The 2005 filing season was a good one for the Internal Revenue Service, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Overall, the IRS filing season was successful, with over 117 million returns processed through May 2004, according to the latest TIGTA Semiannual Report to Congress. However, not all tax law changes were effectively implemented, and continuing issues could result in a loss of taxpayer entitlements or erroneous tax reductions, according to the report, which recommended ways to ensure computer accuracy.
The 60-page report -- which covers the period from Oct. 1, 2004, to March 31, 2005 -- is the first one under new Treasury Inspector General J. Russell George, who was confirmed last November.
The TIGTA report noted that the Business Systems Modernization Program has experienced cost overages and schedule delays, with the result that key IRS executives and stakeholders reviewed the results of a number of studies, acknowledged BSM shortcomings, and developed actions to resolve longstanding BSM issues. According to the report, the majority of recommendations weren't fully addressed by the BSM Challenges Plan. TIGTA recommended that the IRS re-evaluate the recommendations that weren't addressed and create an overall measurement plan to determine whether activities are leading to program improvements.
