In the past, when identity thieves stole your identity by submitting a false tax return, you would not be notified by the IRS. That is about to change, thanks to Senator Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.
Senator Ayotte wrote to IRS Commissioner John
Koskinen last month urging the IRS to provide tax-related identity theft
victims with copies of fraudulent returns, which the agency had previously refused
to do. One reason cited for not releasing copies to victims was that often additional social security numbers are on a return, which would compromise those identities as well. On the other hand, by not providing copies of the fraudulent returns, victims did not know exactly what details of their personal information had been stolen.
In response to Senator Ayotte's request, Commissioner Koskinen
wrote, “As a result of your letter, we have decided to change our
policy regarding disclosure of fraudulent identity theft returns to
victims whose name and SSN the fraudulent return was filed under...We
will put together a procedure that will enable victims to receive, upon
request, redacted copies of fraudulent returns filed in their name and
SSN.”
This update is on the heels of the IRS revealing a massive data breach last
week in which criminals accessed approximately 104,000 tax
returns through the IRS’s online Get Transcript application.
Not
only has the IRS failed to notify victims, but the agency refused even
to release copies of fraudulent returns once victims discovered their
identities had been used to obtain tax refunds. One excuse for not
releasing copies was that multiple Social Security numbers could be on a
single return, so releasing it could compromise someone else's
identity. - See more at:
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150531/OPINION01/150539939&source=RSS#sthash.oEenn33o.dpuf
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