The IRS is currently considering a rule that would make it easier for tax preparers to disclose the private information contained in tax returns - including name, address, Social Security number, employer, income, and charitable donations.

Many companies accept publicly available information such as a Social Security number as a means of [partly] authenticating a user. This is a typical policy problem where government, law enforcement and the technology industry need to work together to encourage proper authentication methods.

Social security, bank account, and credit card numbers aren't just data. In the wrong hands they can wipe out someone's life savings, wreck their credit and cause financial ruin.

They're asking for private information, like Social Security numbers and credit card numbers.

Not only is privatizing Social Security not the solution to Social Security, it would exacerbate the problem.

Reports also suggest that Ernst and Young and other large tax preparation firms are sending tax returns overseas for processing. But the IRS has no control over tax information once it's been sent to India or another country.