In a previous thread I mentioned something about the IRS. It reminded me of some questions that surfaced. A friend/electrical engineer who is currently involved in the hardware/chip side of remediation for a major pharmaceutical company recently suggested that the IRS was finished remediating long ago. I suggested that I had heard nothing of the kind from my very thorough aquaintances (the "doomers") on the web. However, maybe this should be addressed a little more formally (again?) and thoroughly since it's a potentially huge piece of the puzzle.

Let me start by describing what I have heard or read and see if anyone can correct/amplify/link/fill in the details:

1. Years ago the IRS contracted with IBM to upgrade everything. A billion dollars later IBM quit and were quoted as saying (paraphrased) "Everytime we asked a question we got a different answer".

2. Stats for the IRS are something like: 62,000,000 lines of code (2x that of Social Security), 60+ different cobbled-together systems lacking centralization, and a seriously late start ('97?).

3. GAO said (about a week ago) that the IRS contingency plan will be completely ineffective.

4. Odd threads were spreading around that included: (a) Bid processes initiated by the IRS for massive hotel space in the DC area to be used for something like TWO YEARS, (b) declarations of defeat and plans to go out to the private sector at this late date.

Any of you folks able to carry this a little further?

With best regards to all...

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), October 26, 1999

Answers

As much as they're hated, if the SS...er, IRS goes down, so does Uncle Sam.

Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), October 26, 1999.

There must be lots of info in Gary's taxation links:

http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/results_.cfm/Taxation

And perhaps something in Horn's report card on the high impact programs (don't recall the link)?

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), October 26, 1999.

This info is from the IRS site:

IRS Compliance Statement

IRS Year 2000 Project Goals and Overview

Just like many federal government agencies and private corporations, the Internal Revenue Service depends on automated systems to process tax returns, issue refunds, deposit payments, and provide taxpayers with basic answers to their more than 170 million inquiries a year. As a result, Commissioner Rossotti has made fixing the Year 2000 problem a top priority at the IRS!

That's why the IRS created the Century Date Change (CDC) Project Office in 1996 to manage its Y2K effort.

The IRS' Year 2000 project goals include:

Ensuring that the nation's tax processing systems continue to function in the Year 2000 and beyond

Continuing to provide effective customer service to taxpayers while addressing Y2K challenges.

Project Scope

The IRS' Y2K problem is extremely challenging because of the large number of computer and software systems that are affected. The IRS has over 80 mainframe computers, 1,400 minicomputers, and over 100,000 personal computers. There are also over 40 million lines of code in 79,000 software programs that support IRS operations. And computer systems aren't the only things that must be made Y2K compliant - items such as security systems, heat and air conditioning, and office equipment in over 850 IRS locations also need to be checked for the Y2K bug.

Project Progress

We have fixed 95% of our mission-critical systems and are using these same Y2K compliant systems to process tax returns. We've made significant progress in our Y2K efforts so far, but there is still work to do. Our goal to is make the remaining systems Y2K compliant by Fall 1999 in order to conduct the final, integrated test of our systems. The IRS fully expects "business as usual" as we enter the new millennium. If, for any reason we experience Y2K glitches, we are prepared to deal with them to minimize their effects on you, the taxpayer.

Long-Term Benefits

The Y2K effort has required a great deal of time and effort, but there are also long-term benefits that the IRS will enjoy as a result of the project. We've been able to replace out-of-date systems, adopt standard desktop applications, and improve our ability to manage large-scale projects. All this will add up to being able to provide taxpayers with excellent customer service in the Year 2000 and beyond.

-- Wild Celt (taxman@cometh.com), October 26, 1999.

Was that last part "excellent customer service" or "excellent customer servicING?" (Keeping in mind, of course, that "servicing" is what a bull does to a cow out in the field...)

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), October 26, 1999.

Do a search for IRS, Request for comments (RFC)for modernization Prime Systems Integration Services Contractor (May 15, 1997).

It appears that this contract is still being actively negotiated. At least the FAQs are interesting and give a good insight into the IRS's problems.

-- Jim Hawk (Hawk@eye.sky), October 26, 1999.

Come Y2 you will be asked to pay what you paid in 98 IMHO Then --a flat tax? or sales tax ==- www.fairtax.com -- Either way where's my wallet

-- I.O.U. (Thru the Nose@pay da piper.com), October 26, 1999.

I recall that the IRS abandoned a massive computer upgrade 3 or 4 years ago after spending billions of dollars on it. I never read anything about their specific plans after that. Did they undertake another modernization program or are they simply trying to upgrade software in their old computers? No help from the news media as usual.

-- Danny (dcox@ix.netcom.com), October 26, 1999.

In the early 1980's, President Reagan appointed the Grace Commission to look into the Income Tax. The Grace Commission determined that not one dime in income tax goes to run the country. It all goes to pay of the phony Federal debt!

So, to say that if the IRS goes down, so does the country is total nonsense! In fact when the IRS goes down and nobody pays tax, it will give our economy a big boost in the arm!

-- smitty (smitty@sandiego.com), October 26, 1999.

The I.R.S. I am making installment payments to is operating normally. Computer generated monthly payment coupons, not hand written. Oh "Woe is me".

-- Nana (drac@mediaone.net), October 26, 1999.

Personally, I hope to GOD that the IRS dies a horrible, lingering death, and takes the "government" with it. I for one will not shed a tear, REGARDLESS of the consequences. We don't need a NAZI regime in control of our lives, such as we now have. The TOTALITY of the Federal gub'mint is a blood-sucking, life-draining vampire. COLLECTIVELY, the deadbeats that make up the system couldn't tell the TRUTH if you held a shotgun to their heads.

Death to ALL of them (through economic strangulation).

Here's hoping.

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), October 26, 1999.