{"id":227131,"date":"2026-03-10T05:07:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:07:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=227131"},"modified":"2026-03-09T11:36:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T18:36:51","slug":"using-chatgpt-ai-file-taxes-data-privacy-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/using-chatgpt-ai-file-taxes-data-privacy-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Using an AI like ChatGPT to File Your Taxes? Stop and Read This First"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tax season is a headache for many people, and when a shortcut promises to make filing easier, it\u2019s hard to resist. This year, one of the newest trends is using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to help prepare tax returns.<\/p>\n

According to new\u00a0<\/span>McAfee research<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>30% of people say they plan to use an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, to help with their taxes<\/span><\/b>, with younger adults leading the trend.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At first glance, it\u00a0makes sense. AI tools can explain confusing tax rules, summarize IRS forms, and answer questions instantly.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0an important line that should never be crossed:\u00a0<\/span>Do not enter your personal tax information into AI chatbots.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That includes Social Security numbers, income records, home addresses, bank details, or anything else tied to your identity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s\u00a0why:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Typing Your Tax Info\u00a0Into\u00a0a Chatbot Is Like Posting It Online<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Think about it this way: when you type something into an AI chatbot,\u00a0you’re\u00a0sending that information over the internet to a system that processes and stores data.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In practical terms,\u00a0<\/span>entering sensitive information into an AI tool is\u00a0similar to\u00a0typing it directly into a search engine or\u00a0submitting\u00a0it to an online form.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once it leaves your device, you lose direct control over where it travels and how it may be stored.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even companies with strong security protections are transparent about this risk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

OpenAI\u2019s privacy documentation explains that they use encryption and strict access controls to protect user data. However, they also note that\u00a0<\/span>no internet transmission or digital storage system can be guaranteed completely secure<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is true across the internet,\u00a0not just for AI tools.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even Secure Systems Can Experience Breaches<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Security incidents can happen anywhere online, including companies with robust security programs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, in late 2025,\u00a0<\/span>OpenAI disclosed a security incident<\/span><\/a>\u00a0involving a third-party analytics provider called\u00a0Mixpanel. The breach occurred within the vendor\u2019s systems,\u00a0not OpenAI\u2019s infrastructure,\u00a0but some limited user profile data associated with the platform was exposed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to OpenAI\u2019s disclosure, the data involved information such as:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n