What non-tax software usage infomration is shared with the state when filing?

[Max Dog]

I received an scary screen called a Consent Decree when filing a state return that Intuit has to share non-tax filing information about a tax payer's use of TurboTax. You have to accept  the consent decree sharing non-tax information to file state. It noted a website for more information that I did not checkout before filing. Now there is no way to get back to the screen and reference link after filing.

So what did TurboTax/Intuit just share about my "software usage" of TurboTax that is not a tax return nor tax payer information (name, status, SSN...)?

[HeatherPLO]

Please see this Help Article for Intuit's Terms of Service.  

[Max Dog]

The required Consent Decree for the state goes beyond the generic terms. This is why it requires a separate agreement but still does not say what information in addition to tax forms is being given to the state. 

[CarissaM]

Please review the licensing agreements and disclosures here. @Max Dog 

[Max Dog]

I have been there several times. I have read every word of the agreement and the general privacy agreement. It is way too generic and might as well just say we collect and share stuff. This is not acceptable in the day and age when our devices and computers contain everything about us.

I did learn that a special diagnostic file is created and sent to the states by Turbo Tax. The diagnostic says "all" information about the user, the system and the user's use of their system is shared with the state Department of Revenue. This could be anything from early draft versions of tax filings, to the entire contents of the device memory and hard drive. Obviously it is not the entire hard drive contents (I hope). Since this is the government collecting the information I think we are entitled to know bit more than "stuff" is shared.

[Max Dog]

Update - I did contact our state. The state says they are getting non-taxpayer information from Intuit but will not say what it is. They admitted it could be anything found on the user's system beyond just Turbo Tax but the state is not saying what Intuit collects for them. So far, Intuit dodges the question and won't admit there even was a consent decree required in the filing process.