Selling IRS returns puts tax filers at risk
Regarding the Internal Revenue Service's proposal to allow the sale of confidential tax returns to third parties: Can you say "insanity"? We just put pressure on the federal government not to turn the security of our seaports over to a Middle Eastern firm, yet the safety and security of the American taxpayer will be compromised if this outrageous proposal comes to fruition.
Requiring a taxpayer to sign a permission statement allowing the preparer to release the information doesn't ring true. There are many individuals who are illiterate and out of a sense of false pride, will sign on the dotted line.
Also, an unscrupulous preparer could alter the form after the fact. The preparer could then just walk away from prosecution due to "sloppy record-keeping" aka Project Homestead.
If this invasion of privacy does become a reality, shouldn't the individual taxpayer be the recipient of the fee paid for this information?
Eileen Thiery
Stokesdale
Comments (2)
To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.
Eileen,
You are a day late and a dollar short, as the saying goes. The IRS has been selling the information on your tax returns to anyone with the desire and the money for a number of years. Why do you think you get all these offers of credit cards, loans, vacation property? Why do you think identity theft and fraud are rampant?
If anyone doubts what I have said do a little looking around on the internet. Big brother is alive and well in America.
Posted on April 1, 2006 6:54 AM
The reason for this according to the IRS is to collect money owed to them. Now the IRS can't call you on the phone constantly, like every hour on the hour at home , harass you at work, talk nasty to you, but a private collection group can. IRS is just letting private collectors do what they can't in hopes to get more money. One thing about it, you can track down and beat the daylights out of a private collector and it won't be a federal offence like it is when you threaten to shoot an IRS official and throw him physically off your property. So it might not be too bad of a thing! hahahaa
Posted on April 1, 2006 9:46 AM