Filed Form 14039 Identity Theft Affidavit with paper return due to duplicate e-file rejection - should I expect any IRS correspondence before backlog processing?

Having dealt with this exact situation last year, I can tell you that unfortunately, silence for several months is completely normal when dealing with an Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039). The IRS is severely backlogged with these cases. What you should expect: In most cases, you'll eventually receive a letter (usually CP01A) acknowledging your case and providing you with an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) for future tax filings. This letter might take 3-4 months to arrive given current processing times. The IP PIN will help prevent this from happening again. In the meantime, you can try contacting the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. They're often more accessible than the main IRS line. Also, I'd recommend checking your credit reports at annualcreditreport.com to make sure the identity theft hasn't extended beyond your tax return.

After going through a similar nightmare with identity theft and tax returns, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was honestly a game-changer. What helped me most was uploading my rejection notice and Form 14039 to their system, which analyzed everything and gave me a complete timeline of what to expect. The coolest part was they could tell me exactly which correspondence to expect and when based on my specific situation. They even spotted an issue with how I filled out my Form 14039 that would have delayed my case even further! Their AI analyzed thousands of similar cases and showed me the average resolution time for my specific tax situation.

I was totally skeptical about taxr.ai when I saw it mentioned here, but after dealing with identity theft on my taxes for MONTHS with zero progress, I was desperate. I uploaded my documents and within minutes had a detailed analysis of my situation that was way more helpful than anything the IRS told me. The timeline they gave me was spot-on - they predicted I'd receive my CP01A letter around the 14-week mark, and it arrived exactly 15 weeks after filing. They also explained exactly what documentation I needed to have ready when the IRS eventually contacted me, which saved me so much stress when that day finally came. What really impressed me was how they spotted a discrepancy between my address on different forms that would have caused further delays. Honestly wish I'd found this earlier in the process!

After trying to call the IRS 12+ times about my identity theft case and getting nowhere, I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to a real person at the IRS in about 25 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was so frustrated with the constant hang-ups from the automated system saying "call volumes too high, try again later." Claimyr actually holds your place in line and calls you when they've got an agent on the phone. The IRS agent I spoke with was able to confirm they received my Form 14039 and paper return, and gave me an expected timeframe for processing. They also gave me a reference number for my case which has been super helpful for tracking. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

I stand completely corrected about Claimyr. After weeks of failing to get through to the IRS about my identity theft case, I reluctantly tried it and was honestly shocked when my phone rang 40 minutes later with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent confirmed they had received my Form 14039 and gave me a case number, which I never would have gotten otherwise. They also explained that my particular case was assigned to their specialized identity theft unit and gave me a realistic timeline (about 180 days from receipt - ugh, but at least I know). Having actual information instead of complete silence has been such a relief. I've spent so many hours trying to get through on my own with no success, so even though I was skeptical, this turned out to be exactly what I needed.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - make sure you also file a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov and follow their specific recovery steps for tax-related identity theft. This creates an official identity theft report that can help you clear up issues with creditors. Also, contact your state tax agency! People often forget that if someone filed a fraudulent federal return, they might have filed a state return too. Each state has their own process for handling tax identity theft.

Has anyone actually gotten their refund after going through all this identity theft mess? I filed my 14039 almost 7 months ago and still nothing. The identity theft PIN came after 4 months but no movement on my refund.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - filed my 14039 about 8 weeks ago after getting the duplicate e-file rejection. The waiting and uncertainty is absolutely maddening! One thing that's helped me manage the stress is setting up alerts on my IRS account online (if you can access it) and checking the "Where's My Refund" tool weekly, even though it probably won't show updates for identity theft cases. I also started keeping a detailed log of every call attempt, reference numbers, and any correspondence - it makes me feel like I'm doing something productive while waiting. @Isabella Silva - have you tried reaching out to your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office? They can sometimes help expedite cases that have been stuck in the system for an unreasonable amount of time. The 10-week mark might be worth giving them a call, especially since you're experiencing financial hardship waiting for your refund. Hang in there - from everything I've read here, it sounds like persistence pays off eventually, even though the timeline is frustratingly long.