The AICPA has expressed concerns to the IRS about the Service’s public release of information of CPAs and other federal tax return preparers the IRS collects as part of its preparer tax identification number (PTIN) registration requirement.

Some of the PTIN information is subject to public release under the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The IRS makes a database of all approximately 700,000 registered preparers available to anyone who requests it and pays a fee of $35. The information subject to release includes the preparer’s name, business name, business mailing address, business phone number, business website address, email address, and professional credentials.

Some private commercial enterprises have purchased the PTIN information released by the IRS and used it to create online lookup directories. These private sites are not endorsed by the IRS

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