Florida to Pilot IRS Identity Protection Program

You won’t earn your wings in this pilot program, but you’ll gain an extra layer of protection against tax thieves.  Florida is one of three states in the Internal Revenue Service Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) Pilot Program.As you’ve heard in the news and our blogs, identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America.  With recent data breaches at popular stores such as Target, Apple and Macy’s, the IRS continues to place high priority on combating identity theft.Florida, Georgia and the District of Columbia hold the highest per-capita percentage of tax-related identity theft. This IRS pilot program is not merely for victims of past theft, but an expansion of the IP PIN program already in place.Pre-pilot, the opportunity to obtain an IP PIN was offered only to taxpayers who needed an e-file PIN, such as previous victims of identity theft and those needing one for other reasons. The IP PIN is a unique six digit number that’s assigned annually to victims of identity theft whose cases were resolved to offer them security against further fraud when efiling their federal tax return.According to a recent IRS announcement, during this 2014 filing season more than 1.2 million victims with resolved cases will receive an IP PIN, up from more than 770,000 the year prior. The IRS assigns 3,000 employees to work ID theft cases. The IP PIN allows past victims of ID theft to avoid delays in filing returns and receiving refunds.To be selected for this pilot program, a taxpayer will be asked a series of questions online to verify his or her identity. The IRS will not issue an IP PIN to a taxpayer unless that person’s identity is verified. The pilot program is an expansion of the current efforts to fight crime and, depending on the results, may be expanded to other states. To get started, visit the E-file PIN page.  Be sure to tell your preparer your IP PIN because your return will be rejected without it.If you’re interested in additional information, consult the Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft or the Identity Theft Protection page on the IRS website or contact Patrick & Robinson CPAs at Office@CPAsite.com or 904-396-5400.