Law Offices of Robert Stepniak

Flexible Payment Plans

Reasonable Attorney Fees

Major Credit Cards Accepted

Click To Contact The Attorney Now Click To Contact The Attorney Now Available 24/7, Call Now 386.253.4750
  • Home
  • Our Firm
  • Attorney
  • Practice Areas
    • FAMILY LAW
    • CRIMINAL DEFENSE
    • CIVIL LITIGATION
  • Where We Practice
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • (386) 253-4750Call Today
  • Email Us
  • Our Map
  • Menu
Law Offices of Robert Stepniak

Flexible Payment Plans

Reasonable Attorney Fees

Major Credit Cards Accepted

Click To Contact The Attorney Now Click To Contact The Attorney Now Available 24/7, Call Now 386.253.4750
  • Home
  • Our Firm
  • Attorney
  • Practice Areas
  • Where We Practice
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • (386) 253-4750Call Today
  • Email Us
  • Our Map
  • Menu

Victims of Identity Theft Get Little Help from IRS

Blog 2012 October Victims of Identity Theft Get Little Help from IRS
Previous Post  |  Next Post

Victims of Identity Theft Get Little Help from IRS

Posted By Stepniak & Park || 7-Oct-2012

One of the fastest growing white collar crimes today is that of identity theft. Approximately 15 million residents of this country have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses of around $50 billion. This means that about 7% of all adults have their identities stolen with an average loss of about $3,500. Because of the ever increasing sophistication level of professional identity thieves that range from individually tailored phishing scams to successful hacks of both corporate and government databases, there is an ever increasing threat to all Americans that their identity may be stolen.

One Florida couple, Donna and James Miller, learned they were part of the growing number of American taxpayers whose identities were stolen for tax fraud when they tried to file their tax return earlier this year. When the couple attempted to file their tax return, their return was blocked because someone had already used Donna’s Social Security number to file and obtain a fraudulent tax return. The Miller’s then found out how ill-equipped the IRS is to deal with identity theft victims.

James Miller stated that he had difficulty getting in touch with the IRS. His wife, Donna, said every time she would call she would talk with a different individual, and then, finally, on July 29, she was told to fill out form 3949-A to report the suspected tax fraud activity. She filled out the form and mailed it the next day, July 30, and has never heard back from the IRS.

According to an Inspector General report released on Wednesday, Donna Miller was instructed to fill out the wrong form. The report estimated that approximately 3,000 of these forms were destroyed “due to a lack of procedures on how to process these claims. Victims were not notified.” IRS employees were instructed back in April to have identity theft victims fill out a Theft Affidavit form. However, as Donna Miller pointed out, she was told to use the wrong form three months after the problem was supposedly fixed.

The latest inspector general report concludes that the IRS last year failed to detect more than $5.2 billion in tax refund fraud nationwide. In the Tampa area alone, more than $400 million was stolen by tax fraud thieves. The report also noted that Florida has the highest per-capita rate of reported identity theft complaints.

The IRS has been overwhelmed by the growing number of identity theft tax fraud cases in the past couple of years. With budget and employee cuts, the government agency is unable to keep up with the growing problem. The report criticized how the IRS handles identity theft victims, too, saying the agency forces them through a system of unanswered phone calls, conflicting regulations and untrained employees providing incorrect information. “Communication between the IRS and victims are limited and confusing.”

As for Donna and James Miller – they are still waiting for not only their $1,800 tax return, but for a reply from the IRS as well.

Categories: White Collar Crimes

Share Post

Practice Areas

How Can We Help You?

  • Family Law
    • Alimony
    • Divorce
    • Divorce FAQ
    • Divorce for Men
    • Divorce for Business Owners
    • Child Custody & Visitation
    • Child Support
    • Emergency Child Relocation
    • Grandparents’ Rights
    • Injunctions & Restraining Orders
    • LGBT Divorce
    • Modifications
    • Paternity / Fathers' Rights
    • Parental Relocation
    • Prenuptial Agreements
    • Property Division
    • Stepparent Adoption
  • Criminal Defense
    • Assault & Battery
    • Theft Crimes
    • Criminal Appeals
    • DUI Defense
    • Drug Crimes
    • Domestic Violence
    • Expungement / Record Sealing
    • Traffic Tickets
    • Sex Crimes
    • Other Serious Crimes
    • Probation Violations
  • Civil Litigation

Practice Areas

How Can We Help You?

  • Family Law
  • Criminal Defense
  • Civil Litigation

Email us for your Consultation

Send My Information
  • Main Office: Daytona Beach

    150 S. Palmetto Ave., Suite 100
    Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
    Local: (386) 253-4750

  • Satellite Office: Deland/Deltona

    120 S. Woodland Blvd.
    2nd Floor
    DeLand, FL 32720
    Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
    Local: (386) 734-7373

  • Palm Coast/Flagler County

    Please Call For Appointment
    Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
    Local: (386) 446-0990

  • Palatka/Putnam County

    Please Call For Appointment
    Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
    Local: (386) 446-0990

Email us for your Consultation

Email us for your Consultation

Main Office: Daytona Beach

150 S. Palmetto Ave., Suite 100
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
Local: 386-253-4750

Satellite Office: Deland/Deltona

120 S. Woodland Blvd.
2nd Floor

DeLand, FL 32720
Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
Local: (386) 734-7373
  • Main Office: Daytona Beach

    150 S. Palmetto Ave., Suite 100
    Daytona Beach, FL 32114
    Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
    Local: 386-253-4750

  • Satellite Office: Deland/Deltona

    120 S. Woodland Blvd.
    2nd Floor
    DeLand, FL 32720
    Toll Free: (877) 256-4750
    Local: (386) 734-7373

  • Home
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contact Us
Law Offices of Robert Stepniak

Call Today (386) 253-4750

Law Offices of Robert Stepniak - Daytona Beach Lawyer
150 S. Palmetto Ave., Suite 100, Daytona Beach, FL 32114 View Map
Main (386) 253-4750
Website: https://www.stepniaklaw.com/
Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved.
Lawyer Marketing Service by Fuel Web Marketing
Internet Marketing Experts