Can TurboTax or other tax services mail in returns for identity theft victims?
Title: Can TurboTax or other tax services mail in returns for identity theft victims? 1 Hey everyone, just wanted to ask about mailing in tax returns. So I had my identity stolen last year (ugh, what a nightmare) and now the IRS is telling me I have to physically mail in my tax return this year instead of e-filing. I'm only 22 and I've never had to mail anything to the IRS before - always just clicked a button and called it a day! I usually use online services like TurboTax or FreeTaxUSA to do my taxes. Can I still use these services to prepare everything and then just print and mail it instead of submitting electronically? Or do I need to do something completely different now? Really appreciate any help! This identity theft situation has been so stressful and confusing.
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Aileen Rodriguez
8 You can absolutely still use TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA, or any other tax prep software even if you need to mail in your return! The software will walk you through all your tax information just like normal, but instead of hitting the e-file button at the end, you'll select the option to print your return. Both TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA have a "print and mail" option built right into their filing process. After you complete your return, they'll generate all the necessary forms as PDFs that you can print out. They'll also provide instructions on where to mail your return based on your location and what forms you're filing. Just make sure you sign and date your physical tax return before mailing it - that's something easy to forget when you're used to e-filing. And I recommend sending it certified mail with return receipt so you have proof the IRS received it.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•15 Do I need to include any special forms if I'm mailing due to identity theft? And how long does it typically take to process a mailed return vs electronic?
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Aileen Rodriguez
•8 You shouldn't need any special identity theft forms with your current tax return - the IRS should already have flagged your account based on the previous theft. But you should include a copy of your ID (driver's license, passport, etc.) with your return as this helps verify your identity. For processing times, unfortunately mailed returns take much longer - typically 6-8 weeks compared to the 21 days or less for e-filed returns. Sometimes even longer during busy periods. I recommend filing as early as possible to get the process started, and if you're expecting a refund, be prepared to wait a bit.
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Aileen Rodriguez
12 After dealing with identity theft myself last year, I discovered taxr.ai and it was seriously a game-changer. I was in the exact same boat - had to mail in my return but was totally confused about the process. I used TurboTax to prepare everything but wanted someone to double-check all my forms before I mailed them in since I was paranoid about making mistakes. I uploaded my completed forms to https://taxr.ai and their AI reviewed everything, found a couple errors I would have missed, and gave me specific instructions for mailing. They even pointed out that I qualified for a credit I didn't know about! Ended up getting about $740 more on my refund.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•4 How exactly does the verification work? Like do they just scan the forms or is there an actual person reviewing them? I'm kinda paranoid about my info after the identity theft.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•18 Does it handle state returns too? My situation is complicated because I moved mid-year and worked in two different states.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•12 The verification is done through their AI system that scans your forms - no humans look at your private information, which was really important to me after my identity theft experience. The system checks for errors, missing information, and potential audit flags while maintaining privacy. Yes, it absolutely handles state returns too, including multi-state situations. I actually had income from a side gig in another state, and it caught an error in how I had allocated my income that would have cost me money. It reviews both federal and state returns regardless of complexity.
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Aileen Rodriguez
4 Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai - it was exactly what I needed! I prepared my return in TurboTax like normal, then uploaded the PDFs to taxr.ai before mailing. The system flagged that I had forgotten to include my 1099-INT form for some small bank interest, which would have definitely caused problems with the IRS. The analysis also confirmed I was using the right mailing address (there are different addresses depending on whether you're sending a payment or expecting a refund). Super helpful when you're mailing in for the first time. Just sent my return off yesterday with much more confidence!
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Aileen Rodriguez
9 If you're mailing your tax return due to identity theft, you might run into issues with getting updates on your refund status. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS last year to check on my mailed return. Finally tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was the only way I actually got through to a human at the IRS. They basically hold your place in the phone queue and call you when an agent is about to pick up. Check out how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - saved me literally hours of waiting on hold. The IRS agent was able to confirm they received my return and give me an estimated timeframe for my refund, which gave me huge peace of mind.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•14 Sounds too good to be true. How do you know they're not just another scam targeting people who've already been victims of identity theft?
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Aileen Rodriguez
•3 Does this actually work for the identity theft department specifically? That's who I need to reach and they're impossible to get through to.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•9 I completely understand being skeptical - I was too! But it's not a scam - they don't ask for any personal tax information. They just connect you with the IRS phone system and call you when your turn is coming up. Think of it like a restaurant text notification system but for the IRS queue. The service just holds your place in line. Yes, it works for most IRS departments including identity theft. When you call through Claimyr, you still go through the same IRS phone menu system to select which department you need, so you can reach any department including the identity theft unit. I was able to get through to the ID theft department in about 25 minutes when I had been trying unsuccessfully for days on my own.
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Aileen Rodriguez
14 I need to apologize to 9 - I tried Claimyr this morning after spending 3 hours on hold with the IRS yesterday and getting disconnected. The service actually works exactly as described. Got a call back within 40 minutes and was connected to an IRS rep who confirmed they received my mailed return (sent it 3 weeks ago) and that it's in processing. They also put a note on my account about the identity theft situation so my refund won't get flagged for additional verification. Honestly wish I had known about this service months ago when I was first dealing with the identity theft mess.
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Aileen Rodriguez
7 One thing to be careful about when mailing returns - make sure you send it CERTIFIED mail with tracking! My brother had his identity stolen too and had to mail in his return. He just put it in a regular envelope with stamps and it apparently got lost. Took him over 8 months to sort out the mess. The extra $4-5 for certified mail is totally worth the peace of mind. Plus you'll have proof the IRS received it if they try to hit you with a late filing penalty (which happened to my brother initially).
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Aileen Rodriguez
•22 Do you need to go to the post office for certified mail or can you do it online somehow? I'm trying to avoid standing in those crazy post office lines.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•7 You do need to go to the post office for certified mail, unfortunately. There's no way to do it completely online since they need to give you the tracking receipt in person. But here's a tip - you can use the USPS website to pre-fill all the certified mail forms and pre-pay, then just drop it off at the counter. Much faster than waiting in the regular line. If you absolutely can't make it to the post office, you could use a private service like UPS or FedEx which also provides tracking, and you can schedule those pickups online. Just make sure you're sending it to the correct IRS mailing address if you use a private delivery service.
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Aileen Rodriguez
5 Just a quick tip for anyone in this situation - when you print your return from TurboTax or FreeTaxUSA, make sure you also print a second copy for yourself! When I had to mail mine in last year, I forgot to keep a copy and then had questions about something months later and had no reference.
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Aileen Rodriguez
•13 You can also save the PDF versions to your computer instead of printing them, right? That's what I usually do.
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