701—11.9 (422,423) Information confidential. When requested to do so by any person having a legitimate interest in such information, the department shall, after being presented with sufficient proof of the entire situation, disclose to the person the amount of unpaid taxes due by a taxpayer. The person shall provide the department with sufficient proof consisting of all relevant facts and the reason or reasons for seeking information as to the amount of unpaid taxes due by the taxpayer. The information sought shall not be disclosed if the department determines that the person requesting information does not have a legitimate interest. Examples of those who might seek information on a taxpayer are persons from whom a taxpayer is seeking credit, or with whom the taxpayer is negotiating the sale of any personal property.
Upon request, the department may disclose to any person whether or not a taxpayer has a sales tax permit because the law requires the taxpayer’s permit to be conspicuously posted at all times in the taxpayer’s place of business, thus becoming public information.
All other information obtained by employees of the department in the performance of their official duties is confidential and cannot be disclosed. See rule 701—6.3(17A).
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 422.56, 422.72, and 423.23.