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Taxpayer Bill of Rights: The right to confidentiality

Posted by Admin Posted on Mar 23 2020

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The IRS won’t share any information a taxpayer gives IRS  with outside parties, unless allowed by the taxpayer or by law.  This is the right to confidentiality - the eighth of ten rights taxpayers have under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

The right to confidentiality means:

  • The IRS won’t give an any information to a third party without permission from the taxpayer. 
  • The agency can’t contact third parties such as an employer, neighbor, or bank for information unless the they give taxpayer reasonable notice first.
  • The same confidentiality a taxpayer has with an attorney also applies to tax professionals working with the IRS on the taxpayer’s behalf.

Confidential communications include conversations, messages, documents, and info that:

  • Fall within the tax professional’s authority to practice before the IRS, but it doesn’t include tax return preparation.
  • Are considered private or restricted between the taxpayer and their attorney.
  • Relate to noncriminal tax matters with the IRS, or noncriminal tax cases in federal court.

Also, tax professionals can’t share or use their clients’ tax information for any reason other than preparing a return. 

If you have any questions regarding accounting, domestic taxation, essential business accounting, international taxation, IRS representation, U.S. tax implications of Real Estate transactions or financial statements, please give us a call at 305-274-5811.

Source: IRS

The information provided on the LBCPA Blog is a community service for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors who specialize in the topics covered. Please refer to your advisors for specific advice on these subjects. The information is not intended to be used, and it cannot be used, for the purposes of avoiding U.S. Federal and/or State tax laws or the tax laws of any foreign jurisdiction.

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