Billionaire Elon Musk wants access to sensitive US tax data?

The Washington Post on February 17 quoted a source revealing that members of billionaire Elon Musk's DOGE are trying to access the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) system, which stores financial information of all taxpayers, businesses and non-profit organizations in the US.

IRS headquarters in Washington DC

Under pressure from the White House, the IRS is considering signing a memorandum of understanding to allow DOGE employees access to IRS systems and data, including the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), which gives tax officials access to accounts containing taxpayers’ personal identification numbers and banking information. The system allows employees to enter and adjust transaction data, automate notices, tax filings, and other documents.

According to The Washington Post , access to IDRS is extremely limited because if the information is leaked, it can have a huge impact. "The information that the IRS has is extremely private. The person who has access to it can use it and make it public or do something with it, or share it with others to continue sharing it and your rights will be violated," said Nina Olson, a former internal watchdog official at the IRS.

The IRS director, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, does not have access to IDRS. DOGE’s request to access IDRS has caused great concern within the IRS, especially since President Donald Trump publicly hinted in his first term that he might direct IRS employees to investigate political opponents, confusing agency officials and causing them to worry about the independence of the IRS.

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A Trump administration official said DOGE personnel need access to IDRS because they are working to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and improve the government’s ability to better serve the people. The official said DOGE’s mission of bringing needed efficiency to the bureaucracy is being carried out legally and with appropriate security clearance.

Meanwhile, under IRS regulations, security clearance is not sufficient to access the tax system. Access to IDRS is only granted based on urgent tax administration needs, not national security.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ti-phu-elon-musk-muon-truy-cap-du-lieu-dong-thue-nhay-cam-cua-my-185250217085942734.htm