IRS - Stalking You on Facebook and MySpace?
Big Brother Climbs Aboard Social Networking Sites
Post something on the internet once and it's there for the world to see - and to use for their own agenda. - including the IRS.
MySpace and Facebook are social networking sites where friends and family share information and photos quickly and easily with a simple click of a mouse. They've also become a tool to seek out tax evaders.
In addition to the more common google searches, The Wall Street Journal reports that several states are using the popular social networking sites as a means of gathering information that can lead them straight to the pockets of members who are less than honest about their financial state.
Do you dabble in small engine repair from your garage on weekends? Decorate cakes, make candles or soap in your kitchen? Be careful where you post that information. Updating your status on MySpace, Twitter or Facebook could have a negative effect on your pocket book. Your State Department of Revenue may be crawling your online profile looking for just that sort of information in order to get their cut.
Is it right for the government to invade a favorite pastime for the purpose of collecting a debt? Some say that big brother is delving much further into our personal lives than should be allowed.
On the other hand, if you're not doing anything wrong, what are you worried about? If you file your taxes properly, report what the law requires and pay what is due, where's the problem? Agents are not allowed to hack into accounts or gather information illegally, and have access only to information that is posted publicly. If you don't want information to be found, the solution is simple - don't post it anywhere.
So far Minnesota, Nebraska and California have admitted to using online search engines and social networking sites to gather information to help line their state's coffers. The IRS is declining to say whether they are using information gathered from such sites at the federal level. I think it would be naïve to suspect they wouldn't be. If the information is there, it's fair game.
So go ahead and Tweet to your heart's content. Just don't brag about the new pooches you picked up in your pet grooming business.
Source: Personal opinion
The Wall Street Journal
Published by Marie Anne St. Jean - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
A Top 1000 Content Producer for the last three years, Marie Anne is a retired U.S. Marine MSgt whose weapons of choice are now crochet hook and pen. When not writing for Yahoo! sites such as YCN! Voice... View profile
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28 Comments
Post a CommentWOW! They are sneaky rats!
Interesting. I have heard about this. Thanks for more info!
Wow! Hadn't thought about them creeping around our FB! My security is set as tight as I can get it...they could still find me if they want, I suppose!
Wouldn't surprise me. We were audited back in '95 over a small mistake H&R Block made on my wife's return when she was a teenager (well past the 7 year statute of limitations), and the tried to take everything we owned, even our 14X48 foot trailer! It took us 8 months to get it straightened out. I guess they don't think they can ever waste enough of our money, thus their insatiable appetite for more of it!
Nothing surprises me from these guys. Most moral Congress ever, she told us. Most transparent administration ever, he told us. Nicely done.
Wow go figure.
Wonder how they will sort out all those VIRTUAL gifts and earnings from the real stuff. Those MySpace and Facebook moguls often aren't working with real entities.
Interesting article, but as long as your myspace & facebook profiles are set to "private," meaning that only your friends can view them, this is a non-issue. You'd have to be totally reckless to allow the IRS to observe you on there.
I never thought about that, but it goes to figure if anyone can see your personal info, the govs would be interested as well!
Very interesting, hummmm