WASHINGTON (AP) - The IRS is grappling with soaring taxpayer
identity theft.
Unsuspecting victims are filing for their refunds, and learning
the money had been paid to someone using the same name and Social
Security number.
The Associated Press has obtained a Government Accountability
Office report showing there were more than 248,000 identity theft
incidents in 2010. In 2008, the number was 51,700.
After learning they have been victimized, taxpayers must then
wait for the IRS to determine which filing was legitimate. However,
once fraud is discovered, the agency marks the account and
carefully screens future submissions.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
