IRS Violates Law by Sharing Taxpayer Information with ICE

A recent ruling by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has determined that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has unlawfully shared confidential taxpayer information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on numerous occasions. The judge's decision, issued on Thursday, highlights that the IRS failed to confirm valid addresses for individuals whose records were requested by ICE, as mandated by law. This requirement is designed to ensure that taxpayer information is only accessed for individuals who have been specifically identified.

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The ruling indicates that many of the addresses shared with ICE in August were incomplete or listed locations such as jails and detention facilities without providing specific street addresses. Nina Olson, founder of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, expressed her surprise at the extent of the violations, stating, “This confirms what we’ve been saying all along: that the IRS has an unlawful policy that violates the Internal Revenue Code’s protections by releasing these addresses in a way that violates the law’s requirements.”

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In response to the ruling, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the practice of information sharing between agencies. DHS argued that such collaboration is essential for identifying individuals in the country, including those who may pose public safety threats. The agency stated, “Information sharing across agencies is essential to identify who is in our country, including violent criminals, determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, and identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense.”

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The ruling has drawn attention to the broader implications of the IRS's practices, particularly regarding the protection of taxpayer information. Critics, including Olson, argue that the current policy undermines the confidentiality guaranteed under the Internal Revenue Code. The case has raised concerns about the balance between immigration enforcement and the protection of individual rights, with advocates calling for stricter regulations on how taxpayer information is shared with law enforcement agencies.

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While the ruling confirms that the IRS has violated legal requirements, the exact number of instances in which taxpayer information was improperly shared remains unclear. The judge's decision did not specify the total number of violations, leaving room for further investigation into the extent of the issue.

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• “This confirms what we’ve been saying all along: that the IRS has an unlawful policy that violates the Internal Revenue Code’s protections by releasing these addresses in a way that violates the law’s requirements,” — Nina Olson, Founder, Center for Taxpayer Rights

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• “Information sharing across agencies is essential to identify who is in our country, including violent criminals, determine what public safety and terror threats may exist so we can neutralize them, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, and identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense,” — Department of Homeland Security

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