Someone else submitted a tax return for me

[Anonymous]

So I tried to e-file the other day and got a rejection error that a return for the same year with the same SSN has already been filed. I go to IRS.gov and login to see my tax transcript. Sure enough, it shows that a return was filed on 4/29/2025. It wasn't me or anybody I would know. I did file for an extension on 4/15/2025 though through TurboTax. Anybody has seen this problem and know what recourse to take, except for printing it on paper and putting it in the mail with Certified/Return Receipt?
PS: I do know I will have to freeze my credit profile at all three credit agencies, lock down my SSA access, start up credit/identity monitoring etc, now a little too late. So please don't rip this OP apart for not being more careful and proactive. Any constructive insights highly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Happened to my DH. Since then he's needed a PIN to e-file.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it is common. They used the wrong SSN. We went through this several years ago. File by mail this time, have your tax person fill out some form, and use a pin in the future.

[Anonymous]

It probably isn’t an identity theft issue, just someone getting their SSN wrong.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't IRS software throw that out pretty much immediately in the first pass? SSN of filer needs to match W2s, etc. etc.?

[Anonymous]

Ugh, good luck getting anyone at the IRS to sort this out. Since, you know, the IRS agents who weren't fired are all assigned to persecute leftist non profits now.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thanks to the PP who mentioned an additional form. I asked Microsoft CoPilot what that form is. To provide this as a knowledge article for all, here is the response:
"You should complete and submit IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, along with your printed tax return via mail. This form alerts the IRS that someone else has fraudulently filed a return using your Social Security Number."
Then of course it goes on to provide Step-By-Step instructions but I will spare you the details.

[Anonymous]

In response to the PP's question "Wouldn't IRS software throw that out pretty much immediately". No, it doesn't do it immediately, but TurboTax sent a rejection a few hours later. Apparently the IRS system only matches on SSN and the tax year. I was suprrised too. They don't even match on the date of birth, let alone any other numbers like last year's AGI, etc. It's a disaster - the IRS systems seem to be really antiquated. I am also going to request a pin for next year, available by going to irs.gov/ippin.

[Anonymous]

Cool, so less work for you right?

[Anonymous]

Issue is did they get your refund?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wouldn't IRS software throw that out pretty much immediately in the first pass? SSN of filer needs to match W2s, etc. etc.?

Based on our experience, no, it doesn't. Though that's assuming the filer has W2s, which may not be the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In response to the PP's question "Wouldn't IRS software throw that out pretty much immediately". No, it doesn't do it immediately, but TurboTax sent a rejection a few hours later. Apparently the IRS system only matches on SSN and the tax year. I was suprrised too. They don't even match on the date of birth, let alone any other numbers like last year's AGI, etc. It's a disaster - the IRS systems seem to be really antiquated. I am also going to request a pin for next year, available by going to irs.gov/ippin.

Just a tip on the PIN - we've been doing this for a few years. They send the PIN by mail (I think in Decmeber?) and then you need to hold onto that piece of paper until you file. One year we couldn't find it. Now I take a picture of the PIN as soon as the letter arrives.

[Anonymous]

It's identify theft. It was rampant a couple of years ago trying to get some kind of tax credit. I had to file by hard copy and it took them 18 months to finalize that return (my returns are over 100 pages). As others have said I now have a PIN that I have to use each year.

You can call the IRS about this and they will get you the forms and flag your file. I think IRS is still pretty much open.

[Anonymous]

Some additional info on setting up a PIN to file with IRS

https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's identify theft. It was rampant a couple of years ago trying to get some kind of tax credit. I had to file by hard copy and it took them 18 months to finalize that return (my returns are over 100 pages). As others have said I now have a PIN that I have to use each year.

You can call the IRS about this and they will get you the forms and flag your file. I think IRS is still pretty much open.

+1 - also happened to us. We get a PIN each year now.