OAR 150-305-0120: Implied Consent

(1) A "designee" as used in this rule is a person, firm, organization, or agency authorized by a taxpayer to receive the taxpayer's confidential information. Taxpayer consent for the department to disclose to a designee may be in writing, oral, or implied. See OAR 150-314-0535. (2) Without evidence of the filing of written consent to disclose the taxpayer's information, the department may determine that a person is authorized to receive confidential information with respect to a particular tax matter by that person representing to the department that they are authorized to receive the information and revealing to the department knowledge of tax information that is: (a) Related to the tax matter that is the subject of the inquiry or communication; (b) Of a nature that is generally known only to the taxpayer; and (c) Of a nature that taxpayers ordinarily do not share with others except for the purpose of empowering the person to participate in the taxpayer's tax matters. Information disclosed by the department will be limited based on the nature of information a person presents. (3) The following examples illustrate how the department may conclude that a taxpayer has given implied consent to the department to disclose confidential information. Example 1: A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) calls the department, states that he is authorized to receive confidential tax information and reveals knowledge of Mary's private tax information from a department billing or notice. The department concludes that Mary has given the department implied consent to disclose information to the CPA relating to that issue since she presumably gave a copy of her billing or notice to the CPA. Example 2: A Licensed Tax Consultant (LTC) calls the department while preparing Tom and Sue's tax return to confirm estimated tax payments made during the tax year. The practitioner, after representing that Tom and Sue have authorized disclosure, is able to provide the date and amount of each scheduled payment. The department concludes that Tom and Sue have given the department implied consent to confirm the payment information provided since they presumably gave the LTC their tax information. Example 3: A lawyer qualified to practice in Oregon calls the department wanting to set up a payment arrangement for her client, Ashley. She states that she is representing Ashley and presents knowledge of the tax debt and Ashley's personal financial situation. The department concludes that Ashley has given implied consent to discuss and negotiate a payment plan with the lawyer. Example 4: While speaking on the telephone with a department customer service representative, Margaret asks if she may have her daughter listen and participate in the conversation on another telephone extension or a speaker phone. The department concludes that Margaret has given consent to disclose her confidential information to her daughter during the telephone call. Example 5: Carlos comes to the department's walk-in assistance center and brings a friend to help interpret his questions. The department concludes that Carlos has given implied consent to disclose his confidential tax information to his friend during that visit. Example 6: Jerry, age 19, is stationed overseas with the U.S. Army. His mother calls the department indicating that she is authorized to receive Jerry's confidential tax information and with information from a billing notice issued to Jerry three months previously, along with a copy of Jerry's return. She offers to make full payment on the debt using her credit card, if the department will provide the payoff balance. The department concludes that Jerry has given the department implied consent to provide the balance due to his mother. Example 7: Jim and Julie file Oregon personal income tax returns jointly, but Jim files a Lane Transit District Self-Employment Tax return in his name only for his Schedule C business. Julie calls the department to discuss a billing notice issued on the LTD return. She tells the department that she performs all bookkeeping services for his business and has the return, notices and knowledge of all business transactions. The department concludes that Jim has given implied consent for the department to disclose information to Julie to resolve the billing notice. Example 8: Martin, representing that he is an employee in the tax section of XYZ, Inc. authorized to discuss the business's tax matters, calls the department with information from a department billing notice requesting a payoff amount. The department concludes that XYZ, Inc. has given the department implied consent to provide Martin with the payoff amount. Example 9: ZYX Corporation contracts with Advent Payroll Service to perform all of its payroll functions, including remittance of payroll withholding deposits and quarterly payroll reports. Advent registers with the department to remit ZYX's payments via electronic funds transfer by filing required tax information. The department concludes that ZYX has given the department implied consent to disclose payment-related confidential information to Advent in order to process payments received. Example 10: Connie, an Elderly Rental Assistance recipient, asks her caseworker from Senior and Disabled Services to contact the department regarding benefits she received from that agency. The caseworker indicates that Connie has authorized her to receive confidential information and demonstrates full knowledge of Connie's ERA claim. The department concludes that Connie has given implied consent for the department to discuss her claim with the caseworker. Example 11: Joseph electronically filed his individual income tax return. Joseph’s tax return information is sent to an electronic return transmitter (e-file transmitter). The e-file transmitter in turn, sends it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who then forwards it to the department. By receiving Joseph’s tax return information from the e-file transmitter (via the IRS), the department concludes that the taxpayer has provided implied consent for the department to discuss information about Joseph’s return with the transmitter. The types of disclosures the department may make to e-file transmitters about Joseph’s information include, but are not limited to: acknowledgement of the receipt of his e-filed return, the reason for any delay in processing, refund payment dates or delays, and any other information the taxpayer has given to the e-file transmitter for purposes of transmitting such information to the department. (4) If the department is unable to sufficiently determine that a taxpayer has given express or implied consent to disclose confidential information, written consent will be required. Example 12: Donna calls the department inquiring as to whether Avis, her mother, received tax refunds during the past two years. Donna indicates that Avis has authorized her to receive confidential information. Although Donna provides Avis' full name, address, and social security number, she does not demonstrate any knowledge of Avis' tax returns or filing history. She does not have any notices or department letters to Avis in her possession. The department concludes that Avis has not given the department implied consent to disclose her confidential tax information to Donna. To receive the information, Donna will need to provide the department with written consent to disclose from Avis.