"Sen. Elizabeth Warren Expresses Concern Over Google and Meta's Data Collection from Tax Prep Companies"

Tax preparation companies such as TaxAct, H&R Block, and TaxSlayer have been found to have shared taxpayers' data with Big Tech companies like Meta and Google through tracking pixels on their websites, potentially violating privacy laws. A congressional report revealed the extent of this data collection and sharing, highlighting the lack of privacy regulations in place. The report called for investigations and prosecutions of companies that broke the law, as well as the expansion of the IRS' free, direct-file program to protect taxpayers' privacy. The tax prep companies claimed that the data shared was anonymized, but the report found that it could be reidentified. Comprehensive privacy legislation and direct e-filing with the IRS could help address these privacy concerns.