Yap, after all the ability for tax prepares (H&R Block and the like) to make more money is more important than your personal privacy.
The IRS wouldn't speak on camera, but it says the proposed regulation is a way to safeguard your personal information. It would require the tax preparer to now get consent before selling information to marketers and data brokers.
Robert Fellmeth with the University of San Diego's Center for Public Interest Law though says the current regulation doesn't allow tax preparers to sell your information whether they have permission or not.
"It's gonna be very difficult to control," Fellmeth said. "Once you sell to the first buyer, the first buyer will be harder to control in terms of further disclosure."
Duh, no kidding.
You really think the industry is going to put the (so-called) consent form in big bold letters so the consumer is sure to notice it?
Do you think the consent is going to be worded like, "I hereby give permission for company-name to share my tax information with others outside of this company" or use the phasing, "I do not give permission for company-name to share my tax information" and do it in a signature-at-statement form?
From current evidence, the industry will NOT. They will bury the consent text, with a checkbox, in small print, on a big form; most likely the general contract or agreement for tax preparation. The default will be to give permission to share, unless the consumer specifically does not give permission (forgets or overlooks checking the checkbox).
Remember, industry's (not just tax preparation) attitude is nothing should hinder their ability to make profits. Not your privacy (including identity theft), not your safety, and not your health.
Lets pray; "Great god of profits, please bless us, give us more and more, may you bless us with ever more overflowing coffers, in the name of Greed, amen." ....NOT!
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