IRS Privacy Policy
The IRS privacy policy page was stripped down from a detailed, several-thousand-word policy to a short introduction followed by four empty section headers with no content underneath them. Nearly all of the substantive text was deleted, including the explicit 'we do not sell your information' promise, the description of AI safeguards and human oversight, the full legal notice about which government agencies and third parties can receive your tax data, security/confidentiality assurances, and the rules around recording meetings with the IRS (including how to opt out). Nothing in the new text says any of these practices have changed — the information about them has simply disappeared from the page.
No-data-sale promise and third-party sharing disclosure removed
The explicit statement that the IRS does not sell your data, and the detailed list of exactly which outside agencies and parties can receive your tax information, are both gone. Nothing indicates the actual sharing practices changed, but you can no longer find this information on the privacy page, so you have less visibility into how your data may be shared.
“We do not sell the information collected at this site or any other information we collect.”
Specific AI safeguards replaced with a vague verification tag
The old policy gave concrete assurances about AI use: a human always reviews decisions that affect your rights or benefits, your appeal rights are preserved, and your data stays protected under tax confidentiality law even when AI is involved. All of that detail is gone, replaced by a generic tag saying the content was 'verified by the IRS,' which tells you nothing about how AI actually handles your information or decisions.
“AI operates under human oversight that preserves established review and appeal processes that preserve your due process protections.”
Meeting recording consent and opt-out rights no longer explained
The page used to tell you that you must consent before an IRS meeting is recorded, how to opt out by leaving, and that you can request to record your own tax interview. None of that is explained anymore, making it harder to know your rights if the IRS wants to record a conversation with you.
“To opt out of recording, you may leave a recorded meeting.”
Security monitoring and unauthorized-access penalties no longer described
The assurance that the IRS monitors for unauthorized access to your data and that violators face criminal and civil penalties has been removed from the page, reducing your ability to see how your information is protected.
“We monitor all accesses, with any unauthorized access subject to criminal and civil penalties.”
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.
The opening paragraph was rewritten in friendlier language describing the site as an official government system and explaining generally how it collects information, replacing the older, more detailed explanation of voluntary versus required information.
IRS privacy policy overview
Privacy compliance programs
Privacy Act requests
Privacy complaints
ALSO IN THIS CHANGE, NOT TIED TO ONE PASSAGE
- − REMOVEDExplicit 'we do not sell your data' promise removed
The old policy stated plainly that the IRS does not sell any information it collects. That specific promise no longer appears anywhere in the new page.
We do not sell the information collected at this site or any other information we collect.
- − REMOVEDDetailed description of AI safeguards replaced with a vague banner
The old policy had a full paragraph explaining that AI does not replace human judgment on decisions affecting your rights or benefits, that appeal processes are preserved, and that your data stays protected under tax confidentiality law even when AI is used. That whole explanation is gone, replaced by a one-line tag that just says the content was 'verified by the IRS.'
AI does not replace human judgment in decisions affecting taxpayer rights, benefits, or obligations. 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
- − REMOVEDFull notice on who can receive your tax information deleted
A long, legally required notice explaining exactly which agencies and parties your tax data can be shared with — the Justice Department, state tax agencies, Congress, child-support agencies, other countries under tax treaties, and law-enforcement or intelligence agencies for terrorism cases — has been completely removed.
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
- − REMOVEDSecurity monitoring and confidentiality assurances removed
Language explaining that the IRS monitors for unauthorized access to your information and that unauthorized access is subject to criminal and civil penalties has been taken out, along with the paragraph on how the IRS secures your data.
We monitor all accesses, with any unauthorized access subject to criminal and civil penalties.
- − REMOVEDMeeting recording rights and opt-out instructions removed
The section explaining that you must consent to being recorded in an IRS meeting, that you can leave a meeting to opt out of recording, and that you have the right to request your own recording of an in-person tax interview has been deleted.
To opt out of recording, you may leave a recorded meeting.
- − REMOVEDExplanation of your legal privacy rights and who oversees them removed
The paragraphs identifying the laws that protect your privacy (Privacy Act, FOIA, Internal Revenue Code) and naming the Senior Agency Official for Privacy responsible for compliance have been removed.
The IRS is committed to protecting the privacy rights of America's taxpayers.
- + ADDEDNew empty section headers added
The page now has section titles like 'IRS privacy policy overview,' 'Privacy compliance programs,' 'Privacy Act requests,' and 'Privacy complaints,' but none of them currently have any text underneath — suggesting the page is mid-restructuring or incomplete.
## Privacy complaints