Cookies on IRS.gov

We use "persistent" cookies on our website in order to increase our ability to help users find the content they want. Federal agencies are authorized under the White House Open Government Initiative, OMB Memorandum 10-22 PDF, to use persistent cookies. Persistent cookies enhance web metrics and help us analyze how visitors navigate through IRS.gov. Persistent cookies will allow us to analyze the effectiveness of the site, make design improvements to enhance site performance, which will improve customer service overall.

We do not collect personally identifiable information about visitors to our website.

We use "temporary" or "session" cookies on some of the IRS applications deployed on our website, as well. Session cookies allow us to perform site improvements based on the way that the website is actually used by visitors.

Session cookie characteristics:

  • They are stored in the memory of your computer
  • They are only available during an active browser session
  • The cookies do not collect personal information about visitors, and
  • They are erased as soon as you close your web browser

You can adjust your web browser to accept or decline cookies, or to alert you when cookies are in use.

You do not have to accept cookies from us, but if you choose not to, some of the functions on our site may not be available to you.

Visiting other websites

Our website contains links to other websites. These websites are not within our control and may not follow the same privacy, security or accessibility polices. Once you link to another site, you are subject to the policies of that site. All federal websites, however, are subject to the same federal policy, security or accessibility mandates.

Social media sites

The IRS uses third-party services to communicate and interact with the public. These services are controlled and operated by third parties, and are not government websites or applications. By interacting with the IRS through these third-party services, you may be providing non-government third parties access to your personal information. Any information collected by a third-party service is subject to the privacy policies  of the third-party service provider. These third-party services may, for example, use persistent (multi-session) cookies. 

The IRS does not collect, disseminate or maintain any Personally Identifiable Information (PII), for example, registration information, that you make available through these third-party services. The IRS strongly discourages you from providing sensitive PII, such as your Social Security number or tax account information, and will delete any comments containing such information without responding.

Please note that these third-party services supplement the IRS’s traditional communication and outreach efforts. If you need to communicate with the IRS, please use these traditional channels to contact us.   

Third-party service providers' privacy policies

For additional information on disabling cookies on common browsers and websites, see the USA.gov Web Measurement and Customization Opt Out page.

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