IRS missing billions in ID theft

AP/pioneer press ^ | 8-2-12 | josh lederman

[TurboZamboni]

WASHINGTON—The Internal Revenue Service may have delivered more than $5 billion in refund checks to identity thieves who filed fraudulent tax returns for 2011, Treasury Department investigators said Thursday. They estimate another $21 billion could make its way to ID thieves' pockets over the next five years. The IRS is detecting far fewer fraudulent tax refund claims than actually occur, according to a government audit that warned the widespread problem could undermine public trust in the U.S. tax system. Although the IRS detected about 940,000 fraudulent returns for last year claiming $6.5 billion in refunds, there were potentially another 1.5 million undetected cases of thieves seeking refunds after assuming the identity of a dead person, child or someone else who normally wouldn't file a tax return.

[funfan]

So does this mean it is being done on purpose by the government?

[stephenjohnbanker]

” The Internal Revenue Service may have delivered more than $5 billion in refund checks to identity thieves who filed fraudulent tax returns for 2011, “

And just exactly what percentage of these thieves are illegal immigrants??

My guess is 50-75%

[SaraJohnson]

Yep. :(

[NoExpectations]

"So does this mean it is being done on purpose by the government?"

Government lets cronies make all these fraudulent companies with a wink and a nod. These companies make donations back to the campaign coffers. You take care of me and I'll take care of you.