The agency further no longer performs on-site inspections at facilities where sensitive documents are brought for destruction. Image: Your Hand Please/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffAn inspector general audit has called on the IRS to tighten controls over the destruction of documents to safeguard sensitive information on them, saying that the agency “has not established or communicated to personnel at its various facilities the standard operating procedures for sensitive document destruction to ensure uniformity and consistency.”
The IRS has a nation-wide contract for document destruction at nearly 400 facilities but that contract does not cover all facilities; the rest are covered by standalone contracts with local vendors or use on-site shredders, a report said. “IRS officials did not know what specific sensitive document destruction procedures were used at 110 of its facilities,” it said.
Other issues included that the IRS does not always maintain secure bins as required for sensitive documents waiting to be destroyed, and in some cases used “open containers and bins with disposal slots that have been altered or were in poor condition, allowing access to discarded sensitive documents.”
The agency further no longer performs on-site inspections at facilities where sensitive documents are brought for destruction to ensure proper disposal, it said, and does not assure that billing accurately reflects the number of bins involved.
It said the agency agreed with most of its recommendations and “agreed in principle” with the rest.
Key Bills Advancing, but No Path to Avoid Shutdown Apparent
TSP Adds Detail to Upcoming Roth Conversion Feature
White House to Issue Rules on RIF, Disciplinary Policy Changes
DoD Announces Civilian Volunteer Detail in Support of Immigration Enforcement
See also,
How Do Age and Years of Service Impact My Federal Retirement
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
How to Challenge a Federal Reduction in Force (RIF) in 2025
Should I be Shooting for a $1M TSP Balance? Depends…
