Providing for A Single Point of Contact for Tax-Related Identity Theft Victims

Floor Speech

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Mr. RENACCI. 5439, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that modernizing the IRS' ability to administer our Tax Code is a critical next step following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. I am pleased that today we are considering H.R. 5439, which creates a single point of contact at the IRS for identity theft victims.

I introduced this legislation with my good friend, Representative John Lewis. He and I have worked tirelessly over the last few years to protect the identity of taxpayers, having introduced legislation that has passed the House and was signed into law in 2015 that took steps to help reduce identity theft.

I was proud to reintroduce with him this Congress the Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Prevention Act that has nearly 20 bipartisan cosponsors and which included the provision that we are considering today.

Identity theft has become a growing concern in Ohio and across the United States. Unfortunately, it seems as if there is now constant news of individuals having their identities stolen due to massive data breaches. It is one of the most costly crimes to consumers and businesses, and it is the fastest growing white-collar crime in America according to the Federal Trade Commission.

As many of my colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee have heard, I, myself, was also the victim of identity theft not too long ago. I understand the frustration, fear, and sense of helplessness that many feel when learning that a criminal has stolen their identity.

In 2016, a criminal stole my personal information and filed a return with my name, my wife's name, our Social Security numbers, and other personal information. The thieves even had a W-2 from the U.S. Congress that contained a fake version of my information. I didn't learn about this fraud until I received an IRS notice questioning a return I had filed--even though I had not yet filed.

Each year, thousands of families trying to resolve this same sort of headache have to prove to the Federal Government that they are who they say they are. That included me, right along with everyone else, creating this tremendous call volume the IRS receives on a given day. I had to go through that same process.

People thought: Wow, you had to go through the same process trying to get through to the IRS?

I said: Yes, I did. I had to reexplain my story every time I called.

This commonsense legislation will simply require the IRS to establish a single point of contact at the IRS for taxpayers who have been impacted by identity theft. This will help everyday Americans who have had to deal with the stress and inconvenience of having their identity stolen get the service they deserve from the IRS.

I thank Chairman Brady, Ranking Member Neal, and the Ways and Means Committee staff for moving this legislation forward, and I encourage my colleagues to support its final passage.

Mr. Speaker, this commonsense legislation is a strong step forward in ensuring that the American people receive the customer service that they deserve from the IRS should they have their identity stolen.

Along with my personal story, I have heard from countless constituents and Ohioans who have been frustrated by the hoops that they often need to jump through to get their identity theft concerns addressed, all the while dealing with the fear and anxiety of having their identity stolen. This bipartisan legislation will provide relief by requiring a single point of contact within the IRS for victims of identity theft.

Again, I want to thank my colleague from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for his support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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