WTF? IRS Encourages Illegal Immigrant Theft of SSNs to File Tax Returns!

a reply to: IAMTAT

I agree with the overall premise, and I think it's crazy that they're "okay" with illegal use of SSNs. The hiring company should be required to verify SSN/Identity and both hiree and hirer should be prosecuted when caught, but the part about the IRS encouraging the use of illegal SSNs to file tax returns is simply not true, unless your source and quoted text is not true. It's very specific in stating that. I'm just surprised nobody else noticed it, seeing as it's the main point of the OP, and right there in the quoted text.

Am I missing something? Or was it written wrong and supposed to be written the other way around? (ITIN to get a job, SSN to file taxes?)

Just sayin' - I think we're missing the actual point by focusing on the one portion of all of this that is actually not true.

Anytime an official government agency condones an illegal activity by choosing not to report or prosecute it when it is aware it is occurring and possesses hard evidence to that effect...the government encourages said illegal activity.

Where do I sign up to have my identity used for tax-filings?

See, I've owed the past few years but whenever I actually do have a credit, instead of a refund it just goes to paying down what I owe.

So again...where do I sign up? :-)

A 2013 SSA IG audit of the IRS (posted earlier) acknowledges this activity is taking place and is relatively ignored.

To add insult to injury, the IRS MORE than aggressively punishes illegal filing activity from LEGAL citizens.

a reply to: TXRabbit

I will sign up with you. 12 years ago I made a mistake on a 1099, last year I did not get a refund just a letter from a IRS computer.

a reply to: IAMTAT

I had my identity stolen 18 years ago. After wrangling with the cops (I had to "lawyer up" to not only get anything done, but to keep my butt out of jail for what SHE had done), she was arrested after a few months. It is still a headache. My credit is annihilated. It never stops. Even worse this woman has been arrested under my name. I got pulled over for speeding (first ticket ever) and I was told that I had a non-extradition warrant for my arrest in Texas because of a probation violation. I wasn't even in the country (let alone the state) when this woman was arrested for whatever started that one. Arrested using MY NAME and SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER! Every time I go to the cops over this, I get treated like a criminal. Literally interrogated for hours. If I go to try to even get a record of this, I risk jail time if some cops decide to get stupid, for who knows how long while they sort out who is who. It's a nightmare.

Maybe they realized what percentage of the population is the working force

a reply to: redhorse

Sorry to hear that...It's a horror story for those victimized by this.

The government could care less about you and the many, many like you....Now, if you were an illegal immigrant, they would bend over backwards to help you.

It's no coincidence that Tax season and Identity Theft season occur at the same time each year.

a reply to: IAMTAT

This practice has been going on for over 20 years.

Surprised that people are just now finding out about it, but please continue your belated outrage.

a reply to: BIGPoJo

Thank you..."belated outrage" may now continue.

a reply to: IAMTAT

It's not an official government agency. It's a private collections agency.
SOURCE: www.supremelaw.org...

Interesting. Thank you.
Apparently, this is somewhat esoteric knowledge, if true.

Unfortunately, it appears to be commonly held knowledge that the IRS is a government agency within the Department of the Treasury.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The government agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue. The IRS is responsible for collecting taxes and the administration of the Internal Revenue Code.

en.wikipedia.org...

a reply to: IAMTAT

Think of it this way. Congress created the Department of Treasury, in the 1950s the president fired all state wide internal revenue collections agents and empowered The Secretary of The Department of the Treasury to collect taxes using a third party. Poof! The IRS was born.

Now since only Congress can create government agencies and not department heads the IRS is therefore not an actual government agency. The Department of the Treasury could hire your brother's collections firm if it so chooses.

Esoteric... thanks.

My point, The Department of the Treasury would never say what is quoted in your OP. It's a government agency. The IRS is a private firm operating under legal authority of The Treasury, but is not The Treasury. They say all sorts of crazy crap.

Didn't you ever wonder why they get away with all sorts of weird heavy-handed stuff, and can act like an attack dog if directed so?

Happy to source facts if needed.

ETA: I think you've been around ATS long enough...using Wikipedia huh.

Another ETA: An easy short hand to think of the IRS is to consider it like a military contractor. They follow the direction of the US Military and politicians, but kinda sorta operate on their own program and do things their own way and can skirt some laws while following others. But their mission is to get the job done while keeping the government's hands clean (and presumably costs down) .

a reply to: Jason88

I used the Wik def. because it represents common understanding. Is it flawed?...absolutely (even my own page is in constant need of correction due to external influences).

YOUR information is enlightening...and certainly explains how the IRS manages to get away with so much malfeasance, all the while generally being considered a government agency.

a reply to: BlueAjah

Reason #1776 why the IRS should be disbanded. When we implode from within by those from without...well...you know

originally posted by: IAMTAT
a reply to: Jason88

I used the Wik def. because it represents common understanding. Is it flawed?...absolutely (even my own page is in constant need of correction due to external influences).

YOUR information is enlightening...and certainly explains how the IRS manages to get away with so much malfeasance, all the while generally being considered a government agency.

The real conspiracy maybe the common understanding is that it is an agency of the government rather than a private collections firm.

Both the government and the IRS are happy to have the public believe in its official capacity even though Congress had nothing to do with it. (Edit: It is official as in its sanctioned by The Treasury just not accountable to the public).

And, to be honest at this stage I just don't understand why the government doesn't make it official, but then again it wouldn't be able to operate on the fringes of the law - at times - such as we saw with the Obama Administration going after conservative groups.

Anyway I mention the Wikipedia simply because over the years its lost many editors and its content has become questionable, especially with regard to hot-button issues. Cheers.

originally posted by: Jason88

originally posted by: IAMTAT
a reply to: Jason88

I used the Wik def. because it represents common understanding. Is it flawed?...absolutely (even my own page is in constant need of correction due to external influences).

YOUR information is enlightening...and certainly explains how the IRS manages to get away with so much malfeasance, all the while generally being considered a government agency.

And, to be honest at this stage I just don't understand why the government doesn't make it official, but then again it wouldn't be able to operate on the fringes of the law - at times - such as we saw with the Obama Administration going after conservative groups.

I think you've successfully answered your own question!

"The question is whether the Social Security number they're using to get the job has been stolen. It's not the normal identity theft situation," he said."


Er, what? You get ONE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. And social security numbers are assigned to a single individual. If a person is using a social security number that is not assigned to them, that is by definition stolen.

And what the # do you mean "it's not the normal situation" - SOMEONE ELSE HAS AN INNOCENT PERSONS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. What the hell is to stop them from using it for Credit or Loans and defaulting?

This is so #ing asinine it's mind blowing. Hey Koskinen, if someone having a social security number isn't a big deal, how about you give me the keys to your house and all of your vehicles. I mean, it shouldn't be a big deal right? I mean I would never steal anything personally, but who knows, I might need a couple hundred bucks in a few months or years, I wonder how much the key to your house is worth.

The guy in the office next to mine went to turn his tax stuff in last night and found he had already been had. A nearly $8k refund was to be sent out soon. So today he left at 9 and said he would be back when it's all straightened out.

His entire families info has been stolen and has to fight to get it straightened out. Closing bank accounts and credit cards. Not a happy family but the IRS seemed like it was a normal thing.

a reply to: IAMTAT

You are confused between Illegal Immigrants...

Stealing someone else's SS # (As your Op headline implies)

Fictionalizing a SS # in order to apply for work and then using a Tax ID to file and pay.

WHY?..>Does the IRS and other agencies tolerate or permit this?

Cuz all of the Federal, State, SS, Med, Unemployment etc. that is with-held from those illegal immigrants is raw income that unlike actual citizens...they never have to return or pay out on.

Why do Illegal Immigrants do this? because SS# are sometimes required to get jobs...and if they combine it with a "tax ID" actually associated with their name...they can prove that they paid taxes for x number of years if and when they apply for citizenship. A "path to citizenship" requires that you have paid your taxes even if you don't have a SS#.

But no..they are not stealing other peoples SS #s.