On the recordSeptember 8, 2011
today I am filing legislation aimed at stopping criminals from filing fraudulent tax returns with stolen Social Security numbers. Specifically, the bill unveiled today would make it a felony punishable by as much as five years in Federal prison and/or a fine of no less than $25,000 for using another's Social Security number or other identifiable information to file a federal tax return and increases penalties for negligent or reckless disclosure of taxpayer information by tax preparers; require the IRS to develop a nationwide PIN system in which identity theft victims can receive a pin number to put on their tax return; and, allow identity theft victims to ``opt- out'' of electronic filing of their Federal tax returns; protect Social Security numbers of deceased taxpayers by restricting public access to the records; direct an investigation by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to examine the role of prepaid debt cards and commercial tax software in facilitating fraudulent tax refunds; and permanently extend the information-sharing authority between the IRS and Federal and state correction authorities needed to prevent inmate tax fraud and require the agency to work specifically with state and local law enforcement officials on criminal investigative matters that involve violations at Federal and State or local level. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.…
