Can the IRS See Your Internet History?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing tax laws in the United States. As part of their duties, IRS agents may investigate taxpayers’ financial activities, including their online activity. This has led to concerns about whether the IRS can see your internet history.

Can the IRS See Your Internet History?

The answer to this question is not entirely clear. The IRS does not have direct access to your internet history, but they may be able to obtain it from your internet service provider (ISP) or other third parties.

In 2013, the IRS issued a summons to Google for the search history of a taxpayer who was under investigation for tax fraud. Google initially resisted the summons, but eventually complied after the IRS obtained a court order.

This case shows that the IRS can obtain your internet history if they have a valid reason to do so. However, it is important to note that the IRS cannot simply subpoena your ISP for your internet history without a court order.

How Can You Protect Your Internet History from the IRS?

There are a few things you can do to protect your internet history from the IRS:

• Use a VPN. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for the IRS to track your online activity.
• Use privacy-focused browsers. Browsers like Firefox and Brave have built-in privacy features that can help protect your internet history from being tracked.
• Clear your browsing history regularly. This will make it more difficult for the IRS to obtain your internet history from your ISP.

The IRS does not have direct access to your internet history, but they may be able to obtain it from your ISP or other third parties. You can protect your internet history from the IRS by using a VPN, using privacy-focused browsers, and clearing your browsing history regularly.