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Local Concerns Raised Over Musk’s Tax Data Request
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly asked the IRS for access to its Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS). This system holds the personal tax information of millions of Americans.
Privacy experts are worried. Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer, expressed concerns about the security and potential misuse of sensitive information. She emphasized the public’s expectation that their data will be handled responsibly.
The IDRS is tightly controlled within the IRS. Access is granted only to authorized employees for specific tasks. As of this weekend, DOGE’s request had not been approved.
Government officials also share these privacy concerns. They’re worried about Musk’s team potentially accessing private taxpayer data.
Musk has previously, and without evidence, accused federal employees of defrauding taxpayers. He’s questioned how some government workers have accumulated significant wealth.
Earlier this month, a similar DOGE request for access to the Treasury Department’s payment system was blocked by a judge after a lawsuit from 19 states.
A DOGE employee recently visited the IRS to discuss data collection and management practices. It’s unclear if this visit included the IDRS access request.
There are reports that the IRS is considering an agreement to grant DOGE access to several systems, including the IDRS. However, neither Musk nor the White House has disclosed what data, if any, DOGE has already obtained from the IRS or other agencies.
Musk claims DOGE is transparent and posts all activity on its website. Currently, the site mainly lists canceled government contracts.
IRS regulations strictly forbid accessing the IDRS to view tax information of family, friends, neighbors, or celebrities. Unauthorized access is a crime with serious penalties.
The question of whether DOGE will ultimately be granted access to the IRS data remains unanswered.