Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) and Security Summit Partners announce new results from 2018 that show significant progress in the fight against tax-related identity theft and a reduction in overall attempted tax fraud.

DOR has worked diligently to fight tax-related identity theft and tax fraud in all forms, and since joining the Security Summit as a founding member in 2015, has enacted many protocols with Security Summit partners. Many of these initiatives are invisible to taxpayers but have resulted in fewer fraudulent tax returns entering tax processing systems, fewer confirmed identity theft returns, and fewer Georgians identifying themselves as victims of tax-related identity theft.

The implementation of these joint initiatives by Security Summit partners have led to improved results nationwide in both tax-related identity theft and tax fraud. Here are key calendar-year 2018 indicators and how they compare to the 2015 base year:

  • Between 2015 and 2018, the number of taxpayers reporting to the IRS that they were identity theft victims fell 71 percent. These are taxpayers who file identity theft affidavits. In 2018, the IRS received 199,000 reports from taxpayers compared to 677,000 in 2015. This was the third consecutive year this number has declined. There were 242,000 identity theft reports in 2017 and 401,000 in 2016. 
  • Between 2015 and 2018, the IRS protected a combined $24 billion in fraudulent refunds by stopping confirmed identity theft returns. In 2018, the 649,000 confirmed fraudulent returns attempted to obtain $3.1 billion in refunds. The IRS protected $6 billion in 2017, $6.4 billion in 2016 and $8.7 billion in 2015.
  • Between 2015 and 2018, the Georgia Department of Revenue blocked over $917 million dollars in fraudulent refunds. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, the Department blocked over $312 million, over $110 million in FY 2016, over $171 million in FY 2017, and over $322 million in FY 2018.

“It is encouraging to see every entity involved in the filing process collaborating to combat tax-related identity theft and tax refund fraud,” said Commissioner Riley, “The efforts of the Security Summit and its partners have led to remarkable results in deterring tax-related identity theft and detecting tax fraud.”

While this progress is promising, DOR encourages all taxpayers to remain vigilant as we approach the end of filing season. For additional information on identity theft, please visit the Internal Revenue Service’s website. If you believe you are a victim of Georgia tax-related identity theft or tax fraud, please contact DOR at 877-423-6711.


Media Contact
Name: William Gaston
Phone: (404) 417-2286
Cell: (470) 725-5265
Email address: [email protected]

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