IRS’s Weak Security Puts Taxpayer Data at Risk, Watchdog Finds

The IRS needs to improve its information technology systems and processes to better protect taxpayer information and defend against cyberattacks, the Treasury Inspector General of Tax Administration said in a report Thursday.

TIGTA found problems with the agency’s handling of the privacy of taxpayer data, access controls, system environment security, disaster recovery, system security training, and security policies, procedures, and documentation.

And while the IRS met its completion goal of 97% for training its employees on protecting taxpayer information, other reviews found that contractors failed to take a required annual privacy awareness training, the watchdog said.

The agency also failed ...