When filing your tax return, concerns about personal information security naturally arise. Can your tax data be disclosed without cause? What privacy protections can you rightfully expect from the IRS?

Under Section 8 of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, taxpayers are entitled to confidentiality regarding all information provided to the IRS. This data cannot be disclosed without either the taxpayer's explicit consent or legal authorization. The law establishes your right to expect strict confidentiality in how the IRS handles your information.

The IRS must adhere to fundamental privacy principles in its information management practices. Generally, the agency cannot voluntarily share your tax details with third parties without your permission. Furthermore, the IRS cannot obtain your tax information through third parties—such as employers, neighbors, or financial institutions—without first notifying you.

Communications between you and your tax representatives receive equal protection, with the IRS applying the same security measures to safeguard this correspondence. More significantly, any authorized tax preparer who intentionally or negligently discloses your information for non-tax purposes may face severe criminal penalties, including substantial fines and potential imprisonment.

In summary, your tax information remains fully protected under the law—a fundamental obligation the IRS owes every taxpayer.