Summary

Elon Musk has requested access to the IRS’s Integrated Data Retrieval System, which contains personal tax information for millions of Americans.

The request has not yet been granted but has raised alarm among privacy experts and government officials.

Critics fear Musk could misuse the data, especially given his existing federal contracts. The IRS is considering a memorandum to permit access, despite strict rules against unauthorized viewing.

A federal judge has already blocked DOGE from accessing Treasury data, but other agencies remain vulnerable.

  • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    I think he should get access to it.

    I think everyone should get access to it.

    That’s how we do it in Scandinavia. It’s been good for fighting corruption.

    If your neighbour has a brand new Lamborghini in his driveway, while filling an income of 20k€ the last year. Maybe ask the IRS to look a bit closer at his finances.

    I use it to see how much my colleagues make, so I have a leg to stand on in salary negotiations.

    • Snapz@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      That’s not how it works here… Don’t pretend and welcome his horseshit. This is probably about making a personal enemies list

    • thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works
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      4 days ago

      In a fair democracy, sure. But the US ain’t that; I wouldn’t be surprised if they used donation write-offs to target political opponents.

      • ehoff121@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        Political donations are generally not tax deductible so wouldn’t show up on the returns.

        • thatKamGuy@sh.itjust.works
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          4 days ago

          You’ve misunderstood; Donations to charities like The Trevor Project are deductible, and would be very much considered political.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      The only way the Trump administration is going to do anything about people cheating on their taxes is to pardon them for it.

      • mindaika@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 days ago

        Good point: a lot of theft stems from people reading tax returns and robbing the rich. That’s why high-income neighborhoods also have the highest crime 🙄

      • ThePyroPython@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        You know what’s even more convenient?

        Scammers from poorer countries just targeting the elderly and retired in richer countries. You know, like they currently do.

        What’s with the fear mongering about a system that’s been shown to reduce corruption? Do you like corruption? Do you like people cheating the benefits system?

      • nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca
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        4 days ago

        You can find the rich people by driving to the best part of town. If they stop you from going further you’ve found the wealthy people.

      • Blinsane@reddthat.com
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        4 days ago

        The same argument that’s been parroted by right wing parties here for decades. However it doesn’t really mesh well with reality. Not that right wing parties ever really cared about reality.

  • wreckus@lemmy.ca
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    4 days ago

    From someone who took Records and Information Management years ago, this is a huge red flag and everyone in the US should be alarmed and pissed off about this.

    Elon and his DOGE fools have no right to have access to American’s IRS records.

  • adm@lemm.ee
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    4 days ago

    Great, I’m about to get audited by the billionaire that probably doesn’t pay taxes. Lovely.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Even better, the “audit” will be done by some teenager named “Big Balls”.

      I’m sure they have the wisdom, the experience, and level-headed presence of mind to properly deal with that kind of responsibility.

    • ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one
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      3 days ago

      Good news everyone!

      Musky’s audit has shown the billionaires are actually owed money from the government. Thankfully, those professionally weekend trained auditors confirmed that the working class owes billions in taxes.

      The working class has two options: come with the money or be sent to a work camp to pay off the ever increasing tax debt.

    • acargitz@lemmy.ca
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      4 days ago

      Fuck Musk but this thing of shipping people around is crap. Just jail him like any regular criminal.

    • kofe@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      First thing that came to mind for me is going after retired federal employees, veterans, etc. Also locating immigrants, even if they’re here legally with documentation.

  • inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    So given that his little team of unqualified racist have already proven to leak classified data and can’t secure a server with even basic security that someone on the homeserver community would do, it would be funny if this is how Trump’s tax returns would come out to light.

    • Lør@sopuli.xyz
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      4 days ago

      Hs team of probably cocaine addled computer whateversa re there to STEAL info. Not to fix, not to create. Bear that in mind.

    • NickwithaC@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      All Americans should have their credit frozen in general. You can unfreeze it any time you want to make a big finance decision like a mortgage but there’s no reason to just leave it out there the rest of the time.

      • hansolo@lemm.ee
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        4 days ago

        That ads friction to the economy, which is why credit was invented.

        If we all just started a grassroots campaign in which EVERYONE freezes their credit in March, it will not be awesome for banks.

          • hansolo@lemm.ee
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            4 days ago

            It would slow down spending in the economy simply by being a slight barrier to people getting new credit cards or buying new things. Large banks are also credit card servicers, so they would see direct impacts.

      • dance_ninja@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        The thing that makes me hesitant about a freeze is losing the code somehow. Not sure what to do if that happens.

    • cranakis@reddthat.com
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      4 days ago

      You’re not wrong We’re fucked. I’m waiting for everyone else to get mad enough to revolt with me. Fuck Elon Musk. No one voted for that cunt.