What does a Letter of Authority allow access to?

• A. Public records only
• B. Bank records only
• C. Private records of a taxpayer
• D. None

Answer: (C)

A Letter of Authority is written permission from the taxpayer that lets a designated person access confidential tax information and documents on the taxpayer’s behalf. This means private records of the taxpayer—such as tax returns, financial statements, and records held by third parties like banks or employers—can be accessed and reviewed for tax purposes, with the taxpayer’s consent. Public records don’t require this authorization because they’re already accessible, and the LOA isn’t limited to bank records unless those records fall under the private information the taxpayer has authorized. So the best fit is private records of a taxpayer.