Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-19
BY FRANK CORNER
Associated Press stan Writer

AAaociAted Fress stan writer
How secret "a the Federal in.
come tax return you just filed?
Many Americans believe the
Federal tax collector is like 9
doctor or lawyer-sworn to keer
silent about the private affairs
Of taxpayers. This isn't quite
true.
A tax agent can 60 to Jail II
he illegally discloses your re-
turn to others. He can. how
ever, legally open UP returns to
outsiders under certain circum-
stances. And he does this often,
Anyene's return may be in
spected by State tax agents,
Federal law officers and con-
gressional investigators. II they
get special permission.
A taxpayer also can see his
own return. or get a photo copy
by paying so cents a page.
The States can inspect your
return to make sure you're pay
ing State taxes. About three
quarters Of them do this regu-
larry.
May Be Used As Evidence
Federal agencies, including
the Justice Department and the
FBI, can take look If they sus-
pect someone is violating United
States law. Government prose-
.cutors can even use returns as
evidence in Federal courts.
Congressional committees al
SO can get access to some re-
turns through special presi-
Dental orders. These groups
often hunt for damaging in
formation about people under
investigation.
Although tax secrecy laws
are strict. they are abused from
time to time. Information from
returns occasionally shows up,
quite mysteriously, in the hands
of people who have no business
knowing about anyone's return
but their own. This data isn't
necessarily leaked from the In
ternal Revenue Service, how
ever.
A Justice Department official
said IRIS employees sometimes
become suspicious about entries
on tax returns and tip of the
department to possible criminal
cases outside the tax field. He
said a number of prosecutions
have resulted.
Tip-Oh Means Firing
This is strictly illegal. An
IRIS spokesman said any en-
ploye caught passing such tips
would be fired forthwith.
The employe also would be
subject to possible prosecution
for unlawful disclosure of tax
information. This carries a
maximum penalty of a year in
Jail and a $1,000 fine.
Justice Department attorneys
said they can't recall a single
prosecution for unlawful dis
closure by anyone.
IRIS won't hazard even a
rough guess on the odds that
your return will remain IN
agency secret. Authorized in
spectionS take place at district
Offices all over the country.
Inspections are strictly regu-
lated. When Congress or Fed
eral agencies do the looking,
they specify in advance the |
exact returns they're interested |
in and say why. They can't
rifle at random through IRIS
files. Eve don't permit fishing |
expeditions" one tax official
said.
State Agents Have Access
State tax agents can get
access to all returns filed by
residents. However, they can .
use the information only for
State and local tax purposes.
They are not permitted to relay
the data to State or local po- 4
lice. who are never authorized
to see Federal returns. Z
1t usually takes a formal re-
quest for a Federal agency
head or State governor to open
up tax files. The revenue serv-
ice generally insists on exact
compliance with the ground
rules.
A congressman ran afoul Of !
the secrecy rules a few years |
back. On the eve of big cleo
ton, his opponents circulated a
report that his tax return was
fishy. He countered by trying
to get a copy of the return,
which he planned to make
public.
The Congressman, who was
in his home district, had 10
act fast and phoned the Reve-
nue. Commissioner here. He
asked that a copy of his return
be given to a Washington news
papermen. The request was
rejected.
Application Required
The harried campaiener was
told he would have to file a
formal application, which he
didn't have time to do in ad-
vance of the balloting. Fur
thermore. he was informed
that the newspaperman wasn't
his legal agent and couldn't
pick up the return on his be-
half.
A recurrent problem involves
the support of children whose
parents are separated or d.
vorced and file separate re-
turns. 1t often happens that a
father or mother will claim a
youngSter as a dependent only