Dive Brief:

• The National Association of Tax Professionals is urging Congress to protect the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s information, citing concerns that the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency “may be granted access to sensitive taxpayer data” housed there, according to a Thursday letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
• “The Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the Taxpayer First Act highlight the critical need to protect taxpayer data,” states the letter, which is signed by NATP’s CEO Scott Artman. “Lawmakers should carefully evaluate any proposal expanding access to IRS records and prioritize taxpayer rights in policy discussions.”
• Changes to the agency’s data access should have legal safeguards to prevent unauthorized use, be subject to oversight that ensures access is limited to staff with a direct role in tax administration, and maintain confidentiality as required by the Internal Revenue Code, the letter states.

Dive Insight:

The letter comes as President Donald Trump’s administration’s DOGE is facing pushback from some groups as it has sought to tap into databases across agencies amid its push to root out fraud and cut costs — with the Electronic Privacy Information Center’s Alan Butler calling the approach a “monumental shift” in how the government handles sensitive data, The Hill reported. 

The NATP, which represents roughly 23,000 tax preparers that largely serve individuals and small businesses, pivoted to take the stand after hearing concerns voiced by members and their clients that their data was at risk, Tom O’Saben, the NATP’s director tax content and government relations, said in an interview Friday.   

“We are hearing from businesses who are asking, ‘what information are they gathering and who is doing it?,’” O’Saben said. “Congress could monitor the processes that DOGE is using and make sure they’re not operating with unfettered access to the information.” 

However, the Appleton, Wisconsin-based tax organization’s O’Saben acknowledged its position has been “polarizing.” Some members have voiced opposition because they felt that the organization was taking a position against the ongoing DOGE process, he said. In fact, O’Saben said NATP was not taking a political position.

“In writing this letter to Congress we’re not taking a position pro or con on the creation of DOGE,” O’Saben said. “There’s a duty to protect the privacy of the individual and of their sensitive information…We’re just trying to make sure guardrails are being used.” 

O’Saben said NATP has not heard back from lawmakers about the letter.

The White House, the Treasury Department, the IRS and Speaker Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.