IRS preparers will be allowed to sell data

[scaeagles]

Goodness I'm glad I do my own taxes.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/business/14147002.htm

"The IRS is quietly moving to loosen the once-inviolable privacy of federal income-tax returns. If it succeeds, accountants and other tax-return preparers will be able to sell information from individual returns - or even entire returns - to marketers and data brokers."

Um....over my dead body.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Vomit.

[Prudence]

I'm thinking I should make it a point to take individual income tax next year. Although I do my own anyhow, and likely will continue. (Frankly, if someone else did them, I'd feel like I had to check their work. It's like cleaning before the maid comes by.)

[€uroMeinke]

How much for a Social Security Number do you suppose?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Sanity check: Preparers can already sell information to "affiliated" groups (i.e., any other part of whatever holding company they are under). The change would remove the "affiliated" restriction. AND (here's the important part) it would require, just as it does now, a signed consent from the customer.

[CoasterMatt]

Would you be so kind as to clean up your vomit from the lounge ;)

[€uroMeinke]

"Your signed tax return implies your consent"

[Gemini Cricket]

They can take my data, but they'll never take my FREEEDOOOOM!




Oh, wait....