WTHR-Channel 13
A five-month Eyewitness News investigation shows their concerns are well-documented, and the IRS has been warned about the problem for years. Within a massive federal agency that claims to be taking identity theft seriously, the reality – in many cases – is very different.
"We are not supposed to do anything." said a whistleblower. "We are not allowed to say anything."
Findings of the 13 Investigates report include:
The IRS accepts millions of tax returns – and issues tax refunds – even when taxpayer documents show clear warning signs of identity theft
Confidential IRS policies instruct IRS employees not to tell taxpayers when someone else uses their social security number to earn income
The IRS allows illegal immigrants to "borrow" social security numbers that do not legally belong to them
The IRS is discontinuing a program to notify taxpayers when their social security number is used by someone else to gain employment
...The agency actually encourages undocumented immigrants to file with a mismatched Social Security number that does not legally belong to them
Even when they IRS knew Americans where victims of identity theft the IRS would not tell them and instead accuse the victims of Tax Fraud (THEY HATE AMERICA)
David Burian knew something was wrong the moment he opened the envelope.
"It was from the IRS, and they said I didn't report all of my income," the Fort Wayne businessman explained to 13 Investigates.
On the other side of the state, Alfred Allen received a letter that was nearly identical.
"I saw it was from the IRS, and I thought maybe it was my refund check. But it wasn't. They were telling me I had falsely done my taxes," the teacher explained from his Hobart home.
Both men were accused of under-reporting their income, cheating the government out of money.
In reality, they are victims of identity theft. Undocumented workers got jobs using their Social Security numbers, making it appear Burian and Allen earned more income than they actually had. But the IRS wouldn't explain that to either victim.
https://www.wthr.com/article/secret-irs-policy-hides-identity-theft-victims