While the United States Government can be slow to act on important issues the current state of document management at the IRS is in such disarray that it requires immediate attention. With physical mail and COVID-19 pandemic-induced paper backlogs piling up, the Internal Revenue Service is now entering a panic mode that must be addressed sooner than later for the sake of both the people and the environment. In a recently released statement, the government agency’s Enterprise Digitalization and Case Management Office (EDCMO) noted that it is searching for technology providers and consultants who can present ideas on how it can digitize the over 100 million pieces of mail it receives every year while creating a paperless system for records management. 

National Taxpayer Advocate leader Erin Collins recently highlighted the fact that paper is the tax agency’s “kryptonite,” and encouraged the IRS to quickly implement digital scanning technology to process paper tax returns and other critical documents. With so many file scanning and document management service problems demanding solutions, the pressure on the IRS to plan and prepare for going paperless is a victory and net positive benefit for the tax-paying people and the environment.

Why IRS Document Automation and File Scanning Is A Win For The People:

The IRS currently has a backlog of 1.8 million unprocessed paper tax returns which is delaying refunds and causing confusion for a large number of patient taxpayers by going paperless a lot of the time and accuracy impediments will disappear much to the benefit of tax filers. By creating a more secure, efficient, and effective records management system the general public gains greater transparency and reliability in regards to their paper tax filings. The current digital scanning efforts will support improvements to overall taxpayer service, enhance the fairness of tax enforcement and compliance, develop better data-driven decisions making and reduce teleworking challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic all of which would be a great boon for taxpayers.

Why IRS Document Automation and File Scanning Is A Win For The Environment:

Given the fact that you can hardly open a newspaper, click on an internet article or turn on the television without hearing about environmental issues such as global warming, deforestation, waste management, landfill scarcity, water drought, fires, and other tree and paper related concerns any reduction in paper use by a sizeable government agency is a victory for Mother Nature. With the IRS seeking to secure digital scanning services and technology to revamp and upgrade how they manage paper returns and mail, we have a better chance to save more trees, improve air quality, reduce unnecessary waste and so much more. It can protect our natural resources which in turn can make the world and earth a better place.

Further proving the agency’s commitment to going paperless IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig recently advised the Senate Appropriation Committee’s subcommittee on financial services and general government that the federal agency is “going into the direction of being able to automate paper returns.” Recently during the coronavirus pandemic, the IRS received billions in dollars of funding to help manage the influx of documents and work caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, and hopefully, all this extra funding translates into better treatment of the taxpaying people and the environment as well. 

Regardless of how long it takes the IRS to transition into digital document scanning and elevated paperless records management systems one thing is for sure and that is the businesses, companies, and agencies of the future are all now recognizing the value of file scanning services and document imaging technology. Has your company considered converting to a paperless environment yet?