only the IRS can tell you when you'll receive it.
IRS tells you we have a suspicious return with your name on it
Often, the IRS Taxpayer Protection Program identifies a suspicious tax return bearing your name and SSN and will send you a notice or letter. The TPP proactively identifies and prevents the processing of identity theft tax returns and assists taxpayers whose identities are used to file such returns. There are many reasons why a return may appear to suspicious to us, and we take this precautionary step to help protect you. Here’s what happens in this situation:
- You may receive a Letter 4883C from the IRS asking you to verify your identity within 30 days.
- Follow the letter’s instructions to verify your identity.
- Call the toll-free number provided in the letter. You must have the letter with you when you call the Taxpayer Protection Program.
- Have a copy of your prior-year tax return, if you filed one, to help verify your identity.
- Verify your identity. If you are unable to verify your identity with the customer service representative, you may be asked to visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office You should plan on providing picture identification plus the letter and a copy of the affected tax return if you did file one.
- If you receive similar notices about suspicious returns, you do not need to complete the Form 14039 unless instructed to do so.
- Once you verify your identity, you can let us know if you filed the tax return in question.
- If you did not file the tax return in question, we will remove it from your IRS records. Filing a paper tax return may be recommended if you have not yet filed for the current filing season.
- If you did file the tax return in question, we will release that tax return for processing and barring any unforeseen issues (math error, missing return or schedules) your refund will be issued once processing is complete.
How quickly we can work identity theft cases depends upon the volume of work and the complexity of the cases. Once we completely resolve your tax account issues, we will mark your account with an identity theft indicator to help protect your tax account in the future.
Certain tax-related identity theft victims will be placed into the Identity Protection Pin program and annually receive a new, six-digit IP PIN.
You tell us you may be a victim of tax-related identity
Here’s what happens if you learn you are a victim of tax-related identity theft. For example, your e-filed return rejects because of a duplicate tax filing with your Social Security number, and you report the incident to us:
- You should
- File a paper tax return if you are unable to e-file
- Complete Form 14039 - Identity Theft Affidavit https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f14039.pdf, attach it to the back of your completed paper tax return and mail to the IRS location based upon the state you reside.
- You'll receive a letter from the IRS acknowledging the IRS received your Form 14039
- Your case will be assigned to our ‘Identity Theft Victim Assistance’ organization where it will be researched and resolved by an employee with specialized identity theft training.
- The IDTVA organization will work to resolve your identity theft case by:
- Assessing the scope of the issues and trying to determine if your identity theft issue affects one or more tax years.
- Addressing all the issues related to the fraudulent return. This includes determining if there are additional victims, who may be unknown to you, listed on the fraudulent return.
- Researching the case to verify and authenticate all the names, addresses and SSNs are accurate or fraudulent.
- Conducting a case analysis to determine if all outstanding issues were addressed.
- Ensuring your tax return is properly processed and if you are due a refund, releasing your refund.
- Removing the fraudulent return from your tax records.
- Marking your tax account with an identity theft indicator, which completes our work on your case and helps protect you in the future.
- You will receive notification that your case has been resolved. This is generally within 120 days, but complex cases may take 180 days or longer.
- Certain tax-related identity theft victims will be placed into the Identity Protection PIN program and annually receive a new, six-digit IP PIN.
