The IRS should all U.S. citizens to submit tax returns directly to their system without going through a third party. This is something you can do on paper, but not electronically.
The IRS gave a big boost to the tax professional/software industry by requiring me to use one of the third party preparers to submit my tax return electronically. Buried in the online agreement, that you must respond in the affirmative, is usually a clause that gives the third party the right to use your tax return data for purposes other that submitting your return to the IRS! In other words, sell you unrelated goods and services.
Now third party tax preparation companies are gathering detailed information about their customers. And what could be more detailed that a tax return. We are requried to list every financial company that we have a relationship. Who are our dependents. If we gamble, or more correct, if you won some money gambling. How much we spend on health insurance. To what charities we give money. Who holds our mortgage. And that is just the beginning.
Where and when will the assault on our privacy end! I will continue filing my tax return on paper, by snail mail, until this right to privacy is recognized by the IRS.
IRS, sharpen your letter openers and check your post office box.