Tax Data shared with Google triggers Class Action Lawsuit

[Lee B]

"Users of tax preparation websites in seven states have filed a class action lawsuit against Google, claiming it engaged in wiretapping, following a similar complaint against Meta. The complaint alleges tax prep companies like H&R Block, TaxAct and TaxSlayer sent private tax return information to Google using Google Analytics technology, which may include email addresses, data on users' income, filing status, refund amounts, buttons clicked and year of return."

[Sara EA]

HRB, of all entities, had to know this was against the rules.  When I worked there way back when, it was drilled into our heads.  When the company started offering bank loans, mortgages, financial services, etc., each client had to sign a waiver to share their tax return info with the relevant subsidiary.  I did read somewhere that some tic in the software allowed this info to be shared without the companies having full knowledge.  Lawsuits are going to fly in all directions, and the offending companies may be fined out of existence.

[Lee B]

All of their money, lobbying influence and political contributions will protect them.

There will be a negotiated settlement and the class action attorneys will get a very big payday.

[BulldogTom]

On 8/25/2023 at 10:24 PM, cbslee said:

All of their money, lobbying influence and political contributions will protect them.

There will be a negotiated settlement and the class action attorneys will get a very big payday.

Don't you find it troubling that one little mistake by HRB is being used as a broad brush to paint the entire company?   I would think you wouldn't appreciate that.   Or is it only the IRS that gets a pass from you when they do unethical things?

Tom
Longview, TX

[Sara EA]

This is not "one little mistake."  A heck of a lot of people had their personal contact and tax return data given to parties that have no business accessing it.  How would YOU feel if your (and your family's) name, address, email, Soc Sec # , and income amounts and sources were shared with some anonymous others?

[BulldogTom]

@Sara EA that comment was made with a lot of sarcasm, I was taking a jab at cbslee.   You have to go to the other thread where he was defending the IRS for backdating material to get what I was doing on this thread.   To his credit, he apologized for the comments on the other thread.

Tom
Longview, TX