Home
U.S.
World
Entertainment
Sports
Business
Health
Science
Technology
Politics
Offbeat
Environment
Travel
News
Articles
Federal Treasury Official Says Over $600 Million Of Credit For First-Time Home Buyers Are Suspicious
October 23, 2009 11:51 a.m. EST
AHN Staff
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration has observed about 90,000 ineligible and suspicious claims of tax credits totaling over $600 million under the federal tax credit program for first-time home buyers.
Treasury Inspector General Russell George revealed his agency's findings on Thursday in a hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Ways and Means.
The tax credits are granted under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which initially allowed a maximum $7,500 one-time tax credit to Americans who bought a principal residence from April 8, 2008 to July 1, 2009. Section 1006 of the HERA extended the credit to home purchases from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1, 2009 with a maximum tax credit of $8,000.
Congress set aside $13.6 million for the tax credits in HERA, of which $4.3 billion is estimated to be paid out in fiscal years 2009 and 2010. However, as of Oct. 9, 2009, over 1.2 million tax returns with claims of almost $8.5 billion had been processed by the Internal Revenue Service.
Among the findings of the Office of the Treasury Inspector were 19,300 electronically filed 2008 tax returns in which the taxpayer claimed the credit before the house was purchased. Claims of this kind reached over $139 million. They also found out that 74,000 taxpayers entered information on any of the past three years that indicated they may have owned a home. Returns of this type reached more than $500 million.
Another anomaly was identification of more than 580 taxpayers who were younger than 18 years old, but claimed almost $4 million in first-time homebuyers credits. They youngest claimant was a four-year old child.
Despite those dubious claims, George said the program played a significant role for millions of American taxpayers. However, he expressed concern about the IRS' ability to effectively administer the credits claimed within the original deadline, made more cumbersome with the extended deadline for some taxpayers.
Copyright © 2003 - 2009 AHN - All rights reserved.Redistribution, republication. syndication, rewriting or broadcast is prohibited without the prior written consent of AHN.License AHN news for your website, business, digital signage network or publication.
Recent Posts
Most Popular Comments
Recent Comments
Popular Threads
Home | U.S. | World | Entertainment | Sports | Business | Health | Sci / Tech | Politics | Weird / Offbeat
Follow AHN on Twitter
AHN Social News connects you with friends and the news
Client Login | Submit News | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact | Content Services © 2009 AHN All Rights Reserved
Other News on Saturday, 24 October 2009 Iran to respond next week on nuclear deal, snubs deadline
France approves broadside to digital pirates
Czech Republic's Klaus warms to EU treaty compromise
Nokia could seek up to $1 billion for iPhones: analysts
Iran delays reply on U.N.-backed atom deal to next week
Sarkozy's son joins business district board
Twitter entries satirize works of literature
Microsoft beats expectations to cap off big week
Ukraine opposition leader launches comeback bid
| International
|
Yemeni rebels report border clash with Saudi forces
Kenyan British aristocrat freed
Nokia says N900 sales delayed to November
Vatican synod urges corrupt African leaders to quit
| International
|
Microsoft launches Windows 7
Iran fails to endorse U.N. nuclear deal
Zimbabwe PM says unity government not at end
| International
|
Nokia says N900 sales delayed to November
No area sex offender suspects in Fla. girl's death
Strong earthquake rocks eastern Indonesia
Tips to have a flu-free party this holiday season
Militant attacks in Pakistan so far in October
Erratic typhoon weakens, keeps Philippines on edge
SIP: Bartending trend calls for nice ice, baby
Pipeline falls on train in India killing 2
Cambodian leader offers Thaksin adviser's job
NY teen's hidden camera catches adult locker thief
Foreign minister: US base should stay on Okinawa
Bill OK'd to increase blacks at Coast Guard school
Pipeline falls on train in India killing 1
'Distracted' US pilots fly plane off-course
Rebels free Indian officer after Maoists released
Health care issues: Do doctors back health revamp
Dems scrambling for support for public health plan
Amazon Adds 25 Points On Surprise Earning Hike
McCain's Mother Hospitalized
Public Option Allowing States To Opt Out Gains Ground In Congress
Submarine Headed To U.S. Seized With 10 Tons Of Cocaine Off Guatemalan Coast
Existing Home Sales Reach Highest Level In Two Years
Victims Of Domestic Violence In Illinois Call For Reform Due To Large Number Of Unserved Protection Orders
Federal Treasury Official Says Over $600 Million Of Credit For First-Time Home Buyers Are Suspicious
'Distracted' Pilots Forget To Land Plane
American Medics, Patients Hit Short Supply Of H1N1 Vaccine
Jet Drops Bomb At Utah Air Force Base Before Emergency Landing
Malaysia slashes spending in 2010 budget
Japan post office should boost rural economy: minister
General Motors pumps funds into South Korean unit
Indians go on gold-buying blitz: industry body
China Construction Bank 3Q net profit up 18.6 pct
China formally launches Nasdaq-style board
Pakistani stocks end flat; rupee firms
US safety chief seeks China's help on drywall
Taylor Swift first U.S. tour dates sell in minutes
| Entertainment
|
Simpson-Wentz, Egglesfield out at 'Melrose Place'
Lawmaker in Travolta mistrial mess blames rumor
| Entertainment
|
Vertical Horizon reforms band after 5-year break
World's biggest band adapts to changing times
Strong 6.0-magnitude quake hits Indonesia
Agents detail prescription record in Smith hearing
Iran to respond to UN nuclear proposal next week
New German coalition gets set for government
Icahn resigns from board
Asian leaders press free trade at talks
| International
|
Europe swine flu spreads, 'millions' infected in US
Merkel seals coalition deal
| International
|
Israel warns against U.N. council seeing Gaza report
Facebook revamps home page feed
New hope for EU treaty as Klaus accepts concession
Icahn resigns from board
Iraqi cleric's aide warns of chaos if vote delayed
Sarkozy slander trial ends after clash of titans
More evacuations as Puerto Rico oil blaze burns on
| International
|
Busy U.S. cell networks a bonanza for gear makers
US formally asks for Polanski extradition: Swiss authorities
Ukraine party selects favourite for presidential vote
Sarkozy slander trial ends, verdict due January 28
Chances growing Japan may sign off on U.S. base-media
| International
|
Microsoft beats expectations to cap off big week
Czech Republic's Klaus warms to EU treaty compromise
Abbas calls Palestinian elections for January 24
Iran ignores U.N. nuclear deadline
Italy's intelligences services launch website
NATO backs new Afghan strategy but no new troop offers
New from NASA, an iPhone application
Honduras crisis back to square one as talks fail
| International
|
Sony looks for box office hit with "This Is It"
Court document ties Young to Alaska corruption
NYC mayor breaks spending record with $85.2M
Pilots missed Twin Cities by 150 miles
Busy U.S. cell networks a bonanza for gear makers
| Technology
|
Hawaii regulators approve first US tuna farm
US probes pilots who overshot airport by 150 miles
Activists deride new ASEAN rights commission
Former NYC top cop getting quick hearing of appeal
3 bombs hit Pakistan in a day, killing 24
Cabinet members make many Nevada stops for Reid
Obama administration's foreign aid job left open
Maine gay marriage supporters lead in funding
Ala. city summons sex offenders on Halloween night
Japan to say U.S. relevant to Asia grouping idea
Japan govt coalition partner rejects US base proposal
US freezes assets of N.Korean bank
Three men killed, one woman wounded in Thai south
Cambodia and Thailand clash at summit over Thaksin
Japan FM: US base should stay on Okinawa
Mom gives birth on board airplane over Malaysia
Power unit shut at S.Korea nuclear plant
WTO to rule on China-EU metal fasteners dispute
China-Biotics CFO resigns to purse other interests
Justin Timberlake gets stay away order against woman
| Entertainment
|
Hip-hop band the Roots branch out on nightly TV
| Entertainment
|
Rapper Kanye West cleared in airport scuffle
| Entertainment
|
Sony looks for box office hit with This Is It
| Entertainment
|
Hip-hop band the Roots branch out on nightly TV
Billboard singles reviews: Norah Jones, Timbaland
| Entertainment
|
Michelle Obama's gripe: President's tennis game
Carly Simon has "good time" revisiting old songs
Billboard CD reviews: Air, Devendra Banhart
| Entertainment
|
Billboard CD reviews: Air, Devendra Banhart
Billboard singles reviews: Norah Jones, Timbaland
Justin Timberlake gets stay away order against woman
CORRECTED: Rapper Kanye West cleared in airport scuffle
Tiff over White House camera crew and Fox
Warhol portrait of Michael Jackson up for auction
Investigator: Smith had multiple sources for drugs
Judge, family members killed in Tehran
New German govt to cut taxes
US-TECH Summary
Pakistan troops retake Taliban stronghold in Waziristan
| International
|
Abbas insists on January date for Palestinian vote
| International
|
Lenovo expects big PC sales boost from Windows 7
Taliban threat to scupper Afghan run-off vote
Indonesia lifts tsunami alert after powerful quake
| International
|
Poll boost for British far-right after TV first
Palestinian PM sees state structure ready by 2011
Taliban threaten Afghan run-off vote
| International
|
Iran hardline lawmakers carp nuclear fuel deal
| International
|
Robert Mugabe refuses to budge over cabinet boycott
| International
|
Australia PM raises Rio case with China
| International
|
Obama: Time for big banks to help small businesses
Bank failures hit 106 for year; many more are weak
NJ priest slain in church rectory is mourned
LA officials to unveil $437M police headquarters
Army captures Pakistani Taliban leader's hometown
US mulls direct talks as NKorea envoy visits
Malaysia baby born on plane to go home healthy
Canada hits out at EU over visa spat
Asian nations look to 'lead world'
Japan calls on India to make climate commitment
SKorea: Summit should help resolve nuclear dispute
Pakistan army takes Taliban chief's hometown: sources
Sri Lanka faces fuel shortage in oil union protest
Taliban call for Afghans to boycott runoff poll
Malaysian native leader detained over anti-logging
Australians kick off world climate change protest
Lenovo expects big PC sales boost from Windows 7
| Technology
|
ASEAN to study free trade pact: officials
Pakistani C.Bank buys 110.8 bln rupees of govt paper
Japanese firms to develop small nuclear reactors
Teen Girl With No Memory Seeks Identity In New York City
U.S. Has Short Supply Of H1N1 Vaccine
Mexican Cartel Boss Pleads Guilty In U.S. Court
U.S. Air Strike Targets Militants In Pakistan
Environmental Group Says Half Of America's Rivers, Lakes Considered Too Polluted With Toxins For Swimming
U.S. Markets End Friday With Loss After Week Of Gains
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights