Someone filed taxes in my name. What should I do?

Confirm what was filed before reporting fraud

Save the complete rejection, tax year and filing acknowledgment. Ask every preparer or software service you used whether your federal return was accepted. A return filed through another account may explain the duplicate. A typing error or a dependent claim also needs a different correction.

The IRS rejection instructions direct you to call 800-829-1040 if the message says you or your spouse already filed. That is the IRS number. RefundIQ’s separate tax-preparation help number is 844-754-1040.

If an authorized return was accepted and needs changes, review the IRS amended-return rules before submitting anything else. If the conflict concerns your child, use the child-SSN guide; if it concerns your spouse, use the spouse SSN guide.

If an IRS letter alerted you to the return

Read the notice number, response deadline and verification instructions. The IRS may need you to establish your identity and confirm whether you filed the return. Do not answer an unexpected email or text with identity documents; navigate to IRS.gov to check the official process.

The IRS Verify your return service is for people directed to it by an eligible IRS notice or letter. Other correspondence may require telephone or in-person verification. Tell the IRS if you did not file the return. The IRS identity-theft guide says people using its identity-verification process generally do not need Form 14039 unless the IRS directs them to submit it.

If there is no verification letter

Review the current Form 14039 instructions when you know or suspect someone used your information to file a fraudulent federal return. The affidavit has specific qualifying situations and exclusions. A duplicate rejection alone is not proof of identity theft, and a dispute over a dependent does not automatically require the form.

Our Form 14039 decision guide explains when it applies, the parent-or-guardian exclusion, and the one-submission rule. If you already filed it for this incident, keep the receipt instead of filing again through a different channel.

File your legitimate return and address tax due

The IRS victim-assistance guidance says to use a paper return if tax identity theft prevents e-filing. When an applicable paper Form 14039 has not already been submitted, its instructions describe attaching it to the back of the return. Send the original return to its proper filing address, not the standalone affidavit address or fax number.

The affidavit is a report of identity theft, not a replacement for the return. Continue filing required returns and paying taxes while the IRS works on the account, as the IRS individual guide directs. Keep mailing records, copies and rejection dates. For a deadline after an e-file rejection, follow the SSN hub’s filing-deadline section and its IRS instructions.

Protect your information while the IRS reviews the case

The IRS recommends reporting identity theft through IdentityTheft.gov and addressing compromised accounts. Save the IRS correspondence and a simple timeline of submissions. Review the IRS IP PIN program to protect future filings after identity verification; an IP PIN does not by itself clear a fraudulent return from your account.

Use our IP PIN enrollment guide for that separate process. Once you have reported the incident, see what happens after reporting tax identity theft for follow-up, delays and IRS notices.

What information should I have ready for RefundIQ?

Start with the tax year, complete reject code, who is affected, and whether you received an IRS notice or already reported the incident. Keep full SSNs, IP PINs, bank information and identity documents out of ordinary email, texts and website messages. RefundIQ can help with the return and the filing questions; the IRS handles identity verification and its account records.