When the IRS is gathering information about taxpayers, it’s generally allowed to use any publicly available information about you—that includes your social media profiles. The IRS isn’t very transparent on how it uses social media, however, so it’s hard to know for sure.
What we do know is that the IRS doesn’t have some sophisticated algorithm or advanced database of the major social media platforms to mine information. The IRS has refuted this. With advances in artificial intelligence and a desire to further digitize the IRS, however, the agency may rely more on social media in the future.
What the IRS Can See on Your Social Media Profile
The IRS can see anything on your profile that is public, i.e., any information that comes up in a simple search of your name. If your entire profile is public, the IRS can see everything on it, including all of your posts, locations you’ve checked in at, photos, current workplaces…everything.
The agency is also allowed to use any public information about you on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, or any other platform when auditing you.
Can You Prevent the IRS from Looking at Your Social Media?
If you don’t want the IRS to see anything you post on social media, make your profile private. On most platforms, you can also change your settings so that your profile doesn’t appear in Google search results when your name is searched. You can remove your last name and only use your initials if you want to be extra careful.
You might have to invest an hour or two in changing all the privacy settings on your social media profiles, but it’ll be worth it, especially if you’re under investigation by the IRS.
Get IRS Help from a Reliable Tax Attorney
If you’re dealing with an audit from the IRS, our Maryland tax attorneys can guide you on how to proceed. Gabaie & Associates, LLC helps taxpayers in Baltimore, Columbia, Frederick, and Rockville stay compliant with their taxes and optimize their tax returns as much as possible. Call (410) 358-1500 to speak with a reliable tax attorney, or send us a message on our contact form.
