IRS Thief Steals Taxpayer Files

SOURCE atr.org
The IRS thief stole and disclosed the files of at least 405,427 taxpayers, but was only charged with one count of theft. The IRS systems are still vulnerable to similar tricks, as revealed by a 2024 security audit. The thief worked for IRS contractor Booz Allen and sought the job with the intention of stealing private files. The stolen data includes tax returns, stock trades, and medical expense deductions of famous and everyday Americans. Despite being the source, the IRS took over 800 days to admit it. The IRS has been criticized for sloppy security practices.

Key Points

  • IRS thief stole and disclosed files of 405,427 taxpayers
  • IRS systems are still vulnerable to similar tricks
  • Thief worked for IRS contractor Booz Allen
  • Stolen data includes tax returns, stock trades, and medical expense deductions
  • IRS took over 800 days to admit it was the source of the theft

Pros

  • Oversight and investigations led by Congressman Jim Jordan revealed the extent of the theft
  • IRS stopped the practice of 'unannounced surprise visits' to taxpayers' homes

Cons

  • IRS systems are still vulnerable to data theft
  • The thief was only charged with one count of theft despite stealing files of over 400,000 taxpayers
  • IRS took over 800 days to admit it was the source of the stolen files