Got a W2 from a company I've never worked for - what should I do?

This sounds like a potential identity theft situation, and you need to act quickly. First, contact the company that issued the W2 and speak with their payroll department. Explain the situation and ask them to investigate how your information was used. Next, report this to the IRS by calling their Identity Theft Hotline at 800-908-4490. You should also complete and submit Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) to the IRS. This alerts them to the situation so they don't expect you to pay taxes on income you didn't earn. I'd also recommend checking your credit reports immediately through annualcreditreport.com to make sure there aren't other signs of identity theft. Consider placing a fraud alert with one of the major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) - when you place it with one, they're required to notify the others. Document everything - all phone calls, who you spoke with, and copies of any forms you submit. This paper trail will be important if you need to resolve tax issues later.

This exact thing happened to me last year and I found out it was identity theft. I was totally stressed until I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me navigate through the whole mess. I uploaded the fraudulent W2 and my ID documents, and their system flagged the exact issues and guided me through the specific IRS forms I needed to file. They even gave me a personalized action plan for dealing with the IRS and the company that issued the W2. The step-by-step guidance made a huge difference when I was feeling completely lost about what to do. Best part was that they checked if there were any other suspicious tax documents floating around with my info that I might not know about yet. Really gave me peace of mind during a super stressful situation.

Just wanted to update after taking advice from this thread. I ended up trying taxr.ai when I got a fraudulent 1099 (similar situation to the original post but with independent contractor forms instead of W2). I was definitely skeptical at first but wow, they actually delivered. Their system identified that my case was likely part of a larger fraud scheme in my area and gave me specialized forms beyond just the basic identity theft affidavit. They even provided a template letter to send to the company that issued the fake 1099. The IRS actually processed my case faster than the estimated timeline and I got confirmation last week that my tax account is clear. Definitely beats the 3+ hours I spent on hold trying to reach someone at the IRS myself!

After dealing with a similar nightmare last year, I can tell you that trying to contact the IRS directly is an exercise in frustration. I spent DAYS on hold and kept getting disconnected. Then someone told me about Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and showed me this demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Their service held my place in the IRS phone queue and called me back when an actual agent was on the line. Saved me literally hours of hold time! I was able to speak directly with an IRS identity theft specialist who put a flag on my account and guided me through the exact process for my situation. The IRS agent I spoke with was actually super helpful once I got through to them. They explained that these identity theft W2 cases are unfortunately common and they have specific protocols for handling them.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway out of desperation since I also received a fraudulent W2 and kept getting disconnected from the IRS. Not only did it work exactly as advertised, but I got connected to an IRS agent within 45 minutes (after previously spending 3+ hours on hold and getting disconnected TWICE). The agent immediately put a note on my tax account and walked me through filing Form 14039. She even gave me a direct reference number for my case. I was 100% sure this would be a waste of money, but I was wrong. Just filed my taxes with the proper documentation, and the IRS already sent me confirmation that my identity theft case is being processed. Sorry for being so negative before!

Don't panic but DO act quickly! Check if your state has a specific identity theft unit with the state tax authority too - not just federal. I had to file separate forms for both. Also, request your wage and income transcript from the IRS online account at irs.gov. It'll show ALL income reported under your SSN. When this happened to me, I found THREE companies I never worked for had issued tax forms with my info!

Make sure u also file a police report!! I didn't at first and regretted it. The IRS actually asked for the police report number later and I had to backtrack. Just go to ur local police station with the W2 and explain. They deal with this all the time now.

This is definitely identity theft and you're right to be concerned! I went through something similar two years ago. Here's what worked for me: 1. **Don't contact the company first** - go straight to the IRS Identity Protection Unit. The company might just give you the runaround, and you need the IRS to know about this ASAP. 2. **File Form 14039** immediately - this puts a protective flag on your account so the IRS knows you're a victim of identity theft. You can find it on irs.gov. 3. **Request an IP PIN** (Identity Protection PIN) from the IRS. This gives you a special 6-digit code that you'll need to file your taxes each year, making it much harder for thieves to file fake returns with your info. 4. **Check your Social Security earnings record** at ssa.gov - if someone worked using your SSN, it might show up there too and you'll need to dispute it with Social Security Administration. 5. **File your real tax return on paper** with a cover letter explaining the situation and attach copies of your identity theft documentation. The whole process took about 6 months to fully resolve, but the IRS was actually pretty helpful once I got the right paperwork filed. Don't let this stress you out too much - it's unfortunately common and there are established procedures to fix it!

This is such a stressful situation but you're definitely not alone! I work in fraud prevention and see this type of identity theft regularly. Here's what I'd add to the great advice already given: **Immediate steps:** - Contact the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) and place a fraud alert on your credit reports - Consider freezing your credit entirely until this is resolved - Check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized activity **For tax filing:** - You can still file by the regular deadline! Include Form 14039 with your return and attach a statement explaining you're only reporting income you actually earned - Keep detailed records of every phone call, form filed, and correspondence - you'll need this paper trail **Important timing note:** File your legitimate tax return as soon as possible. If identity thieves haven't filed a fake return with your SSN yet, filing yours first can prevent them from doing so. The IRS has gotten much better at handling these cases over the past few years. While it's frustrating and scary, there are clear procedures in place to protect you. Most people I've helped through similar situations get it fully resolved within 3-6 months. Don't let anyone pressure you into paying for services you can handle yourself - all the forms and procedures are free through the IRS website!

I'm so sorry this happened to you - identity theft is incredibly violating and stressful! The advice here is really solid, especially about filing Form 14039 immediately and getting that IP PIN. One thing I'd add: if you haven't already, log into your Social Security Administration account at ssa.gov and review your earnings history. Sometimes identity thieves use stolen SSNs for employment over multiple years before victims catch on. If there's fraudulent employment showing up there, you'll need to dispute it with SSA separately from the IRS. Also, consider signing up for free credit monitoring through one of the major bureaus or a service like Credit Karma. This will alert you if anyone tries to open new accounts with your stolen information. The most important thing is to act quickly but don't panic. The IRS deals with this constantly now and has streamlined processes to help victims. Document everything, file all the proper forms, and stay on top of following up. You'll get through this! Has anyone mentioned checking if your employer's HR system might have been breached? Sometimes these W2 scams happen when payroll companies or HR systems get hacked and employee data gets sold on the dark web.

I went through this exact same nightmare about 18 months ago and it was absolutely terrifying at first! The good news is that the IRS has really streamlined their identity theft processes, so while it's still a hassle, it's much more manageable than it used to be. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was in your shoes: **First 48 hours:** - File Form 14039 online immediately - don't wait to gather more information - Call the IRS Identity Theft Hotline (800-908-4490) and get a case number - Request your wage and income transcript online to see if there are other fraudulent documents you don't know about yet **Important timing tip:** File your legitimate tax return ASAP, even if it's just a basic version. If scammers file a fake return with your SSN first, it creates a much bigger headache to resolve. **Don't stress about the company initially** - focus on protecting yourself with the IRS first. Once you have your identity theft case established, then you can contact the company to ask questions about how your information was used. The whole process took about 4 months for me to fully resolve, but I had peace of mind much sooner once the IRS flagged my account and issued me an IP PIN. Now I actually feel more secure knowing my tax account has that extra protection! You've got this - it's scary but very fixable with the right steps!

This is definitely identity theft and you need to act fast! I went through something very similar last year. Here's my step-by-step approach that worked: **Immediate actions (do these today):** 1. Call the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 800-908-4490 to report this and get a case number 2. File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) online at irs.gov - this flags your account 3. Contact the company's payroll department to report the fraudulent W2 and ask for their investigation process **Protect yourself further:** - Request your wage and income transcript from irs.gov to see if there are other fraudulent tax documents you don't know about - Place fraud alerts on your credit reports with all three bureaus - Check your Social Security earnings record at ssa.gov for any unauthorized employment history **For tax filing:** File your legitimate return as soon as possible! Only report income you actually earned. Include a statement explaining the identity theft situation and reference your Form 14039 case number. The IRS will likely issue you an IP PIN for future tax years, which adds an extra layer of security. The whole process took about 3-4 months for me to fully resolve, but I had peace of mind much sooner once my account was flagged for protection. Don't panic - this is unfortunately common and the IRS has good procedures in place to help victims. You'll get through this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - identity theft is incredibly stressful! I actually work as a tax preparer and see this situation more often than you'd think, especially during tax season. Here's what I always tell my clients in your situation: **First priority:** Don't wait - file Form 14039 with the IRS immediately. This creates a paper trail and flags your account for protection. You can do this online at irs.gov. **About filing your taxes:** You should absolutely still file your legitimate return by the deadline, reporting only income you actually earned. Include a statement explaining that you received a fraudulent W2 and reference your identity theft case. The IRS won't penalize you for income you didn't actually receive. **Important tip:** Request an IP PIN from the IRS - this gives you a unique 6-digit code that you'll need to file taxes each year, making it nearly impossible for thieves to file fake returns with your SSN in the future. **Don't forget state taxes:** If you live in a state with income tax, contact your state tax agency too. They often have separate identity theft procedures you'll need to follow. The good news is that the IRS has really improved their identity theft procedures over the past few years. Most cases get resolved within 3-6 months, and they're generally very helpful once you get the right paperwork filed. You've got this!