Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Inspections and Evaluations Highlights Highlights of Report Number: 2010-IE-R001 to the Internal Revenue Service Deputy Commissioner for Operations support. WHY TIGTA DID THIS STUDY This project was initiated to determine if the Internal Revenue Service has met the requirements directed to Federal agencies in preparing for a potential outbreak of a pandemic influenza like the H1N1 virus. In 2006, the Homeland Security Council requested that department and agency heads certify that their department or agency was addressing the applicable elements of pandemic planning set forth in a checklist it developed. Since 2006, preparedness efforts have matured and in August 2008, the checklist was updated to reflect current Federal Government guidance. The Department of the Treasury is using the Homeland Security Council checklist to assess pandemic preparations by each of the Treasury Bureaus. TIGTA chose to use the same criteria and will share the results of this inspection with the Department of the Treasury’s Director, Emergency Programs. WHAT TIGTA RECOMMENDED TIGTA recommended that the Internal Revenue Service Chief, Agency-Wide Shared Services should take immediate steps to finalize the items “in process” and address the items in the checklist not yet completed. In their response to the report, Internal Revenue Service officials stated that the Director, Physical Security and Emergency Preparedness, Agency-Wide Shared Services had taken action to complete the Homeland Security Council checklist items that were in progress and not yet completed.

Issued on January 4, 2010 INSPECTION OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE’S PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS PLAN WHAT TIGTA FOUND TIGTA found that the Internal Revenue Service had addressed the majority of the pandemic checklist issued by the Homeland Security Council. This includes prioritizing essential operations in the event of a pandemic outbreak, communicating information to the employees, and taking steps to protect the health and safety of Internal Revenue Service employees. However, the Internal Revenue Service did not specifically address items in the checklist related to employees with disabilities, any changes needed with regard to procurements or contractors, teleworking as a response to a potential pandemic, and adequate tests and exercises for pandemic scenarios. READ THE FULL REPORT To view the report, including the scope, methodology, and full Internal Revenue Service response, go to: http://www.treas.gov/tigta/iereports/2010reports/2010IER001fr.html Email Address: inquiries@tigta.treas.gov Phone Number: 202-622-6500 Web Site: http://www.tigta.gov