Chowdahead Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Once again, TurboTax (and other home tax prep software) is mentioned here as a culprit. Yet the IRS keeps pushing people to file that way. Sure there are fraudulent paid preparers, but at least the IRS has their fingerprints on file and can more easily track the preparer. This may be another reason for a longer refund disbursement times for some people. http://news.yahoo.com/florida-hit-tsunami-tax-identity-fraud-122604383--finance.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshtax Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 And yet they still want to target people making under 150K in their audits. What a worthless organization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshtax Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Once again, TurboTax (and other home tax prep software) is mentioned here as a culprit. Yet the IRS keeps pushing people to file that way. Sure there are fraudulent paid preparers, but at least the IRS has their fingerprints on file and can more easily track the preparer. This may be another reason for a longer refund disbursement times for some people. http://news.yahoo.com/florida-hit-tsunami-tax-identity-fraud-122604383--finance.html The IRS does not care......what have they done to make you think anything different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don in Upstate NY Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 "but at least the IRS has their fingerprints on file and can more easily track the preparer." I didn't know that the fingerprints were included in the e-file! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chowdahead Posted February 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 "but at least the IRS has their fingerprints on file and can more easily track the preparer." I didn't know that the fingerprints were included in the e-file! No, but your fingerprints are in your EFIN, and you include your EFIN with every return your file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 These frauders were doing paper returns with Turbo Tax. Not likely they have EFIN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Nobody asked for MY fingerprints. I got my EFIN in 2007, I think, when I went out on my own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieR Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 When I got my EFIN, I think the first year we needed them, I had to go to our township police station and be fingerprinted. I sent mine in and got a letter from IRS telling me that they weren't "readable" and I had to do it again. Well, I called the phone # that was on the letter, talked to an "agent" and explained that I had worked in a factory making bath tubs for 15 years and those prints were as good as they were going to get. The lovely lady told me that I sounded totally honest and she approved me. I still don't have any prints on my fingertips...but I do have my EFIN. AnnieR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chowdahead Posted February 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Nobody asked for MY fingerprints. I got my EFIN in 2007, I think, when I went out on my own. Back when I got my EFIN.. 2004 I believe, I had to be fingerprinted by my local police and I had to mail my prints to the IRS for a background check. So they don't even require this anymore, and they were just approving folks over the phone anyway based on a good story? Wow... and the IRS wonders why fraud is rampant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chowdahead Posted February 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 These frauders were doing paper returns with Turbo Tax. Not likely they have EFIN. The article states that they were using e-file. They were most likely impersonating the individual taxpayer and submitting the return electronically through Turbo Tax. I haven't used TurboTax in years but I'm guessing they have to buy a copy for each fraudulent return. Small investment when you consider they are reaping in $3000. My guess is that EIC defrauders will be using TurboTax as their next tool since the IRS is clamping down on Paid Preparers and the EIC. When you file through turbo tax there is no 8867 to worry about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcb39 Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 I was finger printed in approximately 1992 when I first started to do e-files through Parsons Tech and had to get an EFIN. Had to go to County Police Dept to have it done and sent to IRS along with application. In those days it cost $15 to file a return electronically; so consequently since nobody wanted to pay the fee, I filed all of my close relatives and myself electronically just to keep the EFIN. If you didn't use it, you could lose it. Things have certainly changed since then. There were recent rumblings that the IRS is considering requiring fingerprints again for certain preparers in order to obtain your PTIN. However, I imagine now that all hnges on how the IRS litigation turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfizer Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Nobody asked for MY fingerprints. I got my EFIN in 2007, I think, when I went out on my own. I don't believe you have to submit a fingerprint card with your EFIN application if you are a CPA or attorney. You just have to submit proof that you have been admitted to the bar or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshtax Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 No fingerprint here...received EFIN in 06-07. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Maybe because I'm an EA... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 I was never fingerprinted. Of course, at the time I was working for the poe lice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklcpa Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 No fingerprints for me being a CPA, but part of the application to sit for the CPA exam included submitting my fingerprints with the application. I wonder if current candidates still have to do that? About the article posted by the OP. The IRS e-services asks for prior year AGI and birthdate when submitting a POA. It seems to me that implementing a similar safety check would eliminate some of the fraud where names and social security numbers have been compromised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Signed up for my EFIN and ETIN in 2002. Had to do fingerprint card. Had to do it twice because "The IRS never received it." Second went certified. I would say they lost the first one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joanmcq Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 I had to be fingerprinted for my license. Can't remember if I needed one for my EFIN. 2002 was a long time ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljwalters Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Got mine in jan 2002 no fingerprint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaAnn Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Received my EFIN in '03. Did the application at an IRS Tax Forum in AC; I believe I was finger-printed right on the spot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David1980 Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 EA not required to have finger prints (not sure that's still true?) I'd guess most fraud done with an EFIN is done with a sisters/boyfriends/aunt's name to avoid any finger printing (when the finger printing would turn something up at least). Passing the EA to get an EFIN without finger printing would be a lot of effort to avoid the finger printing. Also: Florida. Not surprised... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 Signed up for my EFIN and ETIN in 2002. Had to do fingerprint card. Had to do it twice because "The IRS never received it." Second went certified. I would say they lost the first one. Sorry... Signed up in 1999. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in Virginia Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 I would be surprised if an EFIN was used for this fraud. My guess would be IRS' free-file system, since max earned income credit would be under the income level to use free file. And I don't think you have to have prior year's AGI to use that. Been a while since I have helped someone use Free FIle to do their taxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chowdahead Posted February 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 I would be surprised if an EFIN was used for this fraud. My guess would be IRS' free-file system, since max earned income credit would be under the income level to use free file. And I don't think you have to have prior year's AGI to use that. Been a while since I have helped someone use Free FIle to do their taxes. Article says they used TurboTax. No EFIN is required for a taxpayer to file using TurboTax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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