IRS blocks DOGE's request to access taxpayers personal data

ARTICLE | March 13, 2025

Authored by Schlenner Wenner & Co

The Trump Administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, recently sought access to the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS). DOGE claimed this move was to identify and eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse." However, this raised significant concerns among privacy experts and IRS insiders, who warned of the potential for misuse of such sensitive data.

The IDRS holds private information for millions of Americans, including income details, Social Security numbers, addresses, and more. While DOGE's request has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge, the incident raises important questions about privacy, data security, and the potential for political misuse of personal information.

IRS databases are closely guarded, with access typically limited to agency employees working on assigned cases. Unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer data is a felony, emphasizing the critical nature of this information. Yet, DOGE's request for access was made without clear information on how they would safeguard this sensitive data.

Why should we care? The potential misuse of such data could result in identity theft, financial loss, and political exploitation. In an era where data is increasingly valuable and vulnerable, the protection of personal information is paramount. It's essential for taxpayers to be aware of who has access to their financial data and for what purpose. This incident highlights the need for strong data protection measures and the careful scrutiny of any attempts to access sensitive personal information.

Our firm understands the ethical and legal responsibilty of safeguarding all information received to prepare tax returns.  If you have any concerns regarding this, please contact our offices to discuss.  You may also review the IRS Taxpayer Bill of Rights 8: The Right to Confidentiality: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/taxpayer-bill-of-rights-8#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20the%20IRS%20may,mortgage%20or%20student%20loan%20application.)