Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Mike Bishop (MI-08) introduced the Taxpayer ID Protection and Fraud Prevention Act to update technology and processes within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to better protect taxpayer identity and information. Currently, the IRS maintains information technology (IT) systems that date back to the early 1960s.

“During my time in the Michigan State Legislature, I authored the Michigan Identity Theft Protection Act to better protect the very valuable personal identities of Michigan citizens and to provide remedies for victims to restore the integrity of their personal finances. This is an issue that really hits home for me because I have seen first-hand the devastation identity theft can cause a family or a small-business owner,” said Rep. Bishop. “Americans deserve an IRS that is operating with up-to-date IT infrastructure to proactively combat identity theft, tax refund fraud, readily assist taxpayers when they are targeted and be held accountable when they fail.”

The Taxpayer ID Protection and Fraud Prevention Act would:

• Increase the amount of refund payments the IRS makes electronically – meaning taxpayers would receive their refunds quicker, cheaper, and more securely. It would also create a digital history for law enforcement in the case of fraud.
• Require the IRS to track “improper payments” by subcategories including fraud, underpayment, overpayment and mistaken identity not attributable to fraud.
• Implement measures that give the IRS more time and information to verify taxpayer identity, and match it with the person claiming a refund – before sending the refund payment.
• Codify a successful Public-Private Partnership between the IRS, the tech industry, States, and professional tax-preparers to monitor and address cyber threats in real time.

To read the full text of the Taxpayer ID Protection and Fraud Prevention Act, click here.

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