Lois Lerner's emails.

[Minimalist]

Thanks for the clarification, C/D but what is described is not what I observed. I saw tapes that were an inch wide and on reels about a foot in diameter. Running on what looked like a giant tape recorder.

Perhaps this article from 2007 will better explain what is in use to you. Also note that the article never even mentions email.

http://news.cnet.com/IRS-trudges-on-with...75657.html

The Internal Revenue Service has been trying for years to upgrade its antiquated mainframe computers, which process Americans' tax returns by churning through millions of lines of assembly code written by hand in the early 1960s.

But after more than 20 years and over $5 billion, there's still no end in sight. Not all computer systems can talk to each other, information isn't available in real time, and tax returns filed on paper are often manually entered by typists.

The article is from 2007 and it does not seem as if they have made much in the way of progress..... although I'm sure the consultants have made a fortune.