Tax prep companies shared private taxpayer data with Google and Meta for years, congressional probe finds

[osxmatt]

 

Tax prep companies shared private taxpayer data with Google and Meta for years, congressional probe finds | CNN Business

WWW.CNN.COM

---

Some of America’s largest tax-prep companies have spent years sharing Americans’ sensitive financial data with tech titans including Meta and Google in a potential violation of federal law — data that in some cases was misused for targeted advertising, according to a seven-month congressional investigation.

 

 

Quote

Some of America’s largest tax-prep companies have spent years sharing Americans’ sensitive financial data with tech titans including Meta and Google in a potential violation of federal law — data that in some cases was misused for targeted advertising, according to a seven-month congressional investigation. 

 

The report highlights what legal experts described to CNN as a “five-alarm fire” for taxpayer privacy that could lead to government and private lawsuits, criminal penalties or perhaps even a “mortal blow” for some industry giants involved in the probe including TaxSlayer, H&R Block and TaxAct.

 

Quote

Using visitor tracking technology embedded on their websites, the three tax-prep companies allegedly sent tens of millions of Americans’ personal information to the tech industry without consent or appropriate disclosures, according to the congressional report reviewed by CNN. 

 

Beyond ordinary personal data such as people’s names, phone numbers and email addresses, the list of information shared also included taxpayer data — details about people’s filing status, adjusted gross income, the size of their tax refunds and even information about the buttons and text fields they clicked on while filling out their tax forms, which could reveal what tax breaks they may have claimed or which government programs they use, according to the report.

 

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

I really should use an actual accountant or tax prep person next year instead of TurboTax. This might be what pushes me to do it

[Fizzzzle]

Fuck these fucking fucks

 

WHY DO I EVEN NEED TO FILE W-2s? The shit is already paid! Just give me a check or a bill, you already have all the information. Every other developed country has figured this shit out.

[marioandsonic]

6 minutes ago, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

I really should use an actual accountant or tax prep person next year instead of TurboTax. This might be what pushes me to do it

I personally use HRBlock.

[CayceG]

I use FreeTaxUSA. It's enough for my simple tax return, has similar automation to TurboTax and is, as the name suggests, free. 

 

It should be what everyone uses if you do your own taxes. 

 

[Chris-]

My current client is a bank, and the FDIC has insanely strict rules for what targeting can be based on (we can’t even target age ranges it is that strict). Not an apples to apples comparison but these guys are probably fucked. 

[osxmatt]

 

44 minutes ago, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

I really should use an actual accountant or tax prep person next year instead of TurboTax. This might be what pushes me to do it

 

TurboTax is not listed in the report.

 

38 minutes ago, marioandsonic said:

I personally use HRBlock.

 

HRBlock is listed in the report.

[b_m_b_m_b_m]

4 minutes ago, osxmatt said:

 

 

TurboTax is not listed in the report.

 

 

HRBlock is listed in the report.

surely you didn't expect me to actually read the article right

[osxmatt]

1 minute ago, b_m_b_m_b_m said:

surely you didn't expect me to actually read the article right

 

I did expect you to read it.

 

And don’t call me Shirley.