Protect Taxpayers’ Privacy Act

Protect Taxpayers' Privacy Act

This bill increases to $250,000 the criminal penalty for unauthorized disclosures of taxpayer information by federal employees and tax return preparers. It also lowers the evidentiary requirements for removal of employees from federal service who disclose tax return information without authorization.

Bill 117 HR 5364, also known as the Protect Taxpayers' Privacy Act, aims to safeguard the personal information of taxpayers from unauthorized access and misuse. The bill was introduced in the US Congress with the goal of enhancing data security measures within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other government agencies responsible for handling taxpayer information.

The key provisions of the bill include requiring the IRS to implement stronger encryption protocols to protect sensitive taxpayer data, as well as establishing strict guidelines for the storage and transmission of this information. Additionally, the bill mandates regular audits and assessments of the IRS's data security practices to ensure compliance with the new regulations.

Furthermore, the Protect Taxpayers' Privacy Act includes provisions for increased penalties for individuals or entities found to be in violation of the new data security requirements. This is intended to deter unauthorized access to taxpayer information and hold accountable those responsible for compromising the privacy of taxpayers. Overall, the bill seeks to strengthen the protection of taxpayers' personal information and enhance the security measures in place to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access. By implementing these measures, the government aims to instill greater trust and confidence in the handling of taxpayer information and ensure the privacy rights of individuals are respected.