the IRS.
Modernization
Tax agency punted on $12M email system
The IRS acquired and never deployed a $12 million email system designed to help comply with pending records management requirements.
Digital Government
IRS promises nationwide electronic filing
The IRS' e-file pilot program in 1986 became a test case for the technology of electronic filing and the information policies governing its uses.
Cybersecurity
FCW @ 30
Since 1987, FCW has covered it all -- the major contracts, the disruptive technologies, the picayune scandals and the many, many people who make federal IT function. Here's a look back at six of the most significant stories.
Cybersecurity
Lawmaker grouses about cybersecurity delays at IRS
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, wants the tax agency to pick up the pace on Einstein implementation.
Digital Government
How agencies plan to improve customer service
Federal agencies are increasingly looking to the private sector for tips on how to improve customer experience.
People
Lawmakers want automated tax-compliance check
Top-ranking members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are asking about the status of an automated system to check on the tax debt of security clearance applicants.
Cybersecurity
Challenge.gov takes wing
Steve Kelman contends that a recent report on agencies' prize challenges tells only half the success story.
Cybersecurity
IRS sounds the alarm on new phishing scam
Professional tax preparers are targets in a new email scam that opens the door for keystroke-logger malware.
People
Milholland exits IRS
Without a restoration of the hiring authority that brought him in, the long-serving CTO departed the IRS at the end of June.
Digital Government
GAO: IRS can do a better job tracking IT performance
A GAO report recommends that the IRS improve its performance measurement and reporting practices for $2.7 billion worth of IT investments.
Digital Government
Another IRS tax tool bites the dust
The IRS has killed its online tool for requesting electronic-filing PINs after cyberattacks ramped up.
Digital Government
IRS goes XML with tax-exempt forms
The tax agency is making tax-exempt filings available in machine-readable format.
Digital Government
IRS crowdsources the future look for tax accounts online
After its first-ever crowdsourcing push, the IRS came away with four winning designs to guide its future taxpayer dashboard work.
Digital Government
IRS chooses security over accessibility
The tax agency relaunched Get Transcript with a security setup that it plans to incorporate into other tools, and acknowledged that not all taxpayers will be able to access the new system.
Digital Government
Will new IRS security features lock out legit users?
The national taxpayer advocate says the IRS will soon quietly roll out upgrades that could dramatically boost online security but lock out legitimate users as a result.
Digital Government