The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, enacted on November 12, 1999, requires financial institutions to protect clients' personal data. These consumer financial privacy protections generally extend to tax professionals.

Generally, tax return preparers are also subject to the privacy provisions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, PL 106-02, 11/12/99, which imposes requirements on financial institutions to protect personal information. Those provisions do not supersede, alter, or affect pre-existing Code Sec. 7216 requirements restricting preparer disclosure or use of return information.  Similarly, Code Sec. 7216 and its associated regulations don't override any requirements or restrictions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act that are in addition to the requirements or restrictions of Code Sec. 7216 and its associated regulations. [Reg § 301.7216-1(c) - Notice 2002-6, 2002-1 CB 326]