TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials say a longstanding policy that keeps secret the names of many tax credit recipients is intended to protect taxpayers’ privacy and has spanned the terms of several governors, Republican and Democrat.

Critics say the policy is the result of a broadly interpreted statute that allows the Revenue Department to release statistics related to tax policy but forbids it from releasing individual taxpayers’ information.

The Wichita Eagle reports opponents also point to Missouri, where copious details of tax credits and recipients are available online and don’t appear to have had any negative impact on the business climate.

Under Kansas law, the identities of those receiving tax credits — and the amount of tax credits, themselves — are withheld if fewer than five tax filers take advantage of them.