The Indiana congressional delegation has sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen asking for an investigation into reports that hundreds of Indiana doctors and health care professionals have been victimized by identity theft.
They said the identities of medical professionals in Indiana have been used to fraudulently obtain federal and state tax refunds. The report follows on the heels of similar concerns from lawmakers in New Hampshire last month, who also asked the IRS identity theft and tax fraud involving over 100 physicians and health care providers in that state (see
In the letter from the Indiana delegation, which was sent last Friday, the lawmakers wrote, “We respectfully request that you fully investigate this matter and keep us informed of progress regarding this grave situation, including safeguards your agency plans to implement to prevent further victimization of taxpayers.”
They noted that the situation was brought to their attention by the Indiana State Medical Association. After they received this information, the lawmakers learned that someone from the IRS Criminal Investigation Division had contacted the medical association about the fraud and has been helpful.
“While we are heartened by this development, we believe that all levels of the IRS responsible for detecting, investigating, prosecuting and preventing patterns of fraud like this should be fully engaged,” the lawmakers wrote. “Any single case of identity theft is troubling and should be investigated, but fraud on such a large scale is especially worrisome and deserves the full attention of the IRS. To the extent allowed by law and applicable regulations, we respectfully request that you fully investigate this matter and keep us informed of progress regarding this grave situation, including safeguards your agency plans to implement to prevent further victimization of taxpayers.”
