December 22, 2009

from Sweetness and Light who found it "Tucked discreetly away in the ‘Economy’ section of the New York Times"
 

Illegal Aliens Steal Billions Via Tax ID #s


Thousands May Incorrectly Be Using Stimulus Tax Breaks

By LYNNLEY BROWNING


Thousands of American taxpayers incorrectly claimed more than $500 million in tax benefits under the Obama administration’s tax break for first-time home buyers, a government watchdog report said Tuesday.

That finding was one part of a report by the inspector general for tax administration that said the Internal Revenue Service does not know whether the majority of the $312 billion in tax breaks available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are being claimed legitimately.

The report said that for businesses and individual taxpayers claiming tax relief under the 2009 act, “the IRS is unable to verify eligibility for the majority of Recovery Act benefits at the time a tax return is processed.” …

The report said that as of July 25, 73,799 taxpayers had incorrectly claimed $504 million in credits in the program for first-time home buyers…

The watchdog agency also said Tuesday in a separate report that an I.R.S. program that has issued more than 14 million taxpayer identification numbers to immigrants is plagued with fraud that costs the government billions of dollars in improper tax refunds.

The report found that nearly 70 percent of such numbers should not have been issued because their applicants provided murky documentation. The numbers, called individual taxpayer identification numbers, are typically used by immigrants who are not American citizens or by permanent residents who have entered the United States legally.

The identification numbers are valuable because they can be used to claim federal tax refunds and certain child tax credits. They cannot be used to claim social security payments or the earned income tax credit, a $49 billion federal program to low-income workers.

The numbers, first issued in 1996, do not change an immigrant’s legal status or permit employment.

The I.R.S. has said that between 1996 and 2003, the number holders reported owing taxes of $50 billion, though it has not disclosed the size of refunds claimed.

Based on nearly 1.2 million federal tax returns filed over 2008 and 2009, the report estimated that the fraud would cost the government more than $2 billion over five years.

In a written response to the report, the I.R.S. disputed its findings, saying that the sample base used was not indicative of the overall program.

What a lesson this is. As if we needed another.

Every single thing the federal government touches becomes encrusted with fraud and thievery.

So let’s put them in charge of still more.

* * * * *

I have lived a life in which I have been very proud of my Integrity, my Honor, my Honesty, my Strong Moral Values.

In the past year, I have learned that I have been very gullible, naive and stupid.

My taxes paid would have been much less if I had learned this lesson at a younger age.

Life is a War.

Treachery, deceit, force and strategy win. Character and compassion are for losers.

Emulate your leaders, Lie, Cheat and Steal.