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Report Finds IRS Computer Security Flaws
Posted At: 05/13/2008 11:09 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) One more tax-season dread: A week before the filing deadline, Treasury watchdogs said Monday that poor controls over IRS computers could allow a disgruntled employee, agency contractor or outside hacker to steal taxpayers' confidential information.
Indeed, a hacker might even "gain full control of the IRS network," said a report Monday from the office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Investigators did not cite any specific cases of wrongdoing within the IRS, which processes some 137 million tax returns. But they suggested a lack of review means someone could get sensitive information and no one would ever know.
The report comes amid increasing scrutiny of the IRS and the problems posed both by security concerns within the system and identity theft threats from outside:
- The independent IRS Oversight Board, in a report issued last month, outlined some $32 million in spending it said was needed to enhance the tax agency's security. "Disrupting IRS returns processing and stealing sensitive information could wreak havoc on the economy and financial markets," it said.
Posted At: 05/13/2008 11:09 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) One more tax-season dread: A week before the filing deadline, Treasury watchdogs said Monday that poor controls over IRS computers could allow a disgruntled employee, agency contractor or outside hacker to steal taxpayers' confidential information.
Indeed, a hacker might even "gain full control of the IRS network," said a report Monday from the office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Investigators did not cite any specific cases of wrongdoing within the IRS, which processes some 137 million tax returns. But they suggested a lack of review means someone could get sensitive information and no one would ever know.
The report comes amid increasing scrutiny of the IRS and the problems posed both by security concerns within the system and identity theft threats from outside:
- The independent IRS Oversight Board, in a report issued last month, outlined some $32 million in spending it said was needed to enhance the tax agency's security. "Disrupting IRS returns processing and stealing sensitive information could wreak havoc on the economy and financial markets," it said.
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