This report is a follow-on to our report on the results of our audit of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) fiscal year 2000 financial statements. In fiscal year 2000, IRS was able to produce for the first time combined financial statements that were fairly stated in all material respects. This achievement was the result of the dedication and months of efforts of IRS management and staff working around serious systems deficiencies and internal control weaknesses, many of which have plagued IRS since we first began auditing its financial statements in 1992. Although this effort produced reliable financial statement balances, they were reliable only for a single point in time and fell short of addressing the fundamental weaknesses in IRS systems and internal controls. As a result, we gave an unqualified opinion on IRS fiscal year 2000 financial statements but also concluded that IRS did not maintain effective internal controls. We also found two instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations relating to IRS structuring of installment agreements and the timing of the release of tax liens.

In Nov. 2009, a report was issued on the results of an audit of the financial statements of the IRS as of, and for the FY ending, Sept. 30, 2009, and 2008, and on the effectiveness of its internal controls as of Sept. 30, 2009. In March 2010, a report was issued on information security issues identified during a FY 2009 audit, along with associated recommendations. This report presents internal control and compliance issues identified during an audit of IRS¿s financial statements as of, and for the fiscal year ending, Sept. 30, 2009, for which there are no recommendations outstanding. The report provides 41 recommendations to address the internal control and compliance issues that have been identified. Charts and tables.

The IRS has a demanding responsibility to annually collect trillions of dollars in taxes, process hundreds of millions of tax and information returns, and enforce the nation¿s tax laws. Since its first audit of IRS¿s financial statements in FY 1992, GAO has identified a number of weaknesses in IRS¿s financial management operations. This report: (1) provides an overview of the financial management challenges still facing IRS; (2) provides the status of financial audit and financial management¿related recommendations and the actions needed to address them; and (3) highlights the relationship between GAO¿s recommendations and internal control activities central to IRS¿s mission and goals. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.