Federal Charges Filed Over Leak of Trump Tax Return Data
Federal prosecutors announced charges on September 29, 2023, against an individual accused of leaking tax return data belonging to former President Donald Trump during his tenure as a contractor for an unspecified entity. The leak involved confidential financial documents that are generally protected under federal law, highlighting concerns about the unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer information.
The Internal Revenue Service maintains strict confidentiality policies regarding tax returns, as outlined in Code section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code. These policies safeguard the privacy of taxpayer data but also include specific provisions that permit certain disclosures under defined legal circumstances. The unauthorized leak of Trump’s tax returns stands as a violation of these protections and federal statutes governing taxpayer information privacy.
In recent years, members of Congress publicly released six years of Donald Trump’s tax returns covering his time in the White House. This unprecedented disclosure brought scrutiny to the financial dealings and tax filings of a sitting president, marking a rare event in U.S. political history. These documents were obtained through legal channels and congressional authority, differing from the illegal leak reported by the federal prosecutors.
To protect taxpayer data, the IRS enforces a series of cybersecurity and operational security requirements collectively referred to as the Security Six. Tax professionals handling client information must implement these mandatory controls, which include measures such as identity verification, data encryption, and secure access protocols. The IRS also encourages the development of written information security plans for tax preparers, especially smaller practices, to prevent unauthorized access and ensure compliance with federal regulations.
Federal Trade Commission regulations impose additional obligations on professional tax preparers to adopt security plans that safeguard client data against phishing scams, cyberattacks, and other breaches. The IRS provides resources such as Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data, to assist tax professionals in developing and maintaining these plans while meeting legal and reporting requirements, including the completion of the Safeguard Security Report.
The Office of Safeguards within the IRS oversees efforts to maintain taxpayer confidence in the integrity of the tax system. Its mission emphasizes the confidentiality and protection of sensitive taxpayer information across federal agencies. Operations implemented under the safeguards program include routine compliance checks and enforcement actions against those who compromise data security.
This recent legal action regarding the leak of Trump’s tax information underscores the federal government’s commitment to upholding the integrity and confidentiality of taxpayer data. It affirms the application of strict security protocols and legal penalties against breaches of privacy in the handling of tax returns and related financial information.
