IRS employees flagged for unauthorized access to taxpayer records
Summary
An internal investigation by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has revealed that 52 IRS employees improperly accessed the confidential tax records of 30 public figures, including government officials and entertainers, between 2022 and 2025. The investigation flagged 86 suspicious instances, raising concerns about taxpayer privacy and the IRS's ability to protect sensitive financial information. Despite the findings, 22 employees were not terminated for their misconduct, and the IRS failed to notify 175 taxpayers of the unauthorized access. This report comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of the IRS's handling of taxpayer data, including a recent lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump, who claimed his confidential records were inadequately protected. The IRS has agreed to most of TIGTA's eight recommendations to strengthen security measures, with plans for implementation by December 2026.