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Comment by timewizard | Hacker News Reader

Tax data is not particularly sensitive and several nations just publish it. Even in the US many forms of non-individual tax filings are public by default. The results of audits /are/ highly sensitive but there's no reason to hold those on computer systems for longer than 5 years after the audit.

I think the medical industry can easily be regulated without the government having access to my actual medical file. They regulate cars without having any idea how I drive mine. They regulate planes without sitting on the flight deck themselves.

It's like we know how to build good businesses, good databases, have solid user control practices, but then we give the government a pass because it's imagined to be "really hard." It's laughable.

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Can you point to a country that publicly releases everybody's tax returns, as a policy? I know some countries that release elected officials' returns, but not those of common people.

Finland for example: https://www.vero.fi/en/About-us/finnish-tax-administration/d...

> Individual income tax information for 2023 was released on 7 November 2024. Public information can be browsed on tax office workstations and requested by telephone: How to search the public information on income taxes and real estate taxes

> The following data is included in the public information on individual income taxes:

> name, year of birth, county earned income subject to state taxation

> capital income subject to state taxation, income subject to municipal taxation, income tax, municipal tax

> imposed taxes and charges in total, amount of back taxes or tax refunds

Thank you, not surprising it's the nordic countries. I can't imagine this in the US but I'm glad to learn some places pull it off.

Norway allows you to see / search almost everyone's personal tax record (including name, birth year, postal code, net income and net wealth). You can do this online here: https://www.skatteetaten.no/en/forms/search-the-tax-lists/

A quick google search tells me Finland, Norway, Sweden, Pakistan

Sweden - public records.

Sensitive data includes things like home addresses, personal income, personal debt, personal wealth, dates of birth, medical status, etc. I don't know if it's true that some nations publish that (I don't personally know of any) but whether that's the case or not doesn't make any difference to whether it's sensitive.

I'm not trying to be flip. You should try to look up your own data sometime. In many states, with just your plate number, I can request your info. The DMV will give it to me unless you've requested and presented a reason for them not to. Some will notify you and possibly give you a few days advance notice but with action on your part I will get your information. The cost here is less than $100 typically.

Or a PI. The cost there is less than $2000 typically.

In Sweden that's public information except medical status.

So I can call the IRS - get the date of birth and tax declaration, i.e. income from work and income from capital of anybody (except those with protected identity).

Address and date of birth etc. you can just check any map-site lite hitta.se.

> Tax data is not particularly sensitive and several nations just publish it.

Aren't we still waiting for Trump's tax returns?

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/trumps-tax-returns-rele...

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