• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Iowa tax agency seeks upgrade of decades’ old computer systems

Iowa tax agency seeks upgrade of decades’ old computer systems

January 24, 2020 By O. Kay Henderson

Iowa’s top tax man says the computer systems that handle tax collections in 38 other states have been modernized in the past decade.

Iowa Department of Revenue director Kraig Paulsen is asking lawmakers to spend tens of millions over the next five years to replace his agency’s ancient computer networks.

“We operate about 24 systems and each one of them is independent,” Paulsen says. “They are basically as old as when they were implemented, so some of them may be 10 years old. Some of them may be 20 years old. Literally there are those that are 30 years or older.”

It will cost the state about $18 million this year alone to keep those systems running. Plus, Paulsen warns it’s getting harder to find people to fix things because they have to know COBOL, a computer programming language created in 1959.

“We’ve tried to weave this web together and make it function,” Paulsen says, “but we believe it’s time to move forward.”

The digital upgrade Paulsen envisions would let Iowa taxpayers log on and see their returns on the department’s website – and check both payments and refunds.

“It will absolutely be much more user-friendly,” Paulsen says. “I am confident in the security of the systems and the protection of Iowans’ information…That’s obviously something we stay very vigilant on.”

Paulsen says the companies he’s investigated build systems that send reminders to taxpayers, too. The nearly $90 million project Paulsen proposes includes upgrading computer systems for the Iowa Lottery and the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Commission at the same time. The project would take three to five years to complete.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Legislature, Taxes

Featured Stories

DOT plow crews struggling against blizzard conditions

Iowa delegation breaks along party lines on Trump impeachment vote

Two northeast Iowa men admit to illegally harvesting ginseng

Do you have to pay tax on your stimulus check?

All six in Iowa’s congressional delegation confirm Electoral College results

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State-Kansas postponed

Iowa-Michigan State postponed

Fire damage to Riverfront Stadium electrical system will cost Waterloo thousands

Iowa State at Kansas State postponed

Iowa State’s Foster to miss remainder of the season

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC