IRS 'Temporarily' Suspends Equifax Contract; Lawmakers Still Want Answers

The IRS "temporarily suspended" a no-bid $7.25 million contract with Equifax "as a precautionary step" while it reviews the credit monitoring service's systems and security in light of a data breach (see 1710030034), said the agency Friday. House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and House Digital Commerce Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, said they're "pleased" the taxpayer identity verification contract was suspended but still want answers about its "timing and nature." Walden and Latta said their focus "remains on protecting consumers and getting answers for the 145 million Americans impacted by this massive breach." Other lawmakers, including Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., also inquired about the contract (see 1710110041, 1710040042 and 1710120016). The tax agency said the breach didn't compromise "the limited IRS data shared under the contract." Suspension means the agency "will be temporarily unable to create new accounts for taxpayers using Secure Access, which supports applications including online accounts and transcripts." Secure Access is the agency's identity authentication process for some online self-help tools. The agency said the contract doesn't affect current users or most services and tools.