Posted on 08/10/2012 11:19:29 PM PDT by John Semmens
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) estimates that the IRS may have paid more than $5 billion on bogus claims in 2011. The root of the problem is Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). These numbers are used by illegal immigrants in lieu of a Social Security number.
The fraud is hardly sophisticated. For example, the IRS issued 2,706 refunds totaling $7.3 million to the same address in 2011. One might think that multiple claims for refunds from the same location would raise a “red flag.” However, IRS supervisors told employees attempting to respond to this red flag to ignore it.
“Given the state of the economy we felt it was imperative to process claims as quickly as possible in order to help get money in the hands of consumers so it could be spent,” explained Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “Taking extra time to check the validity of potential refunds would’ve impeded the stimulative effects.”
Giethner insisted that “it’s not impossible that 2,700 taxpayers could share the same address. Illegal immigrants don’t have the same attitudes about sharing living space that we do. The Administration didn’t want to jump to conclusions that might be perceived as discriminatory.”
The Secretary further argued that “even if the recipients of some of these refund checks weren’t entitled to the money there’s no denying the fact that the funds were still pumped back into the economy. In our view, achieving that objective took priority over whether the right person got the refund.”
In related news, a report from the Center for Immigration Studies found that 43% of immigrants who have been in the U.S. at least 20 years were on welfare—a rate nearly twice that of native born Americans. The figure was called “perfectly logical” by Press Secretary Jay Carney. “Considering that the likely employment options for most immigrants entail long hours of hard work for low pay, it makes sense that a large number of them would consider compensated leisure a better deal if they can get it. It’s what I’d do if I were in their shoes.”
if you missed any of this week's other semi-news posts you can find them at...
http://azconservative.org/2012/08/11/ad-blaming-romney-for-womans-death-defended/
ping
What can I say! Fagedaboudit you’re great!
How does one tell the satire from the facts today? If it is outrageous and quite impossible then it’s probably true. Only fiction is believable in today’s news.
John Semmens: Adjusting the facts until they reveal the truth!
1.43% of immigrants who have been in the U.S. at least 20 years were on welfare.
2.IRS supervisors told employees attempting to respond to this red flag to ignore it.
And some say we have no Fabian society in gov.
Uuuuhhhh, should read: “...pumped into the Mexican economy...” Great piece, Sir John!
Enjoyed John. Thanks for the ping.
Thanks again, John, for the ping.
Outstanding, especially the Jay Carney quote.
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