Fed Tax E File Rejected - somebody already filed using my SS number - what to do?

[Dimsumkid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Thanks for all the responses. TurboTax has a page on this issue, looks like I have to file form 14039 with paper return. I may have to try to call them but yet to find the number to call. Looks like I have a lot of work to do.

I googled it for you

IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit
800-908-4490

good luck.

[dixonge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Advice please! How to contact the IRS and how to correct this problem? Thanks, MP

This happened to me a few years back. Here is what I learned:

1 - It's not necessarily identity theft. It is most definitely fraud. Most likely, someone filed for a big refund under your SS# and name using fake documentation and some random address. They did not necessarily do anything else fraudulent with your identity.

2 - It's not about efiling. When I was hit with this I was filing a paper return by mail.

3 - Yes, you have to fill out the IRS ID theft form and send that in with your paper return.

4 - Yes, it's a good idea to check your credit reports and make sure nothing else fishy is going on.

5 - This may take awhile...

6 - If it takes *too* long, you should think about using the Taxpayer Advocate Service - think of it as hiring a middleman to sit on hold in your place.

In our case, once the initial fraud issue was cleared up, our refund ended up in some sort of big government limbo. Every call I was told "That's odd - this refund was cleared but never sent through!" After several of those calls, I got the Taxpayer Advocate on the case. In the end, there was about a three-year gap between my initial filing and the receipt of my refund.

Good luck!

[RE2Boys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Thanks for all the responses. TurboTax has a page on this issue, looks like I have to file form 14039 with paper return. I may have to try to call them but yet to find the number to call. Looks like I have a lot of work to do.

From one of the earlier IRS links:

........... contact the Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. We have teams available to assist.

[Disappointed]

I am on hold with the IRS


800-908-4490
US IRS Identity Theft Phone Number: Customer Service

[Disappointed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dixonge This happened to me a few years back. Here is what I learned: 1 - It's not necessarily identity theft. It is most definitely fraud. Most likely, someone filed for a big refund under your SS# and name using fake documentation and some random address. They did not necessarily do anything else fraudulent with your identity. 2 - It's not about efiling. When I was hit with this I was filing a paper return by mail. 3 - Yes, you have to fill out the IRS ID theft form and send that in with your paper return. 4 - Yes, it's a good idea to check your credit reports and make sure nothing else fishy is going on. 5 - This may take awhile... 6 - If it takes *too* long, you should think about using the Taxpayer Advocate Service - think of it as hiring a middleman to sit on hold in your place. In our case, once the initial fraud issue was cleared up, our refund ended up in some sort of big government limbo. Every call I was told "That's odd - this refund was cleared but never sent through!" After several of those calls, I got the Taxpayer Advocate on the case. In the end, there was about a three-year gap between my initial filing and the receipt of my refund. Good luck!

Thank you Glenn, three years would not be good as I have a big refund coming back to me.

How did you address the State Tax Return? My State Tax Return was also rejected because my Fed Tax was rejected?

[kgtest]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed I am on hold with the IRS 800-908-4490 US IRS Identity Theft Phone Number: Customer Service

OOoh boy, I waited over four hours once.

[dixonge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Thank you Glenn, three years would not be good as I have a big refund coming back to me. How did you address the State Tax Return? My State Tax Return was also rejected because my Fed Tax was rejected?

No state income tax in Texas...

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[Fedup]

I never trust the IRS. My husband's records were compromised and he was a government employee. I always owe tax so if the IRS sent my tax refund to somebody, the IRS has to make it up. My kid got her tax back. I breathed a sigh relief. I wasn't sure for a while.


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[Disappointed]

Talked to the IRS agent after 15 minutes, not too bad. Given same info as on their website. The agent did verify that somebody already filed a return under my SS number.
The agent also said that the case should take about 180 days to resolve.
Definitely a headache, will have to go to the police department to report this ID theft as well.
Still have to figure out what to do with my State Tax return.

[robnplunder]

Sorry to hear that.

I want to file early to avoid this issue but my brokerages kept sending me revised tax data even after Feb. One year, I had to refile b/c of this.

I decided to file yesterday and they went through. Thanks goodness.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnplunder I want to file early to avoid this issue but my brokerages kept sending me revised tax data even after Feb. One year, I had to refile b/c of this.

I've come to the conclusion the risk of what happened to Disappointed is of far greater concern than the minor inconvenience of having to file an amended return.

My new motto: "File early and file often"

[Big_Hitter]

well if the perp got a refund - we can safely assume he/she did, then the OP's refund, if any, may be tied up for a few years because of this

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Hitter well if the perp got a refund - we can safely assume he/she did, then the OP's refund, if any, may be tied up for a few years because of this

Not my understanding. Once the victim confirms with the IRS that fraud has taken place, the process to get the lawful return filed and excess tax refunded will take months but should happen this year.

[robnplunder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo I've come to the conclusion the risk of what happened to Disappointed is of far greater concern than the minor inconvenience of having to file an amended return. My new motto: "File early and file often"

Agreed. I will be filing the next year's returns as soon as all the data are received.

[Fermion]

So why not file a $1 return on Jan 1 with just your W2 info and then file an amended return sometime in March/April when you have your forms. This way your SS# will already have record of being filed.

Doesn't most tax software give you like 5 free filings?

[Fedup]

One free exile I believe. But I always file paper return. I owe them money, I'm not in a hurry is my motto.


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[niven]

If everyone started filing early, how likely is it that a**holes bad guys would switch to sending in amended returns? Or do amended returns go through enough checks to prevent fraud?

[dixonge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fermion So why not file a $1 return on Jan 1 with just your W2 info and then file an amended return sometime in March/April when you have your forms. This way your SS# will already have record of being filed. Doesn't most tax software give you like 5 free filings?

This is a great idea! I don't know why we worry so much about amending returns in this digital age.

When this happened to me, I was hit by a bit of a double-whammy. Not only did someone file a fraudulent return in my name, but my own return wasn't filed until much later. I was due a refund, and I had been busy (a.k.a., procrastinating) so I filed both my 2010 and 2011 returns in the spring of 2012. The 2011 return and refund went through just fine. I received my 2010 refund in 2015.

My big takeaway was "File early" (but not often ) I may break my cardinal rule and actually sign up early when TaxAct starts emailing me early purchase discounts...

[Disappointed]

Just got back from the police department, they don't have anyone at the desk anymore. Need to come home and call to have an officer come to my house to take a report, learned something new today.

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fedup I never trust the IRS. My husband's records were compromised and he was a government employee. I always owe tax so if the IRS sent my tax refund to somebody, the IRS has to make it up. My kid got her tax back. I breathed a sigh relief. I wasn't sure for a while.

Is this the case? If you owe, just file and even if someone has defrauded the IRS and gotten a refund, you don't have to worry about it? Or do you still have to go through the hassle of proving you are you? If I've paid them, and I always end up owing them, would I care if their records are wrong? How would that work?