Senators to IRS: Stop tax refund fraud

Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to stop tax refund fraud.

Nelson and Wicker led a bipartisan group of 15 senators in writing a letter to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen asking for an update on the agency’s efforts to prevent tax refund fraud using stolen identities.

{mosads}The senators wrote that they understand not all fraud can be prevented but that the IRS should provide Congress with a comprehensive plan to try and address the problem.

“I’ve heard from too many people who’ve had their lives turned upside down by identity thieves,” Nelson said Monday. “And, whatever it takes, we need to have the IRS elevate this to a priority.”

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), tax refund fraud cost the country $5.2 billion last year.

“Tax fraud directly harms millions of tax-paying Americans who play by the rules,” Wicker said. “On top of that, identify theft and stolen refunds undermine confidence in our tax system. The IRS has an obligation to make fraud reduction a top priority, in particular by identifying and holding those accountable who cheat the system by cheating honest taxpayers.”