HOUSE PASSES WASSERMAN SCHULTZ BILL TO STOP TAX RETURN ID THEFT

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives passed legislation today authored by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) that would stiffen penalties for criminals who engage in identity theft through stolen tax returns. H.R. 744, the Stopping Tax Offenders and Prosecuting Identity Theft Act of 2014, known as the STOP Identity Theft Act, passed the House by voice vote.

Since 2009, tax return identity theft has cost taxpayers nearly $21 billion dollars, with Florida leading the nation in identity theft from stolen tax returns. According to a recent Treasury Department report, instances of this crime skyrocketed nationwide in the last year, going from approximately 1.1 million stolen returns in 2011 to more than 1.8 million in 2012 – a 69% increase.

“Currently tax return identity theft is a low-risk, high-reward crime, but it wreaks emotional and financial havoc on hardworking taxpayers, particularly South Florida seniors and veterans, and costs the federal government billions of dollars,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz said. “My legislation brings together several measures to strengthen criminal penalties and increase the prosecution rate of tax return identity thieves.”

The STOP Identity Theft Act would:

• Amend the identity theft statute to increase the maximum penalties for the crime of tax return identity theft;
• Expand the definition of an identity theft victim to include businesses and charitable organizations that have their identities stolen and used in “phishing” schemes to extract sensitive information from unsuspecting taxpayers;
• Require better coordination between the Department of Justice and state and local law enforcement to make the most efficient use of the law and resources; and
• Ask DOJ to report back on trends in tax-return identity theft, progress on prosecuting these crimes, and recommendations for additional legal tools to combat it.

“Too many hard-working Americans rely on their tax returns to pay the bills and contribute to their savings, and law enforcement must be given the tools and resources to better protect the public by going after these criminals,” Rep. Wasserman Schultz continued.

“I thank the law enforcement and advocacy groups that have backed the bill, and my colleagues for their support, particularly my lead Republican cosponsor, Rep. Lamar Smith, and Chairman Bob Goodlatte. Under the leadership of Senators Klobuchar and Sessions, I look forward to Senate passage and this legislation becoming law.”

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For more information, please contact Sean Bartlett at 202.225.7931