Summary

This fact sheet provides information on the critical planning and system development products that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) needs to successfully implement its Tax Systems Modernization program. GAO categorizes these products into two broad categories: summary documents, which set forth the agency's strategic goals and vision for tax administration in the 21st century, and technical support products, which are the detailed plans and tools used by IRS to run its various Tax System Modernization projects. GAO provides the estimated or actual completion dates for these products and the frequency with which they are updated.

GAO found that: (1) TSM planning and system development products are categorized as summary documents and technical supporting products; (2) summary documents set IRS strategic goals for tax administration into the next century; (3) senior IRS management and Congress use summary documents to guide and oversee modernization efforts; (4) technical supporting products are detailed plans and tools used by IRS to direct and manage various TSM projects and activities and include an acquisition management plan, a security architecture, and an integrated project schedule; and (5) IRS system development products are at varied stages of development and are updated annually or monthly.