IRS's Computer System Sends Taxpayer 35-Year-Old Form

(Mis)Uses of Technology

from the now-that's-useful... dept

We all know that, like so many government agencies, the IRS has had some difficulties modernizing their computer systems — however, you might not have realized just how old the system seems to think it really is. A taxpayer who called in requesting a “Schedule B” form (for reporting dividend and interest income), was a bit surprised to receive a Schedule B form… from 1969. It turns out that Schedule A and Schedule B are now both on the same form. However, when the IRS agent put the info into the computer, he just entered Schedule B — which apparently hasn’t been on its own form since 1969. The computer, of course, then did its job and ordered the form it thought was requested. Government efficiencies at work.