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Last updated on Tuesday, March 31, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - To date, the Indiana Department of Revenue has identified and stopped more than $5.3 million in attempted identity theft and tax refund fraud. Last year at this time, the department had stopped just over $1 million in identity theft and refund fraud.
"This demonstrates the extent of the identity theft epidemic and the department's efforts to combat it," said Indiana Department of Revenue Commissioner Mike Alley.
The fraudulent returns were stopped by the increased security features of the department's 2015 identity protection program. These security features confirm the identity of each Hoosier before processing their returns.
This process has helped 3,000 taxpayers discover their identities were stolen and used to file fraudulent Indiana tax returns. As part of the program, more than 179,000 taxpayers have been asked to complete an Identity Confirmation Quiz so far. More than 126,000 taxpayers already successfully have completed this four-question, three-minute quiz.
Those required to complete the quiz receive an instructional letter from the department. The quiz can be completed via the department's secure website or over the phone.
Those asked to take the quiz are not suspected of identity theft. This effort is designed to further protect taxpayers' identities and tax refunds. After successful quiz completion, the taxpayer receives his or her refund within 14 days if electronically filed and within 12 weeks if filed by paper.
Taxpayers who receive an Identity Confirmation Quiz letter from the department but who have not yet submitted an Indiana tax return should NOT complete the quiz--this may indicate the taxpayer's identity was compromised. Instead, these taxpayers should follow the letter's instructions to immediately contact the department.
Last year the department's Identity protection program stopped $88 million in identity theft refunds and 78,000 fraudulent returns. Commissioner Mike Alley testified earlier this month before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. His statement about identity theft and the department's identity protection program is located here.
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