In an note to Cypherpunks, LaurenN@wri.org notes that the IRS will require fingerprints (and other information) for people filing tax returns electronically. My understanding is that this refers to professional tax preparers. Note that individuals are currently filing "electronically" by sending their return to an agency, such as the MacInTax people. The problem the IRS faced, as I understand it from a brief report on NPR, is that there was a lot of fraud going around -- people filing bogus returns with refunds, then disappearing with the money. LaurenN also wondered why CPA's and lawyers are exempt -- I would imagine that this is because their identity is known through their professional licensing. Just my speculation. Martin Minow minow@apple.com