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HR 531 113th Congress House Taxation Administrative law and regulatory procedures Appropriations Computer security and identity theft Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Consumer credit Correctional facilities and imprisonment Crime prevention Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Department of the Treasury Evidence and witnesses Executive agency funding and structure Fraud offenses and financial crimes Freedom of information Government information and archives Intergovernmental relations Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Law enforcement administration and funding Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Tax Crimes and Identity Theft Prevention Act

Introduced: May 23, 2013 Introduced by: Castor, Kathy Democratic · Florida See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 28, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations.
Feb 6, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Feb 6, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Tax Crimes and Identity Theft Prevention Act - Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to take necessary action to correct a tax return or tax information affected by the misuse of a taxpayer's identity within 90 days after receiving notice of such misuse from the taxpayer.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) authorize the Secretary to disclose tax return information to federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel who are personally and directly engaged in the investigation of identity theft; (2) impose a fine and/or prison term on any person who knowingly or willfully misappropriates another person's tax identification number; (3) increase the civil and criminal penalties for improper disclosure or use of tax information by tax return preparers; and (4) require the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to report to Congress on the number of reported tax fraud cases and on actions taken in response to such reports.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement an identity theft tax fraud prevention program that provides for a unique personal identification number (PIN) on tax returns; (2) establish a fraudulent tax refund prevention program that adds additional triggers to the refund database to identify potentially fraudulent tax refunds; and (3) review whether current federal tax law prevents the effective enforcement of local, state, and federal identity theft statutes.

Authorizes the Commissioner to transfer appropriated funds to be used solely to prevent and resolve potential tax fraud cases.

Directs the Commissioner to establish in the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS the position of Local Law Enforcement Liaison to coordinate the investigation of tax fraud with state and local law enforcement agencies.

Directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the role of prepaid debit cards and commercial tax preparation software in facilitating fraudulent tax returns through identity theft.

Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from disclosing information contained on the Death Master File relating to a deceased individual to persons who are not certified to access such information.

Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state and local law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of tax crimes.

What's happening now February 28, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 531: Tax Crimes and Identity Theft Prevention Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-531/
MLA
"H.R. 531: Tax Crimes and Identity Theft Prevention Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-531/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 531, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-531/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 531: Tax Crimes and Identity Theft Prevention Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-531/)
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