A recent inspector general report found that in some cases the Internal Revenue Service lacked “adequate controls” to protect sensitive U.S. taxpayer information from unauthorized access. fox business report.
A Treasury Department tax agency investigation found that some former IRS employees and contractors still had access to certain “sensitive systems.”
The inspector general launched an investigation after former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn leaked the tax returns of former President Donald Trump and “thousands of wealthy Americans.” Mr Littlejohn was sentenced to five years in prison earlier this year. Blaze News previously reported after he admitted stealing tax information and providing it to the media.
According to I.G. reportLast year, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee launched an investigation following a “massive leak of confidential tax information that the IRS is required to keep secure,” according to a letter from the committee’s chairman, Rep. Jason. requested. Smith (R) from Missouri.
“The IRS should have been alarmed when it was discovered that an IRS contractor had stolen and leaked the tax returns of thousands of people, including President Trump,” Smith said in a statement.
“Rather, the agency appears to be doing little about this. The IRS has absolutely no excuse for failing to protect taxpayers’ confidential information,” he added.
In a recent report, “After receiving the Chairman’s letter, TIGTA will discuss how the IRS grants access to and protects federal tax information maintained on its various information technology systems (i.e., classified systems).” “We have agreed to conduct an evaluation to see if this is possible.” –
The IG noted that “unauthorized access and disclosure of taxpayer information can undermine taxpayer confidence in the federal tax system to protect sensitive tax information.”
The inspector general’s investigation found that the agency granted access through the Business Entitlement Access Request System. It added that the process is the same for employees and contractors.
The investigation found that as of July, more than 91,000 users had accessed one or more of 276 sensitive systems. Among them, he had over 5,000 users as subscribers.
Procedures for systematically removing users who no longer needed access to sensitive systems did not always work as intended. For example, TIGTA identified 279 users listed on BEARS as isolates as of July 13, 2023, who continue to access at least one of her classified IRS systems. However, for each of these individuals, her IRS network access has been removed, which the IRS says reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk that users will be able to access sensitive systems,” the report states. .
Additionally, if an employee or contractor’s background check yields an “unfavorable” result, that person “will not necessarily be fired.”[d]” was found.
“Specifically, as of July 13, 2023, 19 contractors had unfavorable recent background checks; however, the IRS took no action to suspend or disable the contractors. , these contractors still maintained access to one or more sensitive systems “utilizing IRS systems as necessary,” the report continued.
The investigation found that the IRS is taking steps to improve the security of its sensitive systems.
“However, for some sensitive systems, the IRS does not have adequate controls in place to detect or prevent unauthorized deletion of data by users,” the report states.
As a result of its findings, the IG made three recommendations to the IRS, including the immediate suspension of users with unfavorable background checks and the “timely” termination of employees who have left the IRS.
The IRS agreed with all of the IG’s recommendations, but “disagreed” with its characterization of the IRS’ “current security posture,” the report said.
“The IRS did not agree with the inference that 19 contractors, TIGTA, had identified confidential information that had been compromised. All 19 contractors underwent favorable background checks, and 15 He was reinstated after resubmitting. The remaining four contractors have had their network access disabled and are isolated on the human resources system.”
Additionally, the IRS “already takes steps to remove access when it is determined that a contractor does not have favorable background judgment.”
IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testified before the committee last week, claiming that the IRS has “taken numerous steps” to protect taxpayers’ confidential information.
The IRS did not respond to requests for comment from Fox Business.
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