OP I know at least three people who had this happen this year. Expect it to get worse. Blame the republicans who keep cutting the IRS budget and then wonder why there is no enforcement .

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know how early the criminals are filing? I wonder if filing earlier may reduce the chances of becoming a victim.

Yep, I filed super early this year after hearing all the stories.

I haven't received my tax return yet. I filed on April 7 via mail. It's been 3 weeks now. Anyone else have this problem? I"m worried

Our CPA files for us electronically so this hasn't happened to us yet but I did notice that numerous reports to the police of this same activity were made and reported in the local newspapers of Vienna, VA. Their police department is on to it and a number of residents hasve listed complaints.

Good news I owed money. First time in a long time I didn't get a refund. I was the victim of this fraud.

OP here. I just received an IRS refund check that matches neither my return or the claims of the first imposter. Yes, I filed the necessary papers with the IRS regarding identity theft (regarding fraudulent filer #1). Now I need to file paperwork with this check I return. This is getting ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the thief here. Steal a SSN, file a tax return incorrectly. IRS tells true owner they are due a refund and check is coming. Is the thief watching your mailbox?

I don't completely understand it either. And I didn't think the IRS usually told you when you make a mistake in their favor. I made a mistake a few years ago which I discovered and re-filed. The IRS did not notify me.

If the catch it, they do. They adjusted our return upward one year.

Whomever files the taxes first receives the return. It's crazy. I had this happen to me last year. Thieves are purchasing names + social security numbers from various sources, sit in their homes and file NUMEROUS returns. Apparently, our govt loses millions of $$ each year.. I "thought" my w2 (with my address) should be consistent with my return, but those documents take many more months to match up so it's easy for thieves to strike. To the OP, call the IRS and be prepared to spend a morning on hold waiting to speak to an agent, do everything they tell you and beg for a pin number to attach to your signature for when you file your 2015 return.

Anonymous wrote:We almost lost the house we were bidding on because if this!
The lender needed a transcript of our taxes, and the IRS locked 2011-2014 tax transcripts. We had to use the IRS 9-11 office (every state has one). Good luck.

I read on bogleheads that a family almost lost the house because the fraudulent return's information was on the IRS records, and the wages reported there were very low - like $17k.

We almost lost the house we were bidding on because if this!
The lender needed a transcript of our taxes, and the IRS locked 2011-2014 tax transcripts. We had to use the IRS 9-11 office (every state has one). Good luck.

This happened to a friend last year. Her refund was direct deposited to someone else's account, I believe,

Anonymous wrote:Is there a theory of how criminals are accessing the information to file, does it relate to use of e-filing?

Several pps mentioned the SSN is used by another before the true filer files -- so doesn't seem to be an e-filing thing.

Is there a theory of how criminals are accessing the information to file, does it relate to use of e-filing?

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the thief here. Steal a SSN, file a tax return incorrectly. IRS tells true owner they are due a refund and check is coming. Is the thief watching your mailbox?

I don't completely understand it either. And I didn't think the IRS usually told you when you make a mistake in their favor. I made a mistake a few years ago which I discovered and re-filed. The IRS did not notify me.

I don't understand the thief here. Steal a SSN, file a tax return incorrectly. IRS tells true owner they are due a refund and check is coming. Is the thief watching your mailbox?