The latest Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s Report regarding the safety of their Taxpayer Assistance Centers is significantly redacted and makes it problematic to interpret. With increased attention from social media posts, these centers that were designed to assist taxpayers with needs or questions have become the center of media hype and outrageous stunts.
Even their Table of Contents is difficult to interpret:
So what were the findings? Here is a basic outline of what was disclosed:
The Design Guide for configuring the facilities was typically not followed, allowing for potential physical security threats.
In particular, their LCP (Large Cash Payments) Rooms were not properly secured. These are rooms designed to secure large amounts of cash, usually common in states that permit cannabis.
Emergency Contact and Active Personnel lists were not all up-to-date and had individuals listed who were no longer employees.
Certain systems, software, and processes that require annual testing were not in compliance with their required timelines. Most were within a 12-24-month review period instead of just a 12-month. The IRS has pushed back on this requirement, stating they do not have the resources.
The majority of the section regarding physical security from the public was redacted for obvious reasons. The section was short, but that is not always an indication of complexity.
In general, the TIGTA reports continue to highlight areas for improvement within the IRS. The powerful impact of this report is that it brings attention to the fact that physical security is reviewed at these public-facing facilities.
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