Apparently, the term "Privacy Rights" means about as much to the IRS as it does to Dear Leader W & his warrantless spying on purely domestic communications

Just when it seems the IRS can't get more negative publicity for itself, it does THIS

IRS plan would allow sale of tax data to marketers

If it succeeds, accountants and other tax-return preparers for the first time would be able to sell information from individual returns -- or even entire returns -- to marketers and data brokers.

And then, the IRS pulls an even more infuriating move via linguistic Jedi Mind Trickery

The change is in a set of proposed rules the Treasury Department and the IRS published in the Dec. 8 Federal Register, where the official notice labeled them "not a significant regulatory action."

Only with this Administration could letting the IRS sell taxpayers info & complete returns be considered as "not a significant regulatory action"

And really, if it's such a peachy fucking keen idea, why is the IRS doing this quietly, and why are they pushing the hackneyed "updating old & inefficient rules" blather if this proposal is so above board?

IRS officials portray the changes as housecleaning needed to update outmoded regulations adopted before it began accepting returns electronically. The proposed rules, which would become effective 30 days after a final version is published, would require a tax preparer to obtain written consent before selling tax information.

Critics call the changes a dangerous breach in personal and financial privacy. They say the requirement for signed consent would prove meaningless for many taxpayers, especially those hurriedly reviewing stacks of documents before a filing deadline.

And once the IRS sells the info, there are no restrictions on how that info is used or disseminated

In other words, like Pontius Pilate's freeing of Barabas & condemning of Christ to death, the IRS washes it's hands of the info once they sell it

And even more "1984" style propoganda claiming the info sold is somehow a good deal for taxpayers, especially note the date the regulation-change was proposed

The IRS announced the proposal in a news release the day before the notice was published, headlined: "IRS Issues Proposed Regulations to Safeguard Taxpayer Information."

Just one little trifling matter about that desire to "Safeguard Taxpayer Information"

The announcement did not mention potential sales of tax information.

Lastly, it seems that the taxpayer's right to safeguard the information is already at a higher level than what the IRS wants

IRS spokesman William M. Cressman said, "The heart of this proposed regulation is about the right of taxpayers to control their tax return information. The idea is to emphasize taxpayer consent and set clear boundaries on how tax return preparers can use or disclose tax return information."

I would say that a better way to set clear boundaries on this issue is to leave the system just the way it is already