Reports

Small Business Administration OIG

SBA’s Handling of Potentially Fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program Loans

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that the Small Business Administration (SBA) did not have an organizational structure with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and processes to manage and handle potentially fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans across the program.

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Inspection / Evaluation | 5/26/2022

National Security Agency OIG

Audit of the Implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Section 3610

The audit found the agency had significant issues implementing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The agency did not sufficiently review CARES invoices due to changing guidelines, reduced contract oversight staffing during the pandemic, overreliance on contractor-provided information, and the lack of clear and comprehensive Contracting Officer Representative (COR) oversight procedures for CARES invoices. As a result, the OIG questioned more than $16.4 million, or 40 percent of the sampled CARES invoice charges. As of June 8, 2021, NSA reported $917 million in CARES...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 5/26/2022

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

Final Report – The IRS Leveraged Its Telework Program to Continue Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

Processing of Recovery Rebate Credit Claims During the 2021 Filing Season

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 5/19/2022

1 - Open

On June 15, 2021, we alerted IRS management of our concerns with the systemic calculation of the allowable RRC amount. We recommended that IRS management review the returns we identified and provide us with any corrective actions they intended to take.

10 - Closed

Conduct analysis of Tax Year 2020 tax returns processed after May 27, 2021, to identify additional individuals who received an RRC for a qualifying child for which the IRS has already paid an EIP or an RRC to someone else and take the actions needed to recover RRC payments that are determined to be erroneous.

11 - Closed

Review the 7,022 individuals identified in which the IRS issued multiple RRCs for a qualifying child who was claimed on more than one tax return and take the actions needed to recover payments that are determined to be erroneous.

12 - Closed

Conduct analysis of Tax Year 2020 tax returns processed after May 27, 2021, to identify additional individuals who received an RRC for a qualifying child who was claimed on more than one tax return and take the actions needed to recover payments that are determined to be erroneous.

13 - Closed

Review the 75,594 tax returns identified in which the individual is potentially a nonresident alien and take the actions needed to recover the RRC payments that are determined to be erroneous.

14 - Closed

Perform analysis of Tax Year 2020 tax returns filed after May 27, 2021, to identify additional tax returns with the same characteristics as those the IRS determined were filed by a nonresident alien and take the actions needed to recover erroneous RRC payments.

15 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should coordinate with the Territories to confirm and recover erroneous RRCs.

16 - Closed

Review the nearly 6.9 million potentially eligible individuals we provided to the IRS who had not filed a Tax Year 2020 tax return as of May 27, 2021, and send a letter to those individuals who still have not filed a Tax Year 2020 return to encourage them to file a return and claim the RRC if eligible.

17 - Closed

Review the 3.1 million eligible individuals we identified who filed a Tax Year 2020 return and proactively issue these taxpayers their credit.

18 - Closed

Conduct additional analysis to identify tax returns filed after May 27, 2021, in which an individual is eligible for the RRC based on their Tax Year 2020 tax return and did not claim the credit, and proactively issue the taxpayer their credit.

19 - Closed

If IRS management does not proactively issue the RRC to individuals who filed a return and did not claim the credit, the IRS should notify these individuals that they are eligible to claim the RRC and should file an amended tax return to claim the credit.

2 - Closed

On March 19, 2021, we alerted IRS management of our concerns that an incorrect amount of advance payments was being used to calculate the RRC for some taxpayers. We recommended that IRS management review the returns we identified and provide us with any corrective actions they intended to take.

20 - Closed

Work with the BFS to ensure that individuals who were denied the RRC and have still not activated their EIP1 or EIP2 debit card as of December 31, 2021, have EIPs reversed in their tax account and are issued their RRC. These processes should include notifying Metabank that the debit cards in question are to be cancelled.

21 - Closed

Work with the BFS to obtain recurring data during Processing Year 2022 to identify individuals who have not activated their advance ARPA RRC debit card at the time a return is filed and implement processes to reverse the advance payment so these individuals can receive the RRC on their Tax Year 2021 tax return.

22 - Closed

We alerted the Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, of our concerns that the IRS was unnecessarily burdening taxpayers whose RRC claims were identified for manual ERS review. We recommended the IRS develop processes to systemically adjust RRC claims using the computer-generated RRC calculation.

3 - Open

On April 6, 2021, we alerted IRS management of our concerns regarding ERS tax examiners incorrectly computing the RRC (see management’s action in response to Recommendation 1). We recommended the IRS review the returns we identified and take the actions necessary to ensure that these taxpayers receive the amount of the RRC
they are entitled to receive.

4 - Closed

On March 12, 2021, we alerted IRS management of our concerns that some tax returns were not being identified by fraud filters. We recommended IRS management review the returns we identified and associated fraud filters to identify why these returns were not selected and make programming changes as necessary to ensure proper
identification of returns with potentially questionable claims.

5 - Closed

Conduct analysis to identify Tax Year 2020 RRC claims processed after May 27, 2021, to identify other returns in which ERS tax examiners incorrectly calculated the number of allowable dependents and returns that were not reprocessed per IRS guidance after programming was corrected, and ensure that these taxpayers receive the correct amount of the RRC.

6 - Closed

Review the 14,508 individuals identified in which the IRS issued an RRC to an individual who was claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return but did not check the dependent box and take the actions needed to recover payments that are determined to be erroneous.

7 - Closed

Conduct analysis of Tax Year 2020 tax returns processed after May 27, 2021, to identify additional individuals who received an RRC and were also claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return but did not check the dependent box, and take the actions needed to recover the RRC payments that are determined to be erroneous.

8 - Closed

Review the 238,680 individuals under the age of 25 identified as potential dependents and take the actions needed to recover payments that are determined to be erroneous.

9 - Closed

Review the 15,741 individuals identified in which the individual incorrectly received an RRC and an EIP for the same qualifying child and take the actions needed to recover RRC payments that are determined to be erroneous.

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

The Child Tax Credit Update Portal Was Successfully Deployed, but Security and Process Improvements Are Needed

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

The Child Tax Credit Update Portal Was Successfully Deployed, but Security and Process Improvements Are Needed

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 5/18/2022

1 - Closed

Ensure that the ELC coaches comply with existing agency requirements related to the independent verification and validation of all ELC artifacts.

1 - Closed

Ensure that the ELC coaches comply with existing agency requirements related to the independent verification and validation of all ELC artifacts.

10 - Closed

Prioritize remediation efforts on the two noncompliant SADI system servers that have weighted noncompliance scores of less than 90 percent.

10 - Closed

Prioritize remediation efforts on the two noncompliant SADI system servers that have weighted noncompliance scores of less than 90 percent.

2 - Closed

Ensure that only authorized approving authorities provide status updates and grant final approval of ELC artifacts during required milestone reviews.

2 - Closed

Ensure that only authorized approving authorities provide status updates and grant final approval of ELC artifacts during required milestone reviews.

3 - Closed

Establish a formal process, which includes routine updates, to identify primary and proxy approvers for all ELC artifacts.

3 - Closed

Establish a formal process, which includes routine updates, to identify primary and proxy approvers for all ELC artifacts.

4 - Closed

The Chief Information Officer should ensure that systems supported by the CSPs have an approved IRS ATO prior to a system’s deployment.

4 - Closed

The Chief Information Officer should ensure that systems supported by the CSPs have an approved IRS ATO prior to a system’s deployment.

5 - Closed

The Chief Privacy Officer should establish a process that complies with Office of Management and Budget requirements regarding the selection, implementation, assessment, and continuous monitoring of privacy controls.

5 - Closed

6 - Closed

The Chief Privacy Officer should ensure that formal documentation is created that shows that all the privacy controls applicable to the SADI system are properly selected, implemented, and assessed.

6 - Closed

The Chief Privacy Officer should ensure that formal documentation is created that shows that all the privacy controls applicable to the SADI system are properly selected, implemented, and assessed.

7 - Closed

The Chief Information Officer should ensure that the Cybersecurity function validates that all required NIST physical and environmental protection and media protection controls are implemented.

7 - Closed

The Chief Information Officer should ensure that the Cybersecurity function validates that all required NIST physical and environmental protection and media protection controls are implemented.

8 - Closed

The Chief Information Officer should ensure that the IRS prioritizes completing the processes that will validate newly built servers being placed into the production environment meet minimum compliance requirements and initiate vulnerability scanning and remediation during the server build process.

8 - Closed

9 - Open

Ensure that all CTC Update Portal and SADI system associated POA&Ms (listed in Appendix II) are completed timely based on IRS-defined timelines and processes.

Small Business Administration OIG

Evaluation of SBA’s Disaster Assistance Loan Recommendation Services

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluated the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) procedures to award a contract for data analysis and loan recommendation services for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications and Targeted EIDL Advance applications related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To increase loan processing capabilities and quickly disburse loans during the pandemic, SBA used an existing contract awarded to RER Solutions and its subcontractor Rocket Loans set aside for small businesses. SBA initially set a contract ceiling of $100 million and...

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Inspection / Evaluation | 4/14/2022

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

American Rescue Plan Act: Implementation of Advance Recovery Rebate Credit Payments

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 3/21/2022

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

Program and Organizational Changes Are Needed to Address the Continued Inadequate Tax Account Assistance Provided to Taxpayers

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 3/18/2022

1 - Closed

On September 20, 2021, we notified the Director, Accounts Management, that the Austin site was not requiring Accounts Management screeners to come into the office to perform their duties, resulting in a significant backlog and delays in inventory being routed to Accounts Management to be worked. We recommended that the IRS establish consistent guidance and clarification on when resources can be directed to the office to help with screening inventory, to ensure that sufficient staff is available to screen documents in a timely manner, and establish processes to monitor the progress,

10 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should update existing scanning software or obtain a new scanning software to
address document capacity concerns.

11 - Open

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should ensure that programming is updated to systemically reject electronic
submissions of Forms 2848 and 8821 when missing one of the five essential elements (name, address, signature, etc.) without manually mailing a rejection letter.

12 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should ensure that the rejection letter used for Forms 2848 and 8821 is updated
to include language that a revised form can be submitted electronically via an IRS Tax Pro Account25 or through Taxpayer Digital Communication.

13 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop an action plan to prioritize the continued expansion of documents that can be sent in via electronic fax and converted into a Correspondence Imaging System (CIS) image.

13 - Closed

Develop an action plan to prioritize the continued expansion of documents that can be sent in via electronic fax and converted into a CIS image.

14 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should Identify priority work that needs to be expedited by the Image Control Team (ICT) and assess the feasibility of creating an electronic fax number to receive this inventory.

15 - Closed

On July 12, 2021, TiGTA notified the Director, Accounts Management, of concerns regarding inaccuracies as it related to the compiling and reporting of the Accounts Management Inventory Report (AMIR). TIGTA recommended that the IRS perform a reconciliation of each Accounts Management site’s AMIR to the source reports to identify inventory inconsistencies and reporting errors by site

16 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should complete the inventory reconciliations for the four remaining Accounts
Management site’s to identify and correct inventory inaccuracies and inconsistencies and implement processes to provide oversight by periodically performing reconciliations for each site so that any future inconsistencies and errors are identified and corrected in a timely manner.

17 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop specific and detailed instructions for preparing the Accounts Management Inventory Report (AMIR), including how controlled and uncontrolled inventory should be captured

18 - Open

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop a process to systemically pull all controlled inventory for each
Accounts Management site for the Accounts Management Inventory Report (AMIR) to ensure consistency, reduce human error, and
increase efficiencies

19 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should modify Accounts Management inventory reporting to report unassigned
controlled inventory separately on the nationwide Accounts Management Inventory Report (AMIR) and limit the site-specific AMIRs to only
the inventory assigned to be worked in each site.

2 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should evaluate directing taxpayers to send tax account correspondence and
replies intended for Accounts Management directly to Campus Support Sites for processing to reduce backlogs at Tax Processing Centers and improve services to taxpayers.

3 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should prioritize the development and implementation of tools that will enable
taxpayers seeking assistance or responding to Accounts Management to correspond with the IRS electronically, including the ability to directly upload documents into Accounts Management’s inventory.

4 - Open

The Chief Taxpayer Experience Officer, in conjunction with the Director, IRS NEXT Office, should evaluate establishing two distinct IRS programs as part of the IRS reorganization under the Taxpayer First Act – one dedicated to answering toll-free telephone calls and one dedicated to working Accounts Management inventory – with adequate staffing to provide appropriate service to taxpayers using each channel.

5 - Closed

On June 9, 2021, we notified the Director, Customer Account Services, that Submission Processing requested resources from Accounts Management to assist with clearing the Image Control Team (ICT) backlog and was told by Campus Support management that no resources could be made available to assist with reducing the ICT backlog. We recommended that the IRS assess the availability of Campus Support’s ICT staffing or other resources that could be made available to assist with clearing the ICT backlogs at Tax Processing Centers.

6 - Closed

On September 3, 2021, we notified the Director, Accounts Management, of concerns relating to the newly stood-up Fresno Campus Support Site, including scanners not being used to the full extent possible. We recommended that IRS management provide us with it plans to address our concerns identified with the new Fresno Campus Support Site, including additional staffing to assist Image Control Team (ICT).

7 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should complete a strategic review of all 10 Image Control Team (ICT) sites to determine what contributes to the ICT’s inability to timely scan and validate documents. Based on the results of this review, initiate steps to address the concerns identified. This should include the development of an action plan to ensure that the high-capacity ICT scanners and staffing are realigned to the appropriate sites based on actual or expected inventory levels and that responsibility of the ICT operations are consolidated under the appropriate function.

8 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should cross-train additional mail clerks at Campus Support Sites to work Image Control Team (ICT) validations, freeing up additional resources in sites with higher inventories needing to be scanned, or consider shipping inventory to sites with less inventory to be scanned.

9 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop specific instructions and a common template for all 10 Image Control Team (ICT) sites to consistently capture ICT inventory information.

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

American Rescue Plan Act: Assessment of Processes to Identify and Address Improper Child and Dependent Care Credit Claims

Full Details: Oversight.gov Report Page

Audit | 3/14/2022

1 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should update processes to *****2***** from Form 2441 the care provider’s **2**
******************2*******************, and the amount paid to the care provider.

2 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should update paper verification processes to generate errors in the Error
Resolution System when the ****************2****************, or amounts paid to the care provider are missing

3 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should revise Form 2441 to include checkboxes to note whether dependent care
expenses are for a spouse or dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves or if special deemed earned income rules apply.

4 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop a process to identify tax returns with adult **********2**********
**************************2*****************************. These tax returns should be considered for selection for post-refund compliance reviews.

5 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should work with the Department of the Treasury, Office of Tax Policy, to obtain
the legal authority to disallow the Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC) when the primary or secondary taxpayer is identified by an ***2*** Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) on Form 2441

6 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop a process to identify tax returns with ***2*** Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) used to identify the care provider. These tax returns should be considered for selection for post-refund compliance review.

7 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should revise Form 2441 instructions and Publication 503, using examples, so
taxpayers may better understand the requirements for qualifying care and expenses

8 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop a process to identify tax returns with care provider ****************************************************2******************************. These tax returns should be selected for post-refund compliance review.

9 - Closed

The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should coordinate with the Small Business/Self-Employed Division to develop a compliance plan for post-refund treatment of cases involving **********************2********************************************** ****************************************************2********************************************** ****************************************************2**************************************************2***

Date Range

Report Type

Report Category

Submitting Agency

State/Local Agency

State (State and Local Reports)

Fraud Type

Agency Reviewed

Related Organizations

Management Challenges

Any Recommendations

Any Open Recommendations

Reports

SBA’s Handling of Potentially Fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program Loans

Audit of the Implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Section 3610

Final Report – The IRS Leveraged Its Telework Program to Continue Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Processing of Recovery Rebate Credit Claims During the 2021 Filing Season

The Child Tax Credit Update Portal Was Successfully Deployed, but Security and Process Improvements Are Needed

The Child Tax Credit Update Portal Was Successfully Deployed, but Security and Process Improvements Are Needed

Evaluation of SBA’s Disaster Assistance Loan Recommendation Services

American Rescue Plan Act: Implementation of Advance Recovery Rebate Credit Payments

Program and Organizational Changes Are Needed to Address the Continued Inadequate Tax Account Assistance Provided to Taxpayers

American Rescue Plan Act: Assessment of Processes to Identify and Address Improper Child and Dependent Care Credit Claims

Glossary

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