The IRS has lost track of millions of sensitive tax information records, according to a new watchdog report, putting taxpayers at risk of tax refund identity theft. …

The IRS has been criticized in the past for improper handling of taxpayer information. Last year, TIGTA accused the agency of destroying data for an estimated 30 million filers at the height of the pandemic in March 2021.

This caused an outcry from the tax community – with experts expressing concern over how missing information can delay and complicate taxpayer refunds.

[Were there any consequences over the last fiasco? If not, why should we be surprised that it happened again? — Ed]