Montana Title 15. Taxation § 15-1-106. Federal tax return information

(1) Except as provided by section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 6103, and subsection (2) of this section, it is unlawful to knowingly or purposely divulge or make known in any manner any federal tax return or federal tax return information submitted on state tax returns pursuant to state law.

(2) The department shall furnish state return information to the legislative auditor, the legislative fiscal analyst pursuant to 5-12-303, and the office of budget and program planning pursuant to 17-7-111, unless the furnishing of the information requested is specifically prohibited by federal or state law. The legislative fiscal analyst and the office of budget and program planning may disclose state return information to each other. State return information includes information on or a copy of any portion of a federal return or any information from a federal return that is required to be attached or included in a state return under state law.

(3) Income tax information held by the department, the legislative auditor, the legislative fiscal analyst, and the office of budget and program planning is solely for their official use and is not a public record.

(4) A person convicted of violating this section shall be fined not to exceed $1,000 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 1 year, or both. If a public officer or employee is convicted of violating this section, the person is dismissed from office or employment and may not hold any public office or public employment in the state for a period of 1 year after dismissal or, in the case of a former officer or employee, for 1 year after conviction.