TIGTA reports on IRS protection of taxpayer data

Is the IRS properly protecting sensitive taxpayer data? That’s the subject of a recent report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), based on a request from Congress. The report looked at a “massive leak” of data in June 2021 that allowed a media outlet to obtain a “vast trove” of more than 15 years of tax returns of wealthy taxpayers. TIGTA’s report revealed weaknesses, including how access to sensitive IRS systems was granted to contractors with unfavorable background checks. Also, IRS controls were deemed inadequate to detect or prevent unauthorized data removal. Read the report for TIGTA’s recommendations for strengthening the weaknesses: https://bit.ly/3IrZfLI