IRS posts thousands of social security numbers online, most from political groups

The sensitive information was online for less than 24 hours, but the news that IRS posted thousands of social security numbers is another black eye for the tax agency.

public domain

Many of the Social Security numbers belonged to people associated with nonprofit political groups that had filed tax forms to the IRS, according to a July 1 audit performed by public domain group Public.Resource.Org that was obtained by the National Journal.

The audit has since been taken down from Public.Resource.Org website.

In a statement, the IRS said it temporarily removed public access to the records that had disclosed the Social Security numbers, “out of an abundance of caution.”

“The IRS frequently and routinely reminds organizations of the public disclosure of these forms and urges them not to include personal information, including Social Security numbers, in their public filings,” the agency said. “The IRS is assessing the situation and exploring available options.”

Earlier this year, news emerged that IRS employees had targeted certain tea party and religious groups for additional scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status.

And in June, the beleaguered department placed two officials on administrative leave for accepting more than $1,000 in free food at a party in a private suite at a lavish IRS conference in 2010.