IRS Privacy Policy
The IRS rewrote its privacy policy page, and the new version is dramatically shorter. Several important consumer protections were deleted outright, including the explicit promise that the IRS 'does not sell' your information, the detailed list of exactly which outside parties (DOJ, states, Congress, foreign governments, law enforcement) can receive your tax data, the explanation of safeguards around AI use, and your right to opt out of meeting recordings. The new page also adds several section headers ('Privacy compliance programs,' 'Privacy Act requests,' 'Privacy complaints') that currently have no text underneath them, which suggests this may be a page still under construction or a content-loading issue rather than a deliberate final policy — it's worth re-checking the live page later to see if that content appears.
No longer tells you who can receive your tax information
The old policy spelled out the specific government offices, courts, and even foreign countries that could receive your tax return details, plus a clear promise that the IRS doesn't sell your data. All of that has been deleted, leaving you with no way to see who might get your information or why on this page.
“we may disclose your tax information to the Department of Justice to enforce the tax laws, both civil and criminal, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths or territories to carry out their tax laws”
What you can do — Check the Treasury Department's System of Records Notices page directly for the current list of parties who can receive your tax information.
AI safeguard explanation dropped
The previous text promised that AI wouldn't replace human judgment on decisions about your tax rights or benefits, and that your appeal rights stay intact when AI is involved. The new page replaces this with a vague "AI-assisted, verified by the IRS" badge and doesn't explain what oversight or protections actually apply.
“AI operates under human oversight that preserves established review and appeal processes that preserve your due process protections.”
Notice of your rights and consequences for not providing information removed
The law requires the IRS to tell you why it's asking for information and what can happen if you refuse — including penalties, criminal prosecution, or losing deductions. This required explanation is no longer on the page.
“you may be charged penalties and be subject to criminal prosecution”
What you can do — Refer to your tax form instructions or the relevant IRS publication for the full Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act notice.
Right to opt out of meeting recordings no longer explained
The old policy told you that you could leave a meeting to opt out of being recorded, and that you could request recording of an in-person interview about your taxes. This explanation of your rights is gone.
“To opt out of recording, you may leave a recorded meeting.”
Security monitoring explanation removed
Details on how the IRS watches for unauthorized changes to its website and avoids tracking individual visitors unless it suspects illegal activity have been deleted, giving less clarity on how your visit is monitored.
“We also monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information or otherwise cause damage to the web service.”
AI-assisted content verified by the IRS
Thank you for visiting the Internal Revenue Service's website, an official United States Government System, and reviewing our privacy policy. Our privacy policy explains how we handle the personally identifiable information (PII) that you provide to us when you visit us online to browse, obtain information, or conduct a transaction. PII includes information that is personal in nature and which might be used to identify you. The IRS uses this website to provide information about IRS services and programs. This website includes specific applications which provide more services or enable us to respond to specific questions from website visitors.
We won't collect personal information about you just because you visit this Internet site. Some applications on this website provide you with the opportunity to order forms, ask questions requiring a response, sign up for electronic newsletters, participate in focus groups and customer surveys, or learn the status of filed returns or anticipated payments. Using these services is voluntary and may require that you provide additional personal information to us. Providing the requested information implies your consent for us to use this data in order to respond to your specific request.
IRS privacy policy overview
Privacy compliance programs
Privacy Act requests
Privacy complaints
ALSO IN THIS CHANGE, NOT TIED TO ONE PASSAGE
- − REMOVED"We do not sell your data" statement removed
The old policy clearly stated the IRS does not sell the information it collects on this site. That specific promise no longer appears anywhere in the new version.
We do not sell the information collected at this site or any other information we collect.
- − REMOVEDDetailed list of who receives your tax information deleted
The previous policy spelled out exactly which outside groups could get your tax return information, including the Justice Department, state tax agencies, congressional committees, child-support agencies, foreign governments under tax treaties, and law-enforcement/intelligence agencies. This entire explanation is gone.
we may disclose your tax information to the Department of Justice to enforce the tax laws, both civil and criminal, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths or territories to carry out their tax laws
- ± CHANGEDExplanation of AI safeguards shrunk to a short badge
The old text explained that AI doesn't replace human judgment on decisions about your tax rights or benefits, and that your appeal rights stay protected even when AI is used. The new page just shows a short "AI-assisted content, verified by the IRS" badge with none of that detail.
AI operates under human oversight that preserves established review and appeal processes that preserve your due process protections.
**AI-assisted content** verified by the IRS
- − REMOVEDMeeting recording opt-out explanation removed
The old policy told you that you could leave a recorded meeting to opt out, and that you had the right to request recording of an in-person interview about your taxes. This explanation is gone.
To opt out of recording, you may leave a recorded meeting.
- − REMOVEDWebsite security monitoring explanation removed
Details on how the IRS monitors its site for unauthorized changes, and that it doesn't try to identify individual visitors unless illegal activity is suspected, have been deleted.
No attempts are made to identify individual users unless illegal behavior is suspected.
- − REMOVEDRequired Privacy Act / Paperwork Reduction Act notice removed
A legally required notice explaining the IRS's authority to ask for information, what happens if you don't provide it (penalties, criminal prosecution, disallowed deductions), and your related rights has been removed from the page.
you may be charged penalties and be subject to criminal prosecution
- − REMOVEDTaxpayer burden estimates and forms-feedback info removed
Information about how much time and money filing typically takes, plus instructions on how to comment on IRS forms, was deleted.
the estimated average time burden for all taxpayers filing a Form 1040 or 1040SR is 13 hours, with an average cost of $270 per return
- + ADDEDNew section headers added without content
The updated page adds headers titled "Privacy compliance programs," "Privacy Act requests," and "Privacy complaints," but none currently have any text under them.
## Privacy compliance programs