Three cheers for State Attorneys General!

In a letter dated April 3^rd, 47 of the State Attorneys General asked the IRS to reconsider allowing tax preparers to reveal tax return information on their clients.  The IRS proposed regulation in question actually seeks to protect tax pay information but does not go far enough. The AJ’s solution is beautifully succinct:

We believe that the best, most prudent course for the Service to take is simply to prohibit tax preparers from sharing tax return information for purposes unrelated to the preparation of tax returns.

Right on. It appears that the major problem with the IRS’ proposed regulation is that it allows taxpayers to easily give their permission to release their info. I can just see the gimmicks and promotions at H&R Block, or Liberty.  The $10 off coupons. The heavy handed pressure tactics. The raffles.  All to create new targets for marketers and further erode individual privacy.  The AJs even recognize the potential for identity theft if that information is collected and sold.

So I am sure the four missing AJs were unavailable at short notice to get their signatures.

Indiana Steve Carter (R)

Minnesota Mike Hatch (D)

Nebraska Jon Bruning (R)

North Carolina Roy Cooper (D)

(There are four because the Attorney General of the District of Columbia was one of the signatories) If you are a resident of one of these states you might want to drop an email to your Attorney General just to make sure.  Their email addresses and phone numbers can be found here.