Completing Form 14039, attaching it to a paper tax return and mailing it to the IRS is the way to inform the IRS that the taxpayer may be a victim. The IRS will then identify the fraudulent return and, after an investigation, clear the account and process the paper tax return.
The IRS says that it resolves tax identity theft cases in 120 to 180 days, depending on your circumstances. But in many instances, victims of complex tax identity theft have experienced resolution times of more than one year.
It usually takes the IRS up to 6 to 8 weeks to get your refund.
After filing an FTC identity theft report, you'll receive a personalized recovery plan with tools like form letters to send to credit bureaus. You'll also get an identity theft affidavit that you can review and update.
How long after I verify my Identity with the IRS will I get my Tax Refund? The IRS Website says If you did file the return, please know it will take approximately 6-9 weeks to process your return once you verify your identity. Based on what we see and hear from people every year.
When it comes to why your refund may be delayed, the IRS states it may be delayed because it has a mistake including errors concerning the Recovery Rebate Credit, is missing information, or there is suspected identity theft or fraud.
To verify their identity with ID.me, taxpayers need to provide a photo of an identity document such as a driver's license, state ID or passport. They'll also need to take a selfie with a smartphone or a computer with a webcam. Once their identity has been verified, they can securely access IRS online services.
Consult With the IRS
Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-0433 if you think someone has filed your taxes without your permission. Contacting the IRS and inquiring about the status of your tax return is the best way to determine whether a return has been filed without your consent.
How to Complete and Submit Form 14039. Explain your issue and how you discovered that your identity had been stolen in Section B. Attach any supporting documentation, such as a notice you received from the IRS, and submit it along with the form. You can't electronically file the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit.
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
Mail Form 14039 to this address: Internal Revenue Service, Stop C2003, Fresno, CA 93888. You may also need to file a police report and a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission on their website if you're a victim of tax return fraud.
If you did not receive an IRS notice but believe you've been the victim of identity theft, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 right away so we can take steps to secure your tax account and match your SSN or ITIN. Also, fill out the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039 PDF.
This includes criminal fines, civil forfeitures, and violations of reporting requirements. In general, the IRS will pay an award of at least 15 percent, but not more than 30 percent of the proceeds collected attributable to the information submitted by the whistleblower.
You can get free copies of your credit reports from all three major credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can also check your credit report (and score) for free with Experian. Be careful using public Wi-Fi. Only use secure, trusted networks when banking, paying bills or doing online shopping.
To check to see if someone is using your SSN, consider checking your credit report. You can do this online through AnnualCreditReport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports. You can also use the Annual Credit Report phone number (1-877-322-8228) to request your credit report.
More Resources. You can call Social Security's customer service line at 800-772-1213 to confirm whether a communication purporting to be from SSA is real. If you get an impostor call or email, report it to SSA using their detailed online form. You can also call Social Security's Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271.
Are identity thieves ever caught? Identity theft statistics for 2020 are not available yet; however, 2006 research showed that federal authorities arrest only 0.14% of the criminals (one person in 700 identity theft suspects). In contrast, nearly 45% of violent crime and 16% of property crime suspects were arrested.
If your identity verification attempt was unsuccessful, it simply means that the information you provided did not match the authoritative sources we use for verification. Unsuccessful verification attempts may be due to many reasons: ... Your credit profile may contain erroneous information.
Where's My Refund? at IRS.gov. If you do not have internet access, call IRS's Refund Hotline at 1-800-829-1954.
It simply means your return is being processed and has yet to be approved or rejected.
What's Taking So Long? If you don't receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. ... You may also experience delays if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit.