Post Reports DOGE wants access to your tax data. Why?
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Feb 18, 2025 Jacob Bogage, an economics correspondent for The Washington Post, joins to delve into a controversial request from DOGE for access to IRS data. They discuss alarming implications for taxpayer privacy and the potential risks of corporate interests infiltrating sensitive financial information. The conversation dives into the vulnerabilities of the IRS as a data target, the fallout from possible IRS layoffs, and the urgent need for safeguards to maintain public trust in the tax system amid increasing political maneuvering.
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IRS Data System
- The IRS uses 60 interconnected databases that feed into the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS).
- IDRS provides comprehensive taxpayer information like bank details, tax balances, and refunds.
Doge's Unannounced Visit
- Doge's software engineer, Gavin Kleiger, visited IRS headquarters unannounced, seeking access to IDRS.
- The IRS, under pressure from the White House, is unsure of Kleiger's role and the legality of granting access.
Doge's Misguided Focus
- Doge aims to expose government inefficiency but the IRS's data pertains to revenue collection, not spending.
- The U.S. voluntary tax system's high compliance rate makes the IRS an unlikely target for efficiency improvements.