Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers Are Being Issued Without Sufficient Supporting Documentation
December 8, 2009
Reference Number: 2010-40-005
This report has cleared the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration disclosure review process and information determined to be restricted from public release has been redacted from this document.
Redaction Legend:
1 = Tax Return/Return Information
Phone Number |
202-622-6500
Email Address | inquiries@tigta.treas.gov
Web Site |
http://www.tigta.gov
December 8, 2009
MEMORANDUM FOR COMMISSIONER, WAGE AND INVESTMENT DIVISION
FROM: (for) Michael R. Phillips /s/ Nancy A. Nakamura
Deputy Inspector General for Audit
SUBJECT: Final Audit Report – Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers Are Being Issued Without Sufficient Supporting Documentation (Audit # 200940006)
This report presents the results of our review to determine whether
Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) were being issued without
sufficient supporting documentation. The
overall objective of this review was to determine whether Applications for IRS Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number (Form W‑7) were efficiently and
effectively processed and ITINs were appropriately issued. This audit was part of the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration’s Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Audit Plan under the
major management challenge of Providing Quality Taxpayer Service Operations.
Impact on the Taxpayer
The purpose of
the ITIN is to provide alien individuals, whether or not they reside in the
Synopsis
The ITIN was created to provide individuals who are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number with an identification number for tax purposes. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues ITINs to help individuals comply with Federal tax laws and provide a means to efficiently process and account for tax returns. Only individuals who have a valid filing requirement or are filing a tax return to claim a refund of over-withheld taxes are eligible to receive an ITIN. Individuals submit Forms W‑7 through Acceptance Agents[1] or by submitting them directly to the IRS.
ITINs were issued without sufficient supporting documentation. A statistical sample of 658 Forms W-7 selected from 1.5 million application packages (cases) submitted from January 1 through November 21, 2008, showed that 510 cases (78 percent) contained errors. The highest error rate (87 percent) was in applications submitted through Certified Acceptance Agents.[2] This includes instances in which the Agents did not provide the documents required to support the Forms W-7 submitted by them to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. However, there was also a significant error rate (35 percent) in application packages submitted directly to the IRS.
A Certified Acceptance Agent is authorized under an agreement with the IRS to submit a Form W-7 to the IRS on behalf of an ITIN applicant without furnishing supporting documentary evidence. Instead, in the certificates of accuracy, Agents certify to the IRS that they have reviewed the appropriate documentation evidencing the ITIN applicant’s identity and alien status, and that they are maintaining a record of such documentation.
IRS employees process, but do not review, the applications submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents. They input the information from the Forms W-7 into the ITIN management information system called the Real-Time System. If all requirements are met, the ITIN is assigned systemically by the ITIN Real-Time System. Eighty-seven percent (467 of 535) of the sample of application packages submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents contained errors. For example, 1) cases did not contain the documents required to issue an ITIN, 2) Forms W-7 provided to us by the Certified Acceptance Agents did not agree with the original Forms W-7 that were sent to the IRS, 3) cases did not contain the required certificates of accuracy or the certificates were missing required information and/or signatures, or 4) the Certified Acceptance Agents did not comply with our request for copies of the application packages.
IRS employees review and process applications submitted directly to the IRS. Thirty-five percent (43 of 123) of the application packages sampled that were submitted directly to the IRS by mail or through Taxpayer Assistance Centers[3] contained errors. The errors ranged from missing and illegible documents to inconsistencies between the Forms W-7 and the supporting documents.
Also, supporting documents are complex and guidelines are inconsistent. Inconsistent guidelines create confusion for taxpayers and Agents in attempting to comply with the proper preparation of a Form W-7 and determining the identification documents needed to support the issuance of an ITIN.
There are also no controls to prevent an ITIN from being used by more than one taxpayer on multiple tax returns. More than 60,000 ITINs were assigned and used on multiple tax returns processed in Calendar Year 2008. As with Social Security Numbers, ITINs are specific to individuals and should be issued to and used only by that individual.
****1**** In addition, more than 55,000 ITINs were used multiple times on approximately 102,000 tax returns with refunds totaling more than $202 million.
The Real-Time System contains inaccurate data and is insufficient to oversee the Program. The IRS states that the System provides a one‑stop service for processing Forms W-7 and issuing ITINs. The System processes Forms W-7 in real-time and assigns the ITIN or creates reject or suspense Forms W-7 automatically. Nevertheless, the information does not accurately reflect what type of Agent submitted the Forms W-7 and does not accurately reflect the information captured on the Forms W-7.
Research on the Real-Time System for 547 cases in our statistical sample found that 270 records (49 percent) contained inaccurate information relating to what type of Agent submitted the application. The IRS does not know the volume of Forms W-7 that are submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents and, if not corrected, approximately 200 Certified Acceptance Agents may not be included in any compliance activity.
In addition, information reflected on 110 (20 percent) of the 547 Forms W-7 was not transcribed correctly to the Real‑Time System. Transcription errors included incorrect identification documents, birth dates, codes/reasons for submitting the Forms W‑7, names, and/or addresses.
Recommendations
We recommended that the Commissioner, Wage and
Investment Division, revise guidelines: 1)
related to processing applications submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents to
ensure that the Forms W-7 match the information on the certificates of
accuracy before issuing ITINs and to ensure that any supporting documents
submitted with the certificates of accuracy are reviewed with the same due
diligence that is required for Forms W-7 submitted directly to the IRS by
individual applicants; 2) related to
processing applications submitted directly to the IRS to ensure that all information on the Forms
W-7 is validated and consistent with supporting documentation; and 3) to ensure that the instructions for
completing the Form W-7 and internal guidelines are consistent by clarifying
who is required to complete a power of attorney, clarifying that prior versions
of Form W-7 may be acceptable, and requiring that employees verify qualified applicants
provide an entry date to the United States.
The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should also 4) develop controls to prevent ITINs from being used on multiple tax returns, 5) ensure that the data on the Real‑Time System are accurate, and 6) develop procedures and internal controls to monitor the Real‑Time System to ensure that information entered is accurate.
Response
IRS management agreed with five of our six recommendations. Concerning the first three recommendations, the IRS has taken steps to revise and update guidance and instructions to ensure consistency and will update current guidelines to ensure the information on the Form W-7 is validated and consistent. For Recommendations 5 and 6, the IRS, contingent on funding, will take corrective actions to update the Real-Time System and ensure the information entered is accurate.
The IRS disagreed with Recommendation 4, stating that tax
returns submitted with a duplicate secondary/dependent ITIN are subject to compliance
review after the return is processed and corrected as necessary. Management’s complete response to the draft
report is included in Appendix VIII.
Office of Audit Comment
In its response, the IRS stated it was concerned with the weighting of the sample of Certified Acceptance Agent cases and that the sample was weighted based on one of our prior reports.[4] As such, it believes the results are not a true representation of the overall program. We do not agree. The reason we oversampled Certified Acceptance Agents was to increase the reliability of the results. It was based on a higher expected error rate as well as to account for Agents who may not provide the requested documents. Of the 535 Certified Acceptance Agents sampled, 102 (19 percent) did not respond. We believe the oversample was necessary and the overall representation of the ITIN Program is accurate.
The IRS pointed out that the Internal Revenue Code does not require parenthood to claim a dependent. We agree and modified the report to avoid the potential for any such inference.
Additionally, the IRS disagreed with the third outcome measure, stating the outcome measure was based on an incorrect calculation—that 318,017 should be 311,579 based on its calculation of (110/547) x 1,549,397. However, the IRS’ calculation does not incorporate the weighting of the strata. The 318,017 taxpayers were calculated using 5 strata, and the errors were based on each stratum and then totaled. See Appendix IV for details.
Concerning Recommendation 4, the IRS stated that tax returns submitted with a duplicate secondary/dependent ITIN are subject to compliance review after the return is processed and corrected as necessary, similar to duplicate Social Security Numbers. However, this is not a 100 percent review and only a small number of ITIN tax returns are subject to audit and would be corrected. We believe controls should be developed during processing, before the tax refunds are issued. This is comparable to how the IRS ensures dependents are not claimed on more than one tax return. During the processing of electronic tax returns, the IRS will, with some exceptions, reject the second tax return submitted that used a duplicate Social Security Number.
Copies of this report are also being sent to the IRS
managers affected by the report recommendations. Please contact me at (202) 622-6510 if you
have questions or Michael E. McKenney, Assistant Inspector General for Audit
(Returns Processing and Account Services), at (202) 622-5916.
Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers Were Issued Without
Sufficient Supporting Documentation
The Real-Time System Contains Inaccurate
Data and Is Insufficient to Oversee the Program
Appendices
Appendix
I – Detailed Objective, Scope, and Methodology
Appendix
II – Major Contributors to This Report
Appendix
III – Report Distribution List
Appendix
IV – Outcome Measures
Appendix
V – Acceptable Documents When Applying for an Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number
Appendix VI
– Errors Identified in Application Packages Categorized by Sample
Appendix VII
‑ Rules for Claiming the Child Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax
Credit
Appendix
VIII – Management’s Response to the Draft Report
Abbreviations
|
e-file(d), e-filing |
Electronically file(d); electronic filing |
|
IRS |
Internal Revenue Service |
|
ITIN |
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number |
|
|
|
The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) was
created to provide individuals who are not eligible to obtain a Social Security
Number with an identification number for tax purposes. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issues ITINs
to help individuals comply with Federal tax laws and provide a means to
efficiently process and account for tax returns. Only an individual who has a
valid filing requirement or is filing a tax return to claim a refund of over‑withheld
tax is eligible to receive an ITIN. An ITIN
is issued regardless of an individual’s immigration status. The issuance of an ITIN does not:
· Change an individual’s immigration status.
· Entitle the individual to Social Security benefits.
· Entitle the individual to work in the United States (U.S.).
· Entitle the individual to the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Only
In general, the Social Security Administration limits its
assignment of Social Security Numbers to individuals who are
Individuals who are
unable to obtain Social Security Numbers but have tax return filing requirements can be either resident or
nonresident aliens. The ITIN is
available to individuals who are required to have a taxpayer identification
number for tax purposes but do not have and are not eligible to obtain a Social
Security Number. The distinction between a resident and nonresident
alien is important because each is taxed differently. Resident aliens must follow the same
tax laws as
The ITINs are not valid identification outside the tax
system. The IRS began processing Applications for IRS Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number (Form W-7) in July 1996 and estimates that,
as of December 2008, it has issued more than 14 million ITINs. Individuals
apply for an ITIN by completing a Form W‑7 and using one of the
following methods:
1. Submitting Form W-7 through an IRS-approved Acceptance Agent. An Acceptance Agent is a person (an individual or an entity) who, pursuant to a written agreement with the IRS, is authorized to assist alien individuals and other foreign persons (who are ineligible to receive a Social Security Number) in obtaining an ITIN from the IRS. The Acceptance Agent reviews the necessary documents and forwards the completed Form W-7 and supporting documents to the IRS.
2. Submitting Form W-7 through an IRS-approved Certified Acceptance Agent. A Certified Acceptance Agent is authorized to certify whether the documented proof is adequate and is not required to send the supporting documentation to the IRS. The Certified Acceptance Agent reviews the applicant’s documentation, completes a certificate of accuracy, and forwards the certificate and Form W-7 to the IRS for processing. The Certified Acceptance Agent is required to keep copies of the documents for 3 years.
3. Applying directly to the IRS.
The Taxpayer Assistance Centers offer
face-to-face assistance.
The IRS provides service to millions of taxpayers
yearly. Taxpayers have the option of
obtaining personal, face‑to‑face tax assistance at 401 Taxpayer
Assistance Centers nationwide. The IRS
suggests taxpayers visit the Centers when they feel more comfortable talking
with someone in person.
· An individual can mail the Form W-7 with documentation to substantiate information reported on the Form W-7 and a completed tax return to the IRS Austin Campus[5] ITIN unit for processing.
·
An
individual can submit the Form W-7 personally to an IRS local office called a
The IRS Austin,
Texas, Campus processes all applications submitted by Agents and submitted
directly to the IRS. Figure 1 shows the
source of ITIN applications from January 1 through November 21, 2008.
Figure 1: Source of ITIN Applications Processed From
January 1 – November 21, 2008
|
|
Volume of ITIN
Applications by Source |
Percentage |
|
Direct Mail |
1,167,136 |
75% |
|
Certified Acceptance Agent |
362,870 |
23% |
|
Acceptance Agent |
12,394 |
.8% |
|
Agent with No Designation |
6,997 |
.5% |
|
Total |
1,549,397 |
100%* |
Source: Data from
the ITIN Real-Time System. *Does not total 100 percent due to
rounding.
All
Form W-7 applicants must meet certain documentation requirements.[8] An applicant can submit an original passport
or a properly notarized or certified copy of a valid passport. If the applicant submits either of these, he
or she does not need to submit any other documents. If an applicant does not have an original or
certified copy of a passport, he or she must provide a combination of current
documents (at least two or more) that show a photograph and name supporting the
claim of identity and foreign status.
With the exception of children less than 14 years of age (less then
18 years of age if a student), at least 1 document must contain a recent
photograph. If an individual is
requesting an ITIN as a dependent, unless a passport is submitted, documentation
to prove foreign status and identity should include a birth certificate.
There has been a significant increase in the use of ITINs since the IRS began issuing them in Tax Year 1996. Figure 2 shows a 247 percent increase in the number of individual income tax returns filed using ITINs and reporting wages from Tax Years 2001 to 2008.
Figure 2: Growth of Tax Returns Filed
Using ITINs and Reporting Wages
|
|
Tax Year 2001 |
Tax Year 2008 |
Percentage Change |
|
Paper-Filed Tax Returns |
444,000 |
813,000 |
83% |
|
Electronically filed (e-filed) Tax Returns
|
86,000 |
1,028,000 |
1,095% |
|
Total Individual Income Tax Returns |
530,000 |
1,841,000 |
247% |
Sources: Data
for Tax Year 2001 were obtained from a prior Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration report.[9]
Data for Tax Year 2008 were obtained from
analysis of the IRS Returns Transaction File as of June 18, 2009.[10]
Data were rounded to the nearest thousand.
Tax returns filed with ITINs were
not always allowed to be e-filed. However, if the ITIN was shown on the
Wage and Tax Statement (Form W-2), the tax return could be e‑filed. Due to
programming changes, ITIN returns can now be e-filed.
This review was performed at the Wage and Investment
Division Program Office in
Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers Were Issued Without Sufficient Supporting Documentation
A statistical sample of 658 Forms W-7 selected from 1.5 million application packages (cases) submitted from January 1 through November 21, 2008, showed 510 cases (78 percent) contained errors.[11] Fifty-four (8 percent) of 658 cases contained errors that would not have prevented the issuance of an ITIN, for example, names on some supporting documents were inconsistent with those of the Forms W-7 or the Forms W-7 were not dated. However, 456 (69 percent) of 658 of the cases contained significant errors and/or raised concerns that, without follow up or resolution, should have prevented the issuance of ITINs.
As shown in Figure 3, the highest error rate (87 percent) was in applications submitted through Certified Acceptance Agents.[12] This includes instances in which the Agents did not provide the documents required to support the Forms W-7 submitted by them to the TIGTA. However, there was also a significant error rate (35 percent) in application packages submitted to the IRS.
Figure 3: Errors Identified
in Application Packages Sampled
Based on the Source of the Package
|
|
Directly Mailed or Submitted to an IRS Office |
Certified Acceptance Agent Residing in the |
Certified Acceptance Agent Residing Outside the |
Totals |
|||
|
Case
Errors |
43 |
35% |
224 |
64% |
141 |
75% |
408 |
|
Documents
Not Provided |
NA |
NA |
81 |
23% |
21 |
11% |
102 |
|
Total
Errors |
43 |
35% |
305 |
88% |
162 |
87% |
510 |
|
No
Errors |
80 |
65% |
43 |
12% |
25 |
13% |
148 |
|
Total
Application Packages |
123 |
100% |
348 |
100% |
187 |
100% |
658 |
Source: Our analysis of Forms W-7 submitted and
processed during the period January 1 through November 21, 2008.
NA=Not applicable. Due to rounding the total percentages may not
equal 100 percent.
Errors identified in 456 cases that might have prevented the issuance of ITINs included the following:[13]
Figure 4 provides a breakdown of the income, credits, and
taxes for the 708 tax returns[14] associated
with the cases identified as having errors.
Figure 4: Income, Credits, and Taxes for Cases With Errors
|
|
Directly Mailed or Submitted to an |
Certified Acceptance Agent Residing |
Certified Acceptance Agent Residing
Outside the |
|
Adjusted Gross Income |
$1,595,607 |
$11,092,599 |
$2,307,158 |
|
Taxable Income |
$322,706 |
$1,569,459 |
$1,934,879 |
|
Child Tax Credit |
$20,263 |
$106,057 |
$1,200 |
|
Additional Child Tax
Credit |
$60,810 |
$586,838 |
$0 |
|
Tax Withheld from
Wages |
$59,292 |
$369,198 |
$373,325 |
|
Refunds |
61 ($109,688) |
494 ($892,197) |
73 ($103,102) |
|
Taxes Owed |
6 ($5,133) |
15 ($17,337) |
1 ($5,053) |
|
No Additional Taxes Owed
|
****1**** |
13 |
44 |
Sources: Data from the
ITIN Real-Time System, the ITIN Program’s management information system, and
from the IRS Returns
Transaction File for tax returns filed using ITINs and
processed in Calendar Years 2008 and 2009.
Eighty-seven percent of the sample of application packages submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents contained errors
A Certified Acceptance Agent is authorized under an agreement with the IRS to submit a Form W-7 to the IRS on behalf of an ITIN applicant without furnishing supporting documentary evidence. Instead, in the certificates of accuracy, Agents certify to the IRS that they have reviewed the appropriate documentation evidencing the ITIN applicant’s identity and alien status, and that they are maintaining a record of such documentation. In addition, Agents must certify that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the documentation is authentic, complete, and accurate. As part of the certification, Agents must describe the documentation upon which they are relying. The certification is not binding on the IRS, and, in appropriate cases, the IRS may request to see appropriate documentation before issuing an ITIN.
Certified Acceptance Agents submit only Forms W-7 and certificates of accuracy. They are not required to submit supporting documents, but must maintain them for 3 years and submit them to the IRS upon request.
In addition, Certified Acceptance Agents agree to maintain a record of the documentation obtained and reviewed pursuant to the obligations set forth in the agreement. They are required to maintain all documentation submitted with respect to an ITIN applicant for 3 years.
IRS employees process, but do not review, documents supporting the applications submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents. They input the information from the Forms W-7 into the ITIN management information system, the Real-Time System. If all requirements are met, the ITIN is assigned systemically by the Real-Time System.
We requested copies of 535 application packages (Forms W-7, tax returns, and supporting documents) from Certified Acceptance Agents. From the IRS, we obtained the documents the Certified Acceptance Agents submitted to the IRS on behalf of the applicants. Eighty-seven percent (467 of 535) of the sample of application packages contained errors, for example:[15]
The IRS relies on Certified Acceptance Agents to ensure applicants meet all requirements
The IRS accepts Forms W-7 and supporting documents submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents without reviewing or evaluating them. However, a review of the application packages in our sample found instances where the Forms W-7 and a certificate of accuracy were accepted with questionable information. For example,
The IRS stated that there are no internal guidelines requiring that the certificate of accuracy and the information on the Form W-7 be reviewed for accuracy. However, the certificate of accuracy is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may request to see appropriate documentation before issuing an ITIN.
In another instance, ****1****
The IRS does not have a Certified Acceptance Agent compliance review process
Since Fiscal Year 2003, the Treasury Inspector General for
Tax Administration has reported that the IRS has not performed any compliance
reviews or monitoring visits to ensure that Agents are complying with all laws
and regulations when submitting Forms W‑7.[16] In response to the report issued in June 2009, the ITIN Program
Office stated that it is currently working with the Small Business/Self-Employed
Division Examination Policy function to develop a compliance review process.
Considering
the error rate of application packages submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents
in this review, the risk is high that without an active and aggressive compliance
program ITINs are being issued without the proper supporting documents. The IRS needs to ensure that it implements a
comprehensive compliance program or reconsider the feasibility of the Certified
Acceptance Agent Program.
Thirty-five percent of the sample of application packages submitted directly to the IRS contained errors
IRS employees review and process applications submitted directly to the IRS. Employees review the Form W-7 and the supporting documentation and contact the individual, via mail, notifying them of the ITIN or requesting additional information required to substantiate the Form W-7.
Thirty-five percent (43 of 123) of the application packages sampled that were submitted directly to the IRS by mail or through Taxpayer Assistance Centers contained errors. The errors ranged from missing and illegible documents to inconsistencies between the Forms W-7 and the supporting documents. This happened for many reasons.
Employees
have also expressed concerns that they are required to process a Form W-7 for an individual when it appears the wage
earner is using another individual’s Social Security Number to work.
Taxpayers applying for an ITIN do not qualify for a Social Security
Number. The Form W-2 attached to
the tax return and application contains a
Social Security Number.
The IRS attempted to mitigate some of the
challenges by reducing the number of acceptable documents from 40 to 13. The IRS provided necessary training to
identify legitimate documents, but does not require employees to be experts in
determining whether documents contain valid signatures. Also, the IRS stated it has a good returning base of seasonal employees and in
preparation for the 2009 Filing Season increased the classroom training time.
Supporting documents are complex and guidelines are inconsistent
Although only 13 types of documents are acceptable to support the Form W-7 and issue an ITIN, these documents may not be in English, vary according to the country in which they were issued, and, particularly for medical and school records, are unique to the individual. Medical and school records are most often used to verify that children meet the requirements. Of 658 applications sampled, 213 (32 percent) applications were for children.
These IRS employees are not auditors
and are required to ensure only the validity of the supporting documents, not validate
all the information used to support the Form W-7. Guidelines do not require that they validate age,
even though date of birth is a required field.
Neither are they required to validate the date of entry into the
Inconsistent guidelines create confusion for taxpayers and Agents in attempting to comply with the proper preparation of a Form W-7 and determining the identification documents needed to support the issuance of an ITIN, for example:
· The Form W-7 instructions, Understanding Your IRS - Individual Taxpayer Identification Number ITIN (Publication 1915), and a notice sent from the IRS to the taxpayer requesting additional information to support the Form W-7 application state that if an applicant is 14 years of age or older, the applicant can sign or appoint an authorized agent, including the parent, to sign. The authorized agent or parent must attach Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative (Form 2848). However, IRS internal guidelines do not require a Form 2848 for a parent who is signing for a child.
· The Publication 1915 provides information used for completing the Form W-7 and instructs the applicant to use the most current Form W-7 or it will be rejected. However, the actual Form W-7 instructions only state to use Form W-7 to apply for an ITIN. In addition, IRS internal guidelines allow tax examiners to accept older versions.
The IRS has acknowledged these two discrepancies and is taking actions to revise Publication 1915 and Form W-7 instructions to ensure consistency.
In
another instance, Publication 1915 and instructions for completing Form W-7
instructs the applicant to enter the date of entry to the
A date of
entry is not required if W-7 reason box d [Dependent of U.S. citizen/resident
alien] is checked and applicant is a resident of Canada, India, or Mexico or
when box e [Spouse of U.S. citizen/resident alien] is checked and Form 1040
is filed either as married filing separately of (sic) married filing jointly
with a spouse who is a U.S. citizen or resident and the NRA spouse applicant is
both listed and claimed as an exemption on the return.
The
Government Accountability Office Standards
for Internal Control in the Federal Government[18]
requires that the agency assess the risks it faces from both external and internal
sources. The agency must establish
clear, consistent objectives and should consider all significant interactions
between the entity and other parties to identify risks. Guidelines need to be clear and consistent to
reduce risks inherent to the ITIN Program and ensure ITINs are issued only to appropriate
individuals.
The volume of ITINs is
growing, increasing the risk that fraudulent tax returns using ITINs could be
submitted
Total
ITIN tax returns have grown 247 percent from Tax Year 2001 to 2008. Many of these tax returns claim dependency
exemptions and the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit. To qualify for these Credits, a child must meet
certain tests. The residency test
is of particular importance for children who have an ITIN. The only way a child with an ITIN can qualify
for these Credits is to be a resident of the
The maximum amount that can be claimed for the Child Tax Credit is $1,000 for each qualifying child. The Additional Child Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit and is for certain individuals who get less than the full amount of the Child Tax Credit. The Additional Child Tax Credit provides the taxpayer with a refund when no tax is owed. The IRS provides this example on IRS.gov:
The
taxpayers have two qualifying children, income of $86,000, and a tax liability
of $500. Because their tax liability is
less than the initial child tax credit ($2,000) they may be able to take the
refundable Additional Child Tax Credit of $1,500 ($2,000-$500).
Employees processing Forms W-7 are not tax
auditors and cannot determine whether a dependent qualifies to be claimed on
the tax return, therefore allowing the taxpayer to receive a dependency
exemption and possibly the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit.
During
Fiscal Year 2007, the IRS Examination function audited and closed
3,161 cases, changing almost 50 percent of these cases and assessing an
average of $2,156 in additional tax per case.
Since Fiscal Year 2005, the Program Office has been monitoring the usage of the Credits on tax returns submitted with Forms W-7. The Program Office, in conjunction with the IRS Examination function, initiated a review of approximately 93,000 of these tax returns. The Examination function subsequently initiated audits and has included this initiative in its strategic plan. During Fiscal Year 2007, the Examination function audited and closed 3,161 cases, changing almost 50 percent of these cases and assessing an average of $2,156 in additional tax per case.
The Program Office is also working with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division on several ITIN tax schemes. Calendar Year 2008 schemes being worked by the Criminal Investigation Division involve 14,636 ITIN tax returns and $42 million in refunds claimed. More than 1,000 (7 percent) of the 14,636 ITIN tax returns involved in schemes had ITINs issued with the assistance of Agents. These schemes involved $3.1 million in refunds. ****1****
In March 2009, we reported that ITIN filers are receiving billions of dollars in Child Tax Credits and Additional Child Tax Credits intended for working families although these individuals are not authorized to work in the U.S.[20] Figure 5 provides a breakdown of the characteristics and projections for our statistical sample of ITIN applications for 1,171,355 individual tax returns using ITINs that were assigned January 1 through November 21, 2008. There is a potential that these tax returns could result in $412,454,748 in refunds and that over 5 calendar years $2,062,273,740 in revenue could be protected.
Figure 5: Projections
of Income, Credits, and Taxes of Tax Returns
Filed Using ITINs Assigned January 1 through November 21, 2008
|
|
Directly
Mailed or Submitted to an IRS Office |
Certified
Acceptance Agent Residing |
Certified
Acceptance Agent Residing Outside the |
|
$15,140,572,126 |
$10,899,147,898 |
$258,340,007 |
|
|
Taxable Income |
$3,062,128,374 |
$1,542,088,176 |
$216,654,713 |
|
Child Tax Credit |
$192,273,795 |
$104,207,402 |
$134,368 |
|
Additional Child Tax Credit |
$577,024,922 |
$576,603,748 |
$0 |
|
Tax Withheld From Wages |
$562,616,485 |
$22,214,474 |
$41,802,418 |
|
Refunds Due |
$1,040,819,623 |
$876,637,392 |
$11,544,667 |
|
Balance Due |
$48,706,578 |
$17,034,649 |
$565,801 |
|
Total Refunds Without Child Tax
Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit |
$222,818,598 |
$178,791,691 |
$10,844,458 |
|
No Additional Taxes Owed (Tax
Returns) |
9,489 |
12,773 |
4,927 |
Source: Analysis of tax returns filed using ITINs and processed in Calendar Years 2008 and 2009.
In a prior report issued March 31, 2009, the Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration recommended that legislation is needed
to clarify whether or not refundable tax credits such as the Additional Child
Tax Credit may be paid to filers without a Social Security Number and, if these
credits may not be paid, to provide IRS math error authority to disallow
associated claims for the credits.[21] The IRS agreed and will
discuss with the Office of Tax Policy, Department of the Treasury, the merits
of an administration proposal to amend the Internal Revenue Code to limit
eligibility for the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit to
individuals who have a Social Security Number issued by the Social Security
Administration rather than a number issued to an alien not authorized to work
in the U.S.
Recommendations
The Commissioner, Wage and Investment
Division, should revise:
Recommendation
1: Guidelines related to
processing applications submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents to ensure that
the Forms W-7 match the information on the certificates of accuracy before
issuing ITINs, and that any supporting documents submitted with the
certificates of accuracy are reviewed with the same due diligence as required
for Forms W-7 and supporting documents submitted directly to the IRS by
individual applicants.
Management’s Response:
The IRS agreed with this recommendation and has taken steps to revise
Form W-7 instructions, Acceptance Agents
Guide for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
(Publication 4520), and internal guidelines to ensure consistency in these
areas.
Recommendation 2: Guidelines related to
processing applications submitted directly to the IRS to ensure that all information on the Forms
W-7 is validated and consistent with supporting documentation. For example, employees should validate the gender, age, and date of entry.
Management’s Response:
The IRS agreed with this recommendation and will update guidance to
ensure the information on the Form W-7, required to verify the applicant’s
identity, is validated and consistent with what is shown on supporting
documentation.
Recommendation 3: Guidelines to ensure that the
instructions for completing the Form W-7 and internal guidelines are consistent
by clarifying who is required to complete a power of attorney, clarifying that
prior versions of Form W-7 may be acceptable, and requiring that employees verify
qualified applicants provide an entry date to the U.S.
Management’s Response:
The IRS agreed with this recommendation and has taken steps to revise
Form W-7 instructions, Publications 1915 and 4520, and internal guidelines to
ensure consistency in these areas.
The Same Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers Are Being Used by More Than One Taxpayer on Multiple Tax Returns
As with Social
Security Numbers, ITINs are
specific to individuals and should be issued to and used by only one individual. However,
there are no controls when tax returns are filed to prevent an ITIN from being
used by more than one taxpayer on multiple tax returns. The IRS has a compliance control after the
tax return is processed and the refund is issued to determine which taxpayer
should be allowed to claim a dependent.
More than 60,000 ITINs were assigned and used on multiple tax returns processed in Calendar Year 2008. Multiple ITINs were used on 121,601 tax returns – 76,998 (63 percent) ITINs were used for dependents, 31,287 (26 percent) were used for secondary taxpayers (spouses), and 13,316 (11 percent) were used for primary taxpayers.[22] Seventy-one percent (86,736) were submitted using a paper tax return while 29 percent (34,865) were e-filed.
****1**** Figure 6 provides total refunds, balance dues,
and no taxes owed for the 60,333 tax returns where the same ITINs were
used on multiple tax returns. A
total of 72,333 multiple ITINs used on 121,601 multiple tax returns allowed $175,815,700 in
refunds for Calendar Year 2008. Because
this could be a recurring issue, a determination was made that over 5 calendar
years, revenue could be increased by $879,078,500.
Figure 6: 2007 Tax Returns With Multiple ITINS
|
|
Number of ITINs[23] |
Number of Tax
Returns Filed |
Amount |
|
Refunds |
55,610 |
102,303 |
$202,271,388 |
|
Balance Due |
12,789 |
14,914 |
$26,455,688 |
|
No Taxes Owed |
3,934 |
4,384 |
----- |
Sources: Data from the ITIN Real-Time System and from the
IRS Returns Transaction
File for tax return s filed using ITINs and
processed in Calendar Year 2008.
There has been a reduction in the number of multiple ITINs issued to the same taxpayer
A recent
IRS study[24]
identified that 4 percent of individuals applying for ITINs already had an ITIN
assigned to them and that 30 percent of these individuals were assigned
multiple ITINs. The study further
estimated that approximately $60 million per year in erroneous refunds were
issued for ITIN cases routed to the Accounts Management function. ****1**** The
IRS study reported that the process used to ensure that multiple ITINs are not
assigned to the same individual was inefficient.
The IRS is attempting to reduce duplicate ITINs
by streamlining its prescreening process.
Starting January 2008, employees check for duplicate status before inputting
the ITIN application data and flag potential duplicates for further research. The IRS cites that the new procedures have
reduced the percentage of individuals being assigned a duplicate ITIN from 30 percent
to 6 percent. Using the same
prescreening process the employees used, the IRS conducted a review of
duplicates during the period of June 3 through 12, 2009. The results showed the requests for duplicate
ITINs were 671 (18 percent) of the 3,668 requests. However, of the 671 ITINs, 3 percent were still missed during the
prescreening process and duplicate ITINs were issued. The IRS did not record the ITINs for the 3
percent that resulted in duplicates; therefore, it cannot be determined which
ITINs needed to be resolved.
Recommendation
Recommendation 4: The Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division, should develop controls to prevent ITINs from being used on multiple tax returns, including ITINs used for secondary taxpayers and dependents.
Management’s Response: The IRS disagreed with this recommendation
stating that tax returns submitted with a duplicate secondary/dependent ITIN
are subject to compliance review after the return is processed and corrected as
necessary, similar to duplicate Social Security Number use.
Office of Audit Comment: The compliance review is not a 100 percent
review and only a small number of ITIN tax returns are subject to audit and
would be corrected. We believe controls
should be developed during processing and before the tax refunds are
issued. This is comparable to how the
IRS ensures dependents are not claimed on more than one tax return. During the processing of electronic tax
returns, the IRS will, with some exceptions, reject the second tax return
submitted that used a duplicate Social Security Number.
The Real-Time System Contains Inaccurate Data and Is Insufficient to Oversee the Program
The IRS states that the Real-Time System provides a one‑stop service for processing Forms W-7 and issuing ITINs. The System processes Forms W-7 in real-time and assigns the ITIN or creates reject or suspense Forms W-7 automatically. Nevertheless, the information does not accurately reflect what type of agent submitted the Forms W-7 and does not accurately reflect the information captured from the Forms W-7.
Research on the Real-Time System for 547 cases in our statistical sample found that 270 records (49 percent) contained inaccurate information relating to what type of Agent submitted the application.
The IRS does not know the volume of Forms W-7 that are submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents and, if not corrected, approximately 200 Certified Acceptance Agents may not be included in any compliance activity.
Information reflected on 110 (20 percent) of the 547 Forms W-7 was not transcribed correctly to the Real‑Time System. Transcription errors included incorrect identification documents, birth dates, codes/reasons for submitting the Forms W‑7, names, and/or addresses. Figure 7 provides a breakdown of the number of transcription errors for the statistically valid samples. There is a potential that 318,107 taxpayer ITIN Forms W-7 were incorrectly input into the IRS Real-Time System (1,590,535 projected over 5 years).
Figure 7: Errors Identified on the Real-Time System
|
|
Acceptance
Agent |
Blank
Designation |
Directly
Mailed or Submitted to an IRS Office. |
Certified
Acceptance Agent Residing |
Certified
Acceptance Agent Residing Outside the |
Total |
|||||
|
Errors |
24 |
18% |
24 |
18% |
28 |
23% |
11 |
12% |
23 |
37% |
110 |
|
No Errors |
112 |
82% |
110 |
82% |
95 |
77% |
80 |
88% |
40 |
63% |
437 |
|
Totals |
136 |
100% |
134 |
100% |
123 |
100% |
91 |
100% |
63 |
100% |
547 |
Source: Our analysis of Forms W-7 submitted during the period January 1 through November 21, 2008.
The Forms W-7 submitted by the Certified Acceptance Agents are accepted without a review. The certificates of accuracy are not matched to the Forms W-7 and, in other instances, the Agents attach documents that do not match the Form W‑7 information.
For example, ****1**** In both instances, the ITIN was issued.
The Government Accountability Office Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government states that relevant, reliable, and timely information is needed in order to achieve program objectives. The IRS needs to improve its Real-Time System and its management controls to effectively manage the ITIN Program. The IRS does not have sufficient management information concerning the volume or type of Agents that submit ITIN applications to the IRS. Additionally, the IRS does not validate and input all Form W-7 information. Without this information, the IRS may not know where to focus resources or compliance reviews that are being planned.
Recommendations
The Commissioner, Wage
and Investment Division, should:
Recommendation
5: Ensure the data on the Real-Time System are accurate
and validate
the records that indicate an agent submitted the application to ensure that the
ITIN Program has accurate and reliable data to oversee the Program.
Management’s
Response: The IRS agreed with this recommendation and is
taking corrective actions to update the Real-Time System. These actions are contingent on funding.
Recommendation 6:
Develop
procedures and internal controls to monitor the Real-Time System to ensure
information entered is accurate.
Management’s Response: The IRS agreed with this recommendation and is
taking corrective actions to update the Real-Time System with viable report
capability which will allow the ITIN Program Office to appropriately monitor
the Real-Time System to ensure the information entered is accurate. This action is contingent on funding.
However, the IRS disagreed with our estimate in Appendix IV that 318,107 taxpayer ITIN Forms W-7 were incorrectly input into the IRS Real-Time System. The IRS stated the outcome measure was based on an incorrect calculation—that 318,017 should be 311,579 based on its calculation of (110/547) x 1,549,397.
Office of Audit Comment: The IRS’ calculation does not incorporate the weighting of the strata. The 318,017 taxpayers were calculated using 5 strata, and the errors were based on each stratum and then totaled. See Appendix IV for details.
Appendix I
Detailed Objective, Scope, and Methodology
The overall objective of this review was to determine
whether Applications for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (Form
W-7) were efficiently and effectively processed and ITINs were appropriately
issued. To accomplish the objective, we:
I.
Determined whether the
A. Randomly selected 658 cases listed on the Real-Time System using 3 statistically valid samples of Forms W-7 submitted to the IRS during the period January 1 through November 21, 2008. The Forms W-7 were mailed to us from the Federal Records Center for sample 1 and letters were mailed to Certified Acceptance Agents residing in the U.S. and to Certified Acceptance Agents residing outside the U.S. for samples 2 and 3. We determined the accuracy of the Forms W-7 and the supporting documentation.
1. Randomly selected a sample of 138 Forms W-7 from a population of 1,167,136 that were identified on the Real-Time System as being directly mailed to an IRS office. Our sample size was selected based on a 10 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 95 percent confidence level. The sample was originally 138 but 15 cases were dropped from the sample because documentation was not provided, which limited the sample to 123.
2. Randomly selected a statistically valid sample of 349 Forms W-7 from a population of 341,931 that were identified on the Real-Time System as being submitted to the IRS by a domestic Certified Acceptance Agent. Our sample size was selected based on a 35 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 95 percent confidence level. One case was dropped from the sample limiting the sample to 348. We contacted the Certified Acceptance Agents to obtain copies of the Forms W-7, tax returns, and supporting documents. The 35 percent error rated was used based on the expected number of Agents that may not respond to our request for information.
3. Randomly selected a statistically valid sample of 194 Forms W-7 from a population of 20,939 that were identified on the Real-Time System as being submitted to the IRS by a foreign Certified Acceptance Agent. Our sample size was selected based on a 15 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 95 percent confidence level. Seven cases were dropped from this sample limiting the sample to 187. We contacted the Certified Acceptance Agents to obtain copies of the Forms W-7, tax returns, and supporting documents. The 15 percent expected error rate was used based on the expected number of Agents that may not respond to our request for information.
B. Randomly
selected 547 cases listed on the Real-Time System using 5 statistically valid samples
of Forms W-7 submitted to the IRS during the period January 1 through
November 21, 2008. Case
information was compared to the data entered on the Real‑Time
System. The random selections of samples
were selected by using computer software and applying a random number indicator
to select the samples. The
1. Randomly selected a sample of 138 Forms W-7 from a population of 1,167,136 that were identified on the Real-Time System as being directly mailed to an IRS office. Our sample size was selected based on a 10 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 95 percent confidence level. The sample was originally 138 but 15 cases were dropped from the sample limiting the sample to 123.
2.
Randomly
selected a statistically valid sample of 94 Forms W-7 that were submitted to
the IRS by a domestic Certified Acceptance Agent from a population of 341,931. Our sample size was selected based on a 10
percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 90 percent
confidence level. The Forms W-7
were mailed to us from the
3. Randomly selected a statistically valid sample of 66 Forms W-7 that were submitted to the IRS by a foreign Certified Acceptance Agent from a population of 20,939. Our sample size was selected based on a 7 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 90 percent confidence level. Three cases were dropped from the sample limiting the sample to 63.
4.
Randomly
selected a statistically valid sample of 137 Forms W-7 from a population of
12,394 that were identified on the Real-Time System as being submitted to the
IRS by an Acceptance Agent. Our sample size
was selected based on a 10 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and
a 95 percent confidence level. The
Forms W-7 were mailed to us from the
5. Randomly selected a statistically valid sample of 136 Forms W-7 from a population of 6,997 with no designations on the Real-Time System. Our sample size was selected based on a 10 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 95 percent confidence level. Two cases were not received and the sample was limited to 134.
C. Selected
two samples from the cases in Step I.B. to determine the accuracy of the Real-Time
System. Case information was compared to
the data entered on the Real-Time System.
The Forms W-7 were mailed to us from the
1. Randomly selected a statistically valid sample of 137 Forms W-7 from a population of 12,394 that were identified on the Real-Time System as being submitted to the IRS by an Acceptance Agent. Our sample size was selected based on a 10 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 95 percent confidence level. Additional research determined these were not submitted by Acceptance Agents, but were submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents. The requirements for the sample for Certified Acceptance Agents had already been met. One Form W-7 was not received limiting the sample to 136.
2. Randomly selected a statistically valid sample of 136 Forms W-7 from a population of 6,997 with no designations on the Real-Time System. There was no designation reflected on the Real-Time System of whether a Certified Acceptance Agent or Acceptance Agent had submitted the application package. Our sample size was selected based on a 10 percent error rate, a ±5 percent precision rate, and a 95 percent confidence level. Review of the documents found the cases to be submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents. The requirements for the sample for Certified Acceptance Agents had already been met. Two cases were not received and the sample was limited to 134.
II. Conducted computer analysis to identify from the Returns Transaction File[26] individual income tax returns processed in Calendar Years 2008 and 2009 that were filed reflecting a primary, secondary, and/or dependent with an ITIN. We assessed the reliability of the Returns Transaction File by performing run-to-run balancing and verifying a sample of all fields against the IRS Integrated Data Retrieval System.[27]
III. Determined whether the IRS has implemented controls to reduce the number of duplicate ITINs from being issued.
Appendix II
Major Contributors to This Report
Michael
E. McKenney, Assistant Inspector General for Audit (Returns Processing and
Account Services)
Augusta
R. Cook, Director
Roberta
Fuller, Lead Auditor
Jean
Bell, Senior Auditor
Kenneth
Carlson, Senior Auditor
Tracy
Harper, Senior Auditor
Patricia
Jackson, Senior Auditor
Kathy
Coote, Auditor
Jerry
Douglas, Auditor
Mary
Keyes, Auditor
Nelva
Usher, Auditor
Appendix III
Commissioner C
Office
of the Commissioner – Attn: Chief of
Staff C
Deputy
Commissioner for Operations Support OS
Deputy
Commissioner for Services and Enforcement
SE
Deputy
Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division
SE:W
Director,
Customer Account Services, Wage and Investment Division SE:W:CAS
Director,
Customer Assistance, Relationships, and Education, Wage and Investment
Division SE:W:CAR
Director,
Strategy and Finance, Wage and Investment Division SE:W:S
Senior
Operations Advisor, Wage and Investment Division SE:W:S
Director,
Submission Processing, Wage and
Investment Division SE:W:CAS:SP
Chief, Program Evaluation and Improvement,
Wage and Investment Division SE:W:S:RPA:
Chief
Counsel CC
National
Taxpayer Advocate TA
Director,
Office of Legislative Affairs CL:LA
Director,
Office of Program Evaluation and Risk Analysis
RAS:O
Office
of Internal Control OS:CFO:CPIC:IC
Audit Liaison: Chief,
Program Evaluation and Improvement, Wage and Investment Division SE:W:S:PRA:
Appendix IV
This appendix presents detailed
information on the measurable impact that our recommended corrective actions
will have on tax administration. These
benefits will be incorporated into our Semiannual Report to Congress.
Type
and Value of Outcome Measure:
· Revenue Protection – Potential; $412,454,748 in tax refunds related to 690,658 Applications for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (Form W-7) attached to 1,171,355 individual tax returns processed in Calendar Years 2008 or 2009; $2,062,273,740 projected over 5 years (see page 5).[29]
Methodology
Used to Measure the Reported Benefit:
From the data provided by the IRS, computer analysis was used to stratify and identify a universe of 1,530,006 ITINs assigned during the period January 1 through November 21, 2008. The universe of 1,530,006 ITINs was separated into 3 strata: 1) 1,167,136 ITINs resulting from Forms W-7 directly mailed or submitted through an IRS office, 2) 341,931 ITINs resulting from Forms W-7 submitted by domestic Certified Acceptance Agents, and 3) 20,939 ITINs resulting from Forms W-7 submitted by foreign Certified Acceptance Agents. Statistical sampling was used to identify and review:
We used a confidence level of 95 percent, with a precision factor of ± 5 percent and expected error rates of 10 percent for stratum 1, 35 percent for stratum 2, and 15 percent for stratum 3.
Tax return information was extracted from the IRS Individual Returns Transaction File[30] for Calendar Years 2008 or 2009 or from the Integrated Data Retrieval System,[31] with command codes[32] SUMRY, TXMDOA, IMFOLI, IMFOLT, INOLES and INOLEX. The data were used to determine the refunds issued and tax liability owed for each of 510 ITINs. For the 658 Forms W-7 reviewed, 510 (78 percent) Forms W-7 were not adequately supported or errors were found on the Forms W-7. Based on the results, an estimate was calculated from the universe of ITINs totaling $1,929,001,682 in refunds or balance dues totaling $66,307,028 that were issued due to errors identified during the review. A 95 percent confidence interval was used to determine that the amount of refunds issued for the population is between $620,787,671 and $204,121,824. The margin of error is ± 208,332,923.
In summary, a total of 1,171,355 returns allowed $412,454,748
in refunds for Calendar Years 2008 or 2009.
A determination was made that over 5 calendar years $2,062,273,740 in revenue
could be protected. The $2,062,273,740 was
calculated by multiplying $412,454,748 by 5.
It should be noted that these outcomes are refunds calculated without
the inclusion of the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit because
of the IRS’ response to a prior Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration report issued March 31, 2009.[33] In the prior report, the Treasury Inspector
General for Tax Administration recommended that legislation is needed to
clarify whether or not refundable tax credits such as the Additional Child Tax
Credit may be paid to filers without a Social Security Number.[34] The IRS responded that it will discuss with
the Office of Tax Policy, Department of the Treasury, the merits of an
administration proposal to amend the Internal Revenue Code to limit eligibility
for both the Child Tax Credit and
Additional Child Tax Credit to individuals who have a Social Security Number
issued by the Social Security Administration rather than a number issued to an
alien not authorized to work in the U.S.
Therefore, both Credits were excluded from the outcomes.
The outcome is potential and based on the realization that the outcome measure includes all errors identified, but was not stratified by whether the error could prevent a tax return from being filed. In addition, the outcome is contingent upon enhancement of internal controls.
Type
and Value of Outcome Measure:
· Revenue Protection – Potential; $175,815,700 in tax refunds related to 60,333 tax returns submitted during Calendar Years 1996 through 2008 and attached to 121,601 individual tax returns processed in Calendar Year 2008; $879,078,500 projected over 5 years (see page 14).
Methodology
Used to Measure the Reported Benefit:
From the data provided by the IRS, computer analysis was used to identify a universe of 14 million ITINs assigned from Calendar Years 1996 through 2008. A volume of 60,333 ITINs was identified as being used on multiple tax returns. The volume of 60,333 ITINs was matched to the IRS Returns Transaction File to determine the volume of tax returns processed in Calendar Year 2008. The analysis of the 60,333 ITINs determined 121,601 tax returns were filed. Of the 121,601 tax returns - 76,998 (63 percent) ITINs were used for dependents, 31,287 (26 percent) were used for secondary taxpayers (spouses), and 13,316 (11 percent) were used for primary taxpayers. A total of 72,333 multiple ITINs were used on these tax returns. Based on the volume of tax returns, refunds were found in the amount of $202,271,388 and tax due in the amount of $26,455,688.
In summary, a total of 72,333 multiple ITINs used on 121,601 multiple tax returns allowed $175,815,700 in refunds for Calendar Year 2008. Because this could be a recurring issue, a determination was made that over 5 calendar years, revenue could be increased by $879,078,500. The $879,078,500 was calculated by multiplying $175,815,700 by 5. The outcome is potential and contingent upon enhancement of internal controls preventing ITINs from being used on multiple tax returns.
Type and Value of Outcome Measure:
· Reliability of Information – Potential; 318,107 taxpayer ITIN Forms W-7 were incorrectly input into the IRS Real-Time System; 1,590,535 projected over 5 years (see page 16).
Methodology Used to Measure the Reported Benefit:
From the data provided by the IRS, computer analysis was used to stratify and identify a universe of 1,549,397 ITINs assigned during the period January 1 through November 21, 2008. The universe of 1,549,397 Forms W-7 was separated into 5 strata: 1) 1,167,136 ITINs resulting from Forms W‑7 directly mailed or submitted through an IRS office; 2) 341,931 ITINs resulting from Forms W-7 submitted by domestic Certified Acceptance Agents; 3) 20,939 ITINs resulting from Forms W-7 submitted by foreign Certified Acceptance Agents; 4) 12,394 ITINs resulting from Forms W-7 submitted by Acceptance Agents; and 5) 6,997 ITINs resulting from Forms W-7 submitted with no designation of Acceptance Agent or Certified Acceptance Agent. Statistical sampling was used to identify and review:
We used a confidence
level of 95 percent, with a precision factor of ± 5 percent and an
expected error rate of 10 percent for strata 1, 4, and 5. We used a
confidence level of 90 percent, with a precision factor of
± 5 percent for strata 2 and 3 with expected error rates of 10
percent and 7 percent, respectively. See Figure 1 for the results for strata and
projection analysis.
Figure 1:
Sampling and Projection Analysis
|
Sample |
Stratum |
Sample Size |
Stratum Population |
Projected Errors |
|
Direct Mail |
1 |
123 |
1,167,136 |
265,689 |
|
Domestic Certified Acceptance
Agents |
2 |
91 |
341,931 |
41,332 |
|
Foreign Certified Acceptance
Agents |
3 |
63 |
20,939 |
7,644 |
|
Acceptance Agents |
4 |
136 |
12,394 |
2,187 |
|
No Designation |
5 |
134 |
6,997 |
1,253 |
|
Total |
|
|
1,549,397 |
318,107[35] |
Source: TIGTA statistical sample and analysis.
The 547 Forms W-7
were reviewed and compared to the ITIN Real-Time System and 110 were identified
as having been input incorrectly. Based on the sample results, an
estimate was calculated from the universe of 1,549,397 Forms W-7, which
determined 318,107 Forms W-7 had been input incorrectly. The number
of affected Forms W-7 is between 228,230 and 407,984 (the margin of error is ±
89,877).
Appendix V
Acceptable Documents When Applying for
an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
The following documents are acceptable by the IRS when applying
for an ITIN:
Appendix VI
Errors Identified in Application
Packages Categorized by Sample
|
|
Directly Mailed or Submitted to an IRS Office |
Certified Acceptance Agent Residing |
Certified Acceptance Agent Residing Outside the |
|||
|
Requested
documents were not provided |
NA |
NA |
81 |
23% |
21 |
11% |
|
Documents
missing, incomplete, questionable, or illegible |
19 |
15% |
191 |
55% |
131 |
70% |
|
Forms W-7
not signed and/or dated |
15 |
12% |
149 |
43% |
67 |
36% |
|
Certificates
of Accuracy missing |
NA |
NA |
80 |
23% |
4 |
2% |
|
Inconsistent
birth dates |
9 |
7% |
13 |
4% |
0 |
0% |
|
Entry
date conflicts with documents |
6 |
5% |
35 |
10% |
NA |
NA |
|
Names on
documentation inconsistent with Form W-7 |
15 |
12% |
52 |
15% |
74 |
40% |
|
Tax
returns not provided |
NA |
NA |
102 |
29% |
7 |
4% |
Source: Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration analysis of Forms W-7 processed in Calendar Year 2008.
NA=Not Applicable. Form W-7 =
Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
The percentages will not total to 100 due to packages containing more than 1
type of error.
Appendix VII
Rules for Claiming the Child Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax
Credit
The child must meet all five tests listed below to qualify for the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit.
1. The child must be the taxpayer’s son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, a grandchild, niece, or nephew).
2. The child must be under age 17 at the end of the tax year.
3. The child must not have provided more than one-half of his or her own support for the tax year.
4. The child must have lived with the taxpayer for more than one-half of the tax year.[36]
5. The child must be a
Appendix VIII
Management’s Response to the Draft
Report
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
COMMISSIONER
WAGE AND INVESTMENT DIVISION
OCTOBER 22, 2009
MEMORANDUM FOR MICHAEL R. PHILLIPS
DEPUTY INSPECTOR-GENERL FOR AUDIT
FROM: Richard
Byrd. Jr. /s/ Richard Byrd
Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division
SUBJECT: Draft
Audit Report - Individual Taxpayer Identification
Numbers
Are Being Issued Without Sufficient Supporting Documentation (Audit #
200940006)
I reviewed the subject draft report and thank
you for recognizing the challenges we face in administering the Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) program. We have issued 16 million ITINs
from the inception of the program in July 1996 through September 2009. The IRS
is committed to ensuring that all Forms W-7. Application for IRS Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number, are efficiently and effectively
processed, that ITINs are issued only to individuals who are not eligible to
obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration,
and that ITIN applicants have a legitimate tax administration purpose for
obtaining the number.
We continue to make ITIN program
improvements. which include:
We acknowledge that there are additional
steps we can take. Specifically, we agree that guidelines related to processing
Forms W·7 should be revised. We also agree that the ITIN Real-time System (ITIN
RTS) should be enhanced and the information input to that system should be
accurate.
As previously discussed with your auditors,
we have a major concern with the sample of Forms W-7 selected by the Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration for this audit. In Figure 1 of your
report, you acknowledge that Certified Acceptance Agents (CAAs) represent only
23 percent of the total Forms W-7 submitted for 2008. You stated that you
intentionally weighted the sample with CAA cases because you surmised from the
previous audit, Inadequate Management Information Has Adversely Affected the
Acceptance Agent Program (Reference Number 2009-40-087, dated June 19, 2009),
that this was an area of concern. As a result of your use of this over-sampling
of CAA applications methodology, we believe the conclusions identified in your
report are not a true representation of the overall program.
We also would point out that on Page 13 of
your report you note that ****1**** However, this is not an accurate statement since Sections
151 and 152 of the Internal Revenue Code do not require parenthood. Therefore
these exemptions would not necessarily be denied.
We agree with the first two Outcome Measures
in the report. We disagree with the third Outcome Measure that 318,107 taxpayer
ITINs were incorrectly input to the ITIN RTS. The calculation should be (110/547) x 1,549,397 =311,579.
This also changes the 5year projected number to 1,557,895.
Attached are our comments on your specific
recommendations. If you have any questions, please call me at (404) 338-7060,
or a member of your staff may contact Peter J. Stipek, Director, Customer
Account Services, Wage and Investment Division, at (404) 338-8910.
Attachment
Attachment
The Commissioner, Wage and Investment
Division, should revise:
RECOMMENDATION 1
Guidelines related to processing applications
submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents to ensure that the Forms W-7 match the
information on the certificates of accuracy before issuing ITINs, and that any
supporting documents submitted with the certificates of accuracy are reviewed
with the same due diligence as required for Forms W-7 and supporting documents
submitted directly to the IRS by individual applicants.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
We agree with this recommendation and have
taken steps to revise Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number, instructions, Publication 4520, Acceptance Agents
Guide for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, and internal
guidelines, Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 3.2.263, to ensure consistency in these
areas.
IMPLEMENTATION DATE
March 15, 2010
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL
Director, Submission Processing, Customer
Account Services, Wage and Investment Division
CORRECTIVE ACTION MONITORING
PLAN
We will monitor this corrective action as
part of our internal management system of controls.
RECOMMENDATION 2
Guidelines related to processing applications
submitted directly to the IRS to ensure that all information on the Forms W-7
is validated and consistent with supporting documentation. For example,
employees should validate the gender, age, and date of entry.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
We agree with this recommendation and will
update current guidance to ensure the information on the W-7, required to
verify the applicant's identity, is validated and consistent with what is shown
on supporting documentation.
IMPLEMENTATION DATE
January 15, 2010
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL
Director, Submission Processing, Customer
Account Services. Wage and Investment Division
CORRECTIVE ACTION MONITORING PLAN
We will monitor this corrective action as
part of our internal management system of controls.
RECOMMENDATION 3
Guidelines to ensure that the instructions
for completing the Form W-7 and internal guidelines are consistent by
clarifying who is required to complete a power of attorney, clarifying that
prior versions of Form W-7 may be acceptable, and requiring that employees
verify required applicants provide an entry date to the U.S.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
We agree with this recommendation and have
taken steps to revise Form W-7 instructions, Publication 1915, Understanding
Your IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (IT/N), Publication
4520, and internal guidelines, IRM 3.21 .263, to ensure consistency in these
areas.
IMPLEMENTATION DATE
February 15, 2010
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL
Director, Submission Processing, Customer
Account Services, Wage and Investment Division
CORRECTIVE ACTION MONITORING PLAN
We will monitor this corrective action as
part of our internal management system of controls.
RECOMMENDATION 4
The Commissioner, Wage and Investment
Division, should develop controls to prevent ITINs from being used on multiple
tax returns, including ITINs used for secondary taxpayers and dependents.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
We disagree with this recommendation. Tax
returns submitted with a duplicate secondary/dependent ITIN are subject to
Compliance review after the return is processed and corrected as necessary,
similar to duplicate Social Security Number use.
IMPLEMENTATION
DATE
N/A
RESPONSIBLE
OFFICIAL
N/A
CORRECTIVE
ACTION MONITORING PLAN
N/A
The Commissioner, Wage and Investment
Division, should:
RECOMMENDATION
5
Ensure the data on the Real-Time System are
accurate and validate the records that indicate an agent submitted the
application to ensure that the ITIN Program has accurate and reliable data to
oversee the Program.
CORRECTIVE
ACTION
We agree with this recommendation and are
taking corrective actions to update the ITIN Real-time System (ITIN RTS). These
actions are contingent on funding.
IMPLEMENTATION
DATE
August 15, 2012
RESPONSIBLE
OFFICIAL
Director, Submission Processing, Customer
Account Services, Wage and Investment Division
CORRECTIVE
ACTION MONITORING PLAN
We will monitor this corrective action as
part of our internal management system of controls.
RECOMMENDATION
6
Develop procedures and internal controls to
monitor the Real-Time System to ensure information entered is accurate.
CORRECTIVE
ACTION
We agree with this recommendation and are
taking corrective actions to update the ITIN RTS with viable report capability
which will allow the ITIN Program Office to appropriately monitor the ITIN RTS
to ensure the information entered is accurate. This action is also contingent
on funding.
IMPLEMENTATION
DATE
August 15, 2012
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL
Director, Submission Processing, Customer
Account Services, Wage and Investment
Division
CORRECTIVE ACTION MONITORING PLAN
We will monitor this corrective action as
part of our internal management system of controls.
[1]
An Acceptance Agent is a person (an individual
or an entity) who, pursuant to a written agreement with the IRS, is authorized
to assist alien individuals and other foreign persons (who are ineligible to
receive a Social Security Number) in obtaining an ITIN from the IRS. The Acceptance Agent reviews the necessary
documents and forwards the completed Form W-7 and supporting documents to the
IRS. A Certified Acceptance Agent is
authorized to certify whether the documented proof is adequate and is not
required to send the supporting documentation to the IRS, but agrees to
maintain a record of the documentation obtained and reviewed pursuant to the
obligations set forth in the agreement.
[2] A sample of Acceptance Agents was selected from the ITIN data but after review the applications were determined to be submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents and not Acceptance Agents.
[3] An IRS office with employees who answer questions, provide assistance, and resolve account-related issues for taxpayers face to face.
[4] Inadequate Management Information Has Adversely Affected the Acceptance Agent Program (Reference Number 2009-40-087, dated June 19, 2009).
[5] The data processing arm of the IRS. The campuses process paper and electronic submissions, correct errors, and forward data to the Computing Centers for analysis and posting to taxpayer accounts.
[6] An IRS office with employees who answer questions, provide assistance, and resolve account-related issues for taxpayers face to face.
[7] Supporting documents are not forwarded for individuals under 18 years of age.
[8] Appendix V contains a list of acceptable documents that can be used when applying for an ITIN.
[9] The Internal Revenue Service’s Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Creates Significant Challenges for Tax Administration (Reference Number 2004-30-023, dated January 8, 2004).
[10] The
Returns Transaction File contains all edited, transcribed, and error-corrected
data from the U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (Form 1040 series) and related
forms for the current processing year and 2 prior years.
[11] The sample included cases from 2 populations: 123 applications mailed directly or submitted to an IRS office and 535 applications submitted through Certified Acceptance Agents. A larger sample and a higher expected error rate was used in the selection of Agents to consider the Agents that may not provide the requested documents. Appendix I provides details of our sampling methodology. Appendix VI provides a breakdown of the specific errors found in the cases.
[12] A sample of Acceptance Agents was selected from the ITIN data but after review the applications were determined to have been submitted by Certified Acceptance Agents and not Acceptance Agents.
[13] Totals
will not add to 456 and percentages will not total to 100 percent because most
cases had more than 1 error.
[14] Some
ITIN cases had multiple tax returns filed in Calendar Years 2008 and 2009.
[15] The
examples will not balance to the total errors because all errors were not
included and most cases had more than one error.
[16] Management Oversight of the Acceptance Agent Program Is Needed to Assure that Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers Are Properly Issued (Reference Number 2003-30-020, dated November 6, 2002) and Inadequate Management Information Has Adversely Affected the Acceptance Agent Program (Reference Number 2009-40-087, dated June 19, 2009).
[17] The period from January through mid-April when most individual income tax returns are filed.
[18] Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government (GAO/AIMD-00-21.3.1, dated November 1999).
[19]
Internal Revenue Code Section 24. See
Appendix VII for a list of the requirements to claim the Child Tax Credit and
Additional Child Tax Credit.
[20] Actions Are Needed to Ensure Proper Use of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and to Verify or Limit Refundable Credit Claims (Reference Number 2009-40-057, dated March 31, 2009).
[21] Actions Are Needed to Ensure Proper Use of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and to Verify or Limit Refundable Credit Claims (Reference Number 2009-40-057, dated March 31, 2009).
[22] The primary taxpayer is the first name and Social Security Number reported on an individual tax return. If a joint return is filed, a secondary taxpayer is the second name and Social Security Number (e.g., spouse, reported on the return). A dependent is a person, other than a primary or secondary taxpayer, for whom you can claim an exemption and is reflected in the Exemption section of a tax return.
[23] The same ITIN could have been used on more than 1 type of tax return; refunds, balance due, or no taxes owed and will not total to 60,333 ITINs.
[24] IRS Lean Six Sigma study entitled, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, Control Tollgate, dated February 21, 2008. The data contained in the study were collected in October and November 2007 and were not statistically valid for the entire applicant pool.
[25] The data processing arm of the IRS. The campuses process paper and electronic submissions, correct errors, and forward data to the Computing Centers for analysis and posting to taxpayer accounts.
[26] The Returns Transaction File contains all edited, transcribed, and error-corrected data from the U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (Form 1040 series) and related forms for the current processing year and 2 prior years.
[27] IRS computer system capable of retrieving or updating stored information; it works in conjunction with a taxpayer’s account records.
[28] Due to rounding, numbers and percentages may not balance.
[29] Only tax returns received from January 1 through November 21, 2008, were included in this analysis. Multiple paper tax returns may be attached to Form W-7 applications and are usually processed in the processing year in which they are received by the IRS. However, some tax returns were received in Processing Year 2008 but processed in Processing Year 2009. This happens when the tax return is received later in the year, the application is rejected and the ITIN is not assigned until later, or there is a problem with the tax return delaying the processing of the return. When the ITIN is assigned and if there are no problems with the tax return, the tax return is processed. However, if a tax return is received reflecting a balance due and the ITIN is not assigned, a temporary Taxpayer Identification Number is assigned to the tax return and the tax return is processed. The outcome measure was based on one filing of a tax return attached to the ITIN application received from January 1 through November 21, 2008, and then multiplied by 5 to determine the refunds that could potentially be paid over 5 years for tax returns received and attached to one ITIN application.
[30] The Returns Transaction File contains all edited, transcribed, and error-corrected data from the U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (Form 1040 series) and related forms for the current processing year and 2 prior years.
[31] IRS computer system capable of retrieving or updating stored information; it works in conjunction with a taxpayer’s account records.
[32] Command codes are online interactive real-time programs in the IRS computer systems.
[33] Actions Are Needed to Ensure Proper Use of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and to Verify or Limit Refundable Credit Claims (Reference Number 2009-40-057, dated March 31, 2009).
[34] Actions Are Needed to Ensure Proper Use of Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers and to Verify or Limit Refundable Credit Claims (Reference Number 2009-40-057, dated March 31, 2009).
[35] Due to rounding, the individual samples will not total to 318,107. Calculations are based on 318,107.
[36] Child Tax Credit (Publication 972) contains some exceptions to the time lived with the taxpayer.
[37] A