STOP Identity Theft Act of 2015

To provide effective criminal prosecutions for certain identity thefts, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stopping Tax Offenders and Prosecuting Identity Theft Act of 2015 STOP Identity Theft Act of 2015 2. Use of Department of Justice resources with regard to tax return identity theft (a) In general The Attorney General should make use of all existing resources of the Department of Justice, including any appropriate task forces, to bring more perpetrators of tax return identity theft to justice. (b) Considerations To be taken into account In carrying out this section, the Attorney General should take into account the following: (1) The need to concentrate efforts in those areas of the country where the crime is most frequently reported. (2) The need to coordinate with State and local authorities for the most efficient use of their laws and resources to prosecute and prevent the crime. (3) The need to protect vulnerable groups, such as veterans, seniors, and minors (especially foster children) from becoming victims or otherwise used in the offense. 3. Victims of identity theft may include organizations Chapter 47 (1) in section 1028— (A) in subsection (a)(7), by inserting (including an organization) another person (B) in subsection (d)(7), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or other person specific individual (2) in section 1028A(a)(1), by inserting (including an organization) another person 4. Identity theft for purposes of tax fraud Section 1028(b)(3) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking or (2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting or (3) by adding at the end the following: (D) during and in relation to a felony under section 7206 or 7207 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; . 5. Reporting requirement Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that contains the following information: (1) Information readily available to the Department of Justice about trends in the incidence of tax return identity theft. (2) Recommendations on additional statutory tools that would aid in the effective prosecution of tax return identity theft. (3) The status on implementing the recommendations of the Department’s March 2010 Audit Report 10–21 entitled The Department of Justice’s Efforts to Combat Identity Theft

Summary: Stopping Tax Offenders and Prosecuting Identity Theft Act of 2015 or the STOP Identity Theft Act of 2015 Calls for the Attorney General to: (1) make use of all existing resources of the Department of Justice, including task forces, to bring more perpetrators of tax return identity theft to justice; and (2) take into account the need to concentrate efforts in areas of the country where the crime is most frequently reported, to coordinate with state and local authorities to prosecute and prevent such crime, and to protect vulnerable groups from becoming victims or otherwise being used in the offense. Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) include organizations as victims for purposes of prohibitions against identity theft or aggravated identity theft, and (2) subject an identity theft offense committed during and in relation to tax fraud to a fine and/or up to 20 years' imprisonment. Directs the Attorney General to report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on: (1) trends in the incidence of tax return identity theft, (2) recommendations on additional statutory tools that would aid in the effective prosecution of tax return identity theft, and (3) the status of implementing DOJ's March 2010 Audit Report 10-21 entitled "The Department of Justice's Efforts to Combat Identity Theft."