http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/16503886.htm By LYNN HORSLEY The Kansas City Star Jan. 20, 2007 A high-ranking Kansas City official said Friday that the search for missing Internal Revenue Service computer tapes at City Hall has covered all the logical places without success. Assistant City Manager Rich Noll said searchers are considering other possibilities in hopes that the tapes will turn up. "I sincerely hope we can find them. Thats my objective and my duty," said Noll, who is aiding in the search for 26 computer tapes containing sensitive taxpayer information. We understand this is an important situation and want to do everything the IRS needs us to do. The Kansas City Star disclosed Friday that city officials and special agents with the Treasury Departments inspector generals office were investigating the disappearance of a shipment of tapes that arrived at City Hall in August. Noll was apprised of the tapes disappearance in late December. It is unclear when city officials became aware of their disappearance, but Noll said he thought some effort to find the tapes began in November. Noll said he did not know whether any employee who might have had access to the tapes had left the citys employment in recent months. He also said he did not know whether officials had checked into that. Other city officials involved in the search either declined to comment or could not be reached. The tapes were part of a regular information-sharing agreement between the IRS and the city. City officials use the federal tax-return information to enforce their collection of the 1 percent earnings tax, which is paid by people who live or work in Kansas City. City officials and the IRS either were unwilling or unable to provide details on the number of taxpayers affected or what type of data was on the tapes. But the information that is routinely shared includes names, Social Security numbers and income information. Noll reiterated that the tapes were written in an uncommon programming language and require special equipment that the city keeps locked away. "It is not something you could just load onto your laptop," he said. But he conceded there was no guarantee that the information could not fall into the wrong hands. The IRS has strict rules to guard against the misuse or unauthorized disclosure of confidential personal financial information. Kansas City has shared information with the IRS for years, and the IRS regularly audits the process to ensure the city has adequate inventory and security systems, said a person who is familiar with the procedure. Kansas City has been certified in the past, attesting to its adequate security measures. Michael Devine, an IRS spokesman in St. Louis, said it was premature to speculate about whether the missing tapes would result in fines or prompt the termination of information sharing between the agency and the city. He would not comment on whether other cities had been fined when information was misplaced or stolen. Devine also would not discuss whether taxpayers or businesses must be notified that the information is missing. "We're hopeful the city will locate the tapes," he said. _____________________________ Subscribe to InfoSec News http://www.infosecnews.org/mailman/listinfo/isn
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.3 : Mon Jan 22 2007 - 23:30:47 PST