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HB 94

Allow sharing of tax records for securities and insurance fraud investigations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Marta Bertoglio

Montana bill would allow tax authorities to share confidential tax records with fraud investigators for securities and insurance cases.

(H) Died in Process
#crimes #stategovernment #taxation(generally)
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Bill Summary · HB 94

Legislative bill overview

HB 94 would allow Montana tax authorities to share confidential tax records with law enforcement and regulatory agencies investigating securities fraud and insurance fraud. The bill creates an exception to Montana's existing tax privacy protections, permitting disclosure of otherwise protected tax information when requested by authorized investigators.

Why is this important

Tax records contain detailed financial information that can be critical evidence in fraud investigations, potentially helping authorities identify fraudulent schemes and protect consumers. However, this directly affects taxpayer privacy rights and the traditional confidentiality of tax filings, raising questions about the balance between law enforcement needs and individual privacy protections.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy vs. enforcement trade-off: Expanding access to confidential tax records could chill voluntary tax compliance and create concerns about government surveillance of financial activities, even if restricted to fraud investigations
  • Definition and scope concerns: The bill's specific criteria for what constitutes qualifying "securities and insurance fraud" investigations and which agencies can access records may be too broad or too narrow depending on stakeholder perspective
  • Lack of oversight mechanisms: The bill may not include sufficient safeguards, audit trails, or penalties for misuse of tax information by receiving agencies, creating accountability concerns

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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