The IRS might not be keeping your data as safe as you think

As Tax Day looms, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report Monday that paints a damning picture of IRS protections of taxpayer data.

The tax agency "has not effectively implemented elements of its information security program," the government watchdog found, and until significant changes are made, "financial and taxpayer data will remain unnecessarily vulnerable to inappropriate and undetected use, modification, or disclosure." Current security lapses include issues like improper password settings, lack of adequate encryption, outdated software, and more.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen responded by assuring the public his agency is committed to improving security, which he has repeatedly pledged in the past.

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