Owe money to the IRS? Don't blog about it.

**ClubmanRob** · 08-31-2009, 01:45 PM

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/148083

Be very careful what you say on Facebook, MySpace, or any other social network site -- especially if you owe money to the government.

That's the lesson being offered by the Wall Street Journal this week, whch reports on numerous cases where tax collectors have used information that people have posted about themselves on social networking sites in order to track them down and collect on tax debts.

Just about any kind of update can be used against you, it seems. One deejay posted on his MySpace page that he'd be working at an upcoming party. Agents decided to crash it to collect their cash. Another man announced he was moving back to his home town and published the name of his new boss. Finding him to collect on an old tax bill was a matter of ease.

All it really takes for the IRS to find most people on Facebook and the like is a few minutes of time, since searching for a user's name is painfully easy and results are usually good. And if Facebook and MySpace turn up empty, there's always Google. A quick search using only the most basic of information about a person will usually turn up a gold mine of information about them, often including employment web sites where their name may be listed as a member of the staff -- all the easier to hit them with a new tax bill.

At least one official says there are rules about how far the tax man can go to find you: In Nebraska, "agents are not allowed to 'friend' someone using false information," for example. But anything posted publicly -- which is the default for anything posted on MySpace -- can be used against you in the quest to collect on your tax bill.

**Mejnoon** · 08-31-2009, 04:01 PM

Its not just the tax man - I've taken to checking facebook and myspace as part of my screening process when I take a rental application.

The kinds of things people share publicly constantly amaze me.

**Swampfox** · 08-31-2009, 04:18 PM

That explains why my door is being busted down right now.......

**Jethro1984** · 08-31-2009, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Swampfox

That explains why my door is being busted down right now.......

Close your eyes before the flash grenade goes off.

**Subcutaneous** · 08-31-2009, 04:19 PM

Thats why i dont have either..... career limiting move (CLM)

**Swampfox** · 08-31-2009, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Jethro1984

Close your eyes before the flash grenade goes off.

Oh my eyes! What's that smell? I think they are gassing me w/LV!

***I apologize all of you LV fans.....

**mretzloff** · 08-31-2009, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Subcutaneous

Thats why i dont have either..... career limiting move (CLM)

Do not post stupid stuff and it will not limit your career.

Honestly, some of the stuff people post in Facebook is mind boggling.

**kwk285** · 08-31-2009, 05:09 PM

Just remember with the IRS you are guilty until they decide how much to fine you.

**jazzman** · 08-31-2009, 07:39 PM

How about blogging about the murders and robberies we've committed? How about obeying the law?

**dpm802** · 08-31-2009, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Mejnoon

Its not just the tax man - I've taken to checking facebook and myspace as part of my screening process when I take a rental application.

The kinds of things people share publicly constantly amaze me.

Bozeman City, Montana requires applicants for civil service jobs to give their log-in information ... User IDs and Passwords ... to eMail accounts and social networks like Facebook, Google, Yahoo, YouTube.com, MySpace, etc.

http://montanasnewsstation.com/Globa...&nav=menu227_3

Aside from the privacy issues, how does the City of Bozeman determine who is a valid job candidate from looking at these websites?

For example, I have one friend that I correspond with who is a self-admitted pedophile and kleptomaniac, but he's never been busted for either. Another dear friend who I've known more than 40 years has an old arrest record for shoplifting. Someone else I knew died of AIDS, but I still have his old contact info.

All of these are stand-up people, but how can the City of Bozeman determine that *I* am a good citizen by looking at who my friends are?

Guilt by association is still not a crime.

I would be very reluctant to give up my log-in information to anything online ... unless I could stand over the interviewer's shoulder and watch while they peruse my private info.

**Jethro1984** · 08-31-2009, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by dpm802

All of these are stand-up people, but how can the City of Bozeman determine that *I* am a good citizen by looking at who my friends are?

I don't think it's about who your friends are. It's about whether you post ridiculous messages on your wall....write notes or comments that could reflect poorly on the city....have personal info on your page that makes you seem unacceptable....pictures of you committing crimes, etc.

**Kratos** · 08-31-2009, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by dpm802

Bozeman City, Montana requires applicants for civil service jobs to give their log-in information ... User IDs and Passwords ... to eMail accounts and social networks like Facebook, Google, Yahoo, YouTube.com, MySpace, etc.

http://montanasnewsstation.com/Globa...&nav=menu227_3

Aside from the privacy issues, how does the City of Bozeman determine who is a valid job candidate from looking at these websites?

For example, I have one friend that I correspond with who is a self-admitted pedophile and kleptomaniac, but he's never been busted for either. Another dear friend who I've known more than 40 years has an old arrest record for shoplifting. Someone else I knew died of AIDS, but I still have his old contact info.

All of these are stand-up people, but how can the City of Bozeman determine that *I* am a good citizen by looking at who my friends are?

Guilt by association is still not a crime.

I would be very reluctant to give up my log-in information to anything online ... unless I could stand over the interviewer's shoulder and watch while they peruse my private info.

First off, none of this pertains to your examples. I do hope your friend is getting some sort of help.

Guilt by association isn't supposed to be a crime. It's all about birds of a feather. If someone hangs around a bunch of bad people, it's usually not because they are playing bridge or Magic: The Gathering together. Why would you hang around a bunch of floor-flushing low-lifes? A lot of gang intel can be gathered from these sites. If I see all your "friends" are wearing matching bandannas, jerseys, and throwing up signs, you ain't getting a job, apartment, or renting a house from me. As mentioned, it's not just about that anyway. People put the most ridiculous crap on these sites, some of which can be detrimental to a career.

Bozeman is taking things too far though. I believe I'd move if subjected to all that.

Originally Posted by jazzman

How about blogging about the murders and robberies we've committed? How about obeying the law?

Nahh, that'd be too much like right.

**Monkeydad** · 09-01-2009, 01:11 PM

It's shocking how many idiots think their MySpace page is THEIR property. They get so possessive and defensive about it when they face consequences of posting something on it.

The internet is a public place....morons!

**sparkchaser** · 09-01-2009, 01:24 PM

My new Facebook status: by continuing to read this status update you agree to hold harmless the author from liability or legal repercussions of any acts past, present, or future.

**kwk285** · 09-01-2009, 02:54 PM

I have a friend that was mortified to see an old college "buddie" had posted pictures of several parties from years past. My friend was there and got drunk but was royally ticked off that the "friend" felt that they could put pictures of others on his facebook account. The "friend" was unwilling to take down the pictures and was evidently mad the he was asked to do so.

**Monkeydad** · 09-02-2009, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by sparkchaser

My new Facebook status: by continuing to read this status update you agree to hold harmless the author from liability or legal repercussions of any acts past, present, or future.

Good luck making that one stand up in court!

**sparkchaser** · 09-02-2009, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by buster

Good luck making that one stand up in court!

It's up and so far reception has been a mix of positive and inquiry into what I have done.

**linuxidiot** · 09-02-2009, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by sparkchaser

My new Facebook status: by continuing to read this status update you agree to hold harmless the author from liability or legal repercussions of any acts past, present, or future.

LOL posted to my facebook with a link to the article

**dpm802** · 09-06-2009, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by sparkchaser

My new Facebook status: by continuing to read this status update you agree to hold harmless the author from liability or legal repercussions of any acts past, present, or future.

+1 ... thanks for the idea!

(Now, let's hope Facebook doesn't have a cow about this kind of status update ... but then again, they have all their own legal disclaimers already.)