IRS Privacy Policy
The IRS replaced its detailed privacy policy with a much shorter page that keeps only general introductory language and adds four empty section headers (overview, compliance programs, Privacy Act requests, complaints) with no content under them yet. In the process, it deleted the explicit promise not to sell your data, the requirement to get your consent before using your information for a new purpose, the full list of third parties and government agencies your tax data can be shared with, the explanation of safeguards around AI use of your data, the description of security monitoring, and the instructions for opting out of meeting recordings.
IRS removed its explicit promise not to sell your data
The old policy flatly stated the IRS doesn't sell any information it collects. That sentence has been deleted and nothing takes its place, so the current policy no longer makes this promise to you.
“We do not sell the information collected at this site or any other information we collect.”
What you can do — If you want written confirmation that the IRS doesn't sell your data, contact the IRS Privacy Office directly, since this policy no longer states it.
Detailed list of who your tax data can be shared with is gone
The policy used to spell out exactly which outside parties your tax information could be disclosed to — the Department of Justice, state/local governments, Congress, child-support agencies, foreign countries under tax treaties, and law enforcement/intelligence agencies fighting terrorism. That whole explanation has been deleted, so you can no longer see this list in the privacy policy itself.
“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 — Review 26 U.S.C. §6103 directly or ask the IRS Disclosure office for the current list of who your tax data can be shared with, since it's no longer in this policy.
Commitment to ask your consent before new uses of your data removed
The old policy promised the IRS would get your consent before using your information for any purpose beyond what you originally gave it for (unless required by law). That promise has been removed, making it less clear what limits exist on reusing your data.
“We will ask for your consent before using the information you provide for any secondary purpose other than those required by federal law.”
Explanation of AI oversight and safeguards for your data deleted
The IRS previously explained that AI doesn't replace human judgment on decisions affecting your taxpayer rights and that your information stays protected under the Privacy Act and tax confidentiality law even when AI is used. That explanation is gone, replaced only by a short badge saying the page content was AI-assisted — a different, unrelated claim about the webpage text itself.
“AI does not replace human judgment in decisions affecting taxpayer rights, benefits, or obligations.”
Security monitoring and unauthorized-access protections no longer described
The statement that the IRS monitors all access to your information and treats unauthorized access as a crime has been removed from the policy, reducing what you're told about how your data is protected.
“We monitor all accesses, with any unauthorized access subject to criminal and civil penalties.”
Right to opt out of meeting recordings no longer explained
The policy used to tell you that IRS meetings may be recorded, that you'd be notified if so, and that you could opt out by leaving, plus your right to request your own recording of an in-person interview. None of that is explained anymore.
“To opt out of recording, you may leave a recorded meeting.”
What you can do — If you're in an IRS meeting or interview, ask the IRS representative directly about recording and your opt-out options, since this policy no longer explains them.
New policy sections exist but have no content yet
The page now has headers titled 'Privacy Act requests' and 'Privacy complaints,' which sound like they should tell you how to request your records or file a privacy complaint, but there's no text under them yet.
What you can do — Check the IRS privacy page again later for the Privacy Act request and complaint procedures, or contact the IRS directly in the meantime.
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 detailed explanation of what counts as personal information, when it's collected, and that you'll be told in advance if information is required was replaced with a shorter, more general statement about visiting the site and using optional features.
IRS privacy policy overview
Privacy compliance programs
Privacy Act requests
Privacy complaints
ALSO IN THIS CHANGE, NOT TIED TO ONE PASSAGE
- − REMOVEDPromise not to sell your data removed
The policy used to explicitly state the IRS does not sell any information it collects. That sentence is gone and nothing replaces it.
We do not sell the information collected at this site or any other information we collect.
- − REMOVEDConsent requirement for new uses of your data removed
The policy previously said the IRS would ask your consent before using your information for any new purpose beyond what you gave it for, and that it would only disclose information as authorized by law. That commitment is no longer stated.
We will ask for your consent before using the information you provide for any secondary purpose other than those required by federal law.
- − REMOVEDAI governance explanation replaced with a short badge
A detailed paragraph explaining how the IRS uses AI, that AI doesn't replace human judgment on taxpayer rights, and that human oversight and appeal rights are preserved was deleted. In its place is a one-line badge saying the page's content was AI-assisted and verified by the IRS — a different claim, about the webpage text itself, not about how AI handles your tax data.
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
- − REMOVEDWebsite security monitoring description removed
The explanation that the IRS monitors network traffic for unauthorized changes, doesn't try to identify individual visitors unless illegal activity is suspected, and treats unauthorized access as a crime has been deleted.
We monitor all accesses, with any unauthorized access subject to criminal and civil penalties.
- − REMOVED'Umbrella' repeat-notice approach explanation removed
An explanation of why you might not get a repeated privacy notice on follow-up IRS contacts about the same matter was removed. This is procedural and doesn't change your rights.
the IRS has adopted an "umbrella" approach where the first contact of a series includes a notice that the individual may keep and that would apply to all future inquiries related to that situation.
- − REMOVEDFull Disclosure, Privacy Act, and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice deleted
An entire section was removed that explained your legal rights when the IRS asks for information, the consequences of not filing or providing requested information, and — importantly — the full list of outside parties the IRS can legally share your tax return information with, including the Department of Justice, state and local governments, Congress, child-support agencies, other countries under tax treaties, and law enforcement/intelligence agencies.
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.
- − REMOVED'We welcome comments on forms' section removed
The section inviting feedback on tax forms and explaining where to send suggestions was deleted. Not privacy-related.
We try to create forms and instructions that can be easily understood.
- − REMOVEDTaxpayer burden estimate table removed
The table and explanation of average time and cost burden for filing tax returns was removed. Not privacy-related.
The following table shows burden estimates based on current statutory requirements as of November 2023
- − REMOVEDGeneral privacy-rights, oversight-official, and access-monitoring section removed
A section describing the laws protecting taxpayer privacy, the Senior Agency Official for Privacy, and the statement that the IRS may not disclose your tax information unless authorized by law and monitors all access to it has been deleted.
The IRS may not disclose tax returns or return information unless authorized by law.
- − REMOVEDMeeting/interview recording consent and opt-out instructions removed
The explanation of how the IRS handles recording of meetings or interviews, how you'll be notified if a meeting is recorded, how you can opt out by leaving, and your 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.
- + ADDEDNew empty section headers added
Four new section headers were added — 'IRS privacy policy overview,' 'Privacy compliance programs,' 'Privacy Act requests,' and 'Privacy complaints' — but none currently have any text under them.
## Privacy complaints