Why did we do this review?The IRS Electronic Filing (e-file) Program allows taxpayers to electronically file returns through authorized providers. To participate, applicants must meet eligibility requirements and pass suitability checks before receiving an Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN). Responsible Officials associated with e-file applications must also meet citizenship, age, and applicable licensing requirements, and some are required to complete fingerprint checks to ensure no criminal activity exists. What did we find?From January 2022 through March 2025, the IRS accepted approximately 116,000 e-file Provider applications. We identified programming errors, procedural updates, and unresolved suitability issues that contributed to the approval of potentially ineligible applicants. We reviewed a statistical sample of 138 Responsible Officials associated with accepted applications and identified 14 individuals with unresolved suitability issues:
- 8 had tax compliance issues (for example, they did not file tax returns for one or more periods).
- 5 had criminal history concerns that were not properly researched or addressed.
- 1 applicant’s citizenship status was not verified.
We also identified 67 IRS employees listed as Responsible Officials on e-file applications. IRS employees are prohibited from engaging in outside employment activities involving the preparation of tax returns for compensation, gift, or favor. These employees filed approximately 3,900 returns after they began working for the IRS.
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