2019 return was rejected as a duplicate return, but I believe the first "return" was generated by the IRS because I used the non-filers tool to request my stimulus check.

[barryandkaren]

I tried to e-file my 2019 return in July 2020, but it was rejected as a duplicate return. Being advised that I was a fraud victim, I submitted a fraud report to the IRS as instructed and filed my return by mail. When I was able to verify my online account at irs.gov and see the transcript for 2019, what I found was a transcript for a 1040 filled out with all zeros, except for reported income of $1.00. I saved a copy of that return, but it's since been removed from my IRS account and there is no transcript available for tax year 2019.
We had not received the first stimulus payment in Spring of 2020 because I had not yet filed our tax return. I used the non-filers tool at IRS.gov to request our stimulus payment.
Did the IRS create this $1.00 tax return to generate the stimulus payment? It is 3/10/21 as I write this and only yesterday did I finally receive written confirmation from the IRS of the fraud report I submitted in July 2020.
Has anyone else encountered this? I'm working on my 2020 return now, and afraid I'm going to run into issues e-filing if there is fraud reported under my SSN.
Thanks for any insight you might have.

[Opus 17]

You are correct that the non-filer form was technically a tax return, so your "second" tax return was rejected.  You need to file your 2019 tax return by mail, and write "Amended EIP return" at the top of page 1.  (You don't actually need to file a formal 1040-X amended return, just your original return with the written statement.)

Although I can't say whether you are a victim of identify theft in some other way, your story by itself does not indicate identity theft.  In any case, you must file a 2020 tax return, even if you were the victim of fraud before.  You can file your 2020 return by email or e-file.  If you e-file, you will likely have to use zero as the AGI of your 2019 return, since you did not file your 2019 return yet.

[barryandkaren]

Thank you! I did file my 2019 return by mail before the extended July 14 deadline. I did not know to write "Amended EIP return" at the top, so hopefully that doesn't present a problem.

I am concerned that the IRS does not yet have a transcript on file for 2019, but it seems they are very far behind.