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<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><img width="624" height="147" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5312in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01D979DA.592BBB90" alt="Graphical user interface, text
Description automatically generated"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">April 28, 2023 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><u><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Idaho stops millions in tax fraud<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Boise, Idaho – Idaho has delivered more tax relief per capita than any other state while stopping scammers from stealing millions from Idaho taxpayers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk129615631"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Thieves try to use stolen identities to file bogus tax returns so they can try to get refunds that aren’t theirs. Governor Brad Little is highlighting
the success of the Idaho State Tax Commission in stopping more than $29.7 million in tax refunds going to thieves so far in 2023, up 607% from last year. So far this year, the Tax Commission has intercepted nearly 3,400 fake income tax returns.
<o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">“Idahoans expect us to safeguard their resources<a name="_Hlk130809512">. The Tax Commission’s efforts mean we can mark a victory
over those who seek to commit fraud against our citizens</a><a name="_Hlk130893681"></a><a name="_Hlk130809474"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130893681">,” Governor Little said. “The Tax Commission successfully issued more than $943.6 million in rebates, $36.2
million in Return-to-Work bonuses, and $72.7 million in Rebound Idaho grants, and I commend their efforts to protect the interests of Idaho taxpayers.”<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130893681"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809474"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><a name="_Hlk130809649"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">The Tax Commission conducts fraud detection reviews on income tax returns before issuing refunds. The agency
also continually looks for new ways to combat tax fraud due to identity theft.<o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">When the Tax Commission suspects that thieves have filed a fraudulent return in a taxpayer’s
name, it sends a letter to the taxpayer. Taxpayers who receive a letter but haven’t filed a return are likely victims of
</span></span></span><a href="https://tax.idaho.gov/guides/protecting-your-identity/identity-theft/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">identity
theft</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">.
In many cases, this is the first time they learn their identities have been stolen. The Tax Commission helps them take the next steps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129615631"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><a name="_Hlk130383462"></a><a name="_Hlk129620021"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Taxpayers can learn more about identity
theft, including the signs they might be a victim, by visiting </span></span></a></span><a href="https://tax.idaho.gov/guides/protecting-your-identity/identity-theft/"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129620021"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">tax.idaho.gov/idtheft</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129620021"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129620021"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none">.
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk129620021"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130809649"></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"># # #<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk130383462"><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Please DO NOT REPLY to this message. For press inquiries only, contact the Governor’s press office at (208) 854-3015 or e-mail
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