United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-01-08 monographic deposited born digital 31 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-211 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211 P0b002ee18038d864 f:d08211 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211 GAO-08-211 Computer security Data integrity Financial institutions Information classification Information security Information security management Information security regulations Internal controls Tax returns Taxes Security standards Other Written Product A79438

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relies extensively on computerized systems to carry out its demanding responsibilities to collect taxes (about $2.7 trillion in fiscal year 2007), process tax returns, and enforce the nation's tax laws. Effective information security controls are essential to ensuring that financial and taxpayer information is adequately protected from inadvertent or deliberate misuse, fraudulent use, improper disclosure, or destruction. As part of its audit of IRS's fiscal years 2007 and 2006 financial statements, GAO assessed (1) IRS's actions to correct previously reported information security weaknesses and (2) whether controls were effective in ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of financial and sensitive taxpayer information. To do this, GAO examined IRS information security policies and procedures, guidance, security plans, reports, and other documents; tested controls over key financial applications at three IRS data centers; and interviewed key security representatives and management officials. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211.pdf GAO-08-211 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-211 Other Written Product GAO-08-211; Information Security: IRS Needs to Address Pervasive Weaknesses; Computer security Data integrity Financial institutions Information classification Information security Information security management Information security regulations Internal controls Tax returns Taxes Security standards Title 31 Section 720 31 U.S.C. 720 Volume 116 Page 2946 116 Stat. 2946 Public Law 107-347