The IRS enforced the law. Arrested 109 people and charged 189 people

> The IRS arrested 109 people and charged 189 people. This year’s tax filing season has kicked off. The IRS announced on the 7th that in order to combat tax filing fraud and identity theft across the country...

IRS law enforcement arrests 109 people and charges 189 people. This year’s tax filing season has kicked off. The IRS announced on the 7th that in order to combat the identity theft crime of tax return fraud nationwide, federal law enforcement agencies conducted more than 700 law enforcement actions in January this year and arrested 389 people suspected of identity theft and tax return fraud. A total of 109 people were arrested and 189 people were charged. The Internal Revenue Service's Audit and Criminal Investigation Division began conducting rigorous inspections of financial services institutions in late January, including check cashing stores, to ensure they are not funding identity theft and tax refund fraud. The IRS targeted 17 cities including Phoenix, Tucson, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Tempa, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, El Paso, Birmingham, Detroit, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Part of the investigation lasted for a year. Some thieves used other people's Social Security numbers and identity information to file tax returns with the IRS in order to obtain tax refunds. "This year's tax filing season has begun, and we want to make it clear that those who plan to commit tax refund fraud and identity theft will pay a heavy price," said IRS Acting Commissioner Miller. Commissioner Miller acknowledged that the IRS has slowed down routine tax filings and refunds due to screening checks, but the IRS will keep delays to a minimum. Miller said the IRS sent more than 3,000 tax agents to investigate identity theft in 2012, more than double the number in 2011. The IRS avoided $20 billion in fraudulent refunds last year, much of it related to identity theft, and $14 billion in 2011. While the IRS has made progress in combating identity theft tax refund fraud, Miller believes there is still room for improvement. The IRS will expedite the processing of refunds for honest taxpayers who have suffered identity theft.