Haven't received a copy of my tax return from my preparer - what can I do?

Thank you for this information! I had no idea they were legally required to give me a copy. I'll send an email today with a 48-hour deadline. If I go the transcript route from the IRS, will that show if they claimed any unusual deductions or credits? That's mainly what I'm worried about - that they might have done something sketchy to get me that "good refund.

The transcript will show your adjusted gross income, taxable income, and any tax credits that affected your bottom line. It won't show itemized deductions in detail, but will show the total deductions claimed. If the numbers look significantly different than what you expected, that would be cause for concern. I should also mention that a legitimate preparer should have had you sign Form 8879 (e-file authorization) before submitting your return. If you never signed this, that's another serious red flag that needs to be addressed immediately.

Does taxr.ai work if you haven't actually received your documents yet? OP doesn't even have their tax return copy, so I'm not sure how this helps their specific situation...

I've been curious about using AI for tax stuff, but I'm super paranoid about security. Do you have to upload all your personal info to their servers? How do you know it's secure and not just going to result in identity theft?

It actually does help in this situation because you can upload whatever documents you do have (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and the system will show what your return should approximately look like. This gives you a baseline to compare against when you finally get your return copy or transcript. As for security concerns, they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. You can also blur out certain personal info before uploading if you're extra cautious. I was skeptical too, but their privacy policy was pretty comprehensive and they're SOC 2 compliant which is the security standard for financial services.

Wait, how does this even work? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS by phone. Every time I've tried, I wait on hold for hours only to get disconnected. Are you saying this service somehow gets you through to a real person?

Sounds like a scam to me. Why would you pay a third party service to call the IRS? There's no "special line" for certain people. Everyone has to wait in the same queue. I bet they just keep calling repeatedly and charge you for the privilege.

It's actually pretty straightforward - they use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they reach a real agent, you get a call back connecting you directly to that agent. The whole point is you don't have to waste hours listening to hold music. It's definitely not a "special line" - they're just handling the frustrating part of waiting on hold. I was skeptical too, but after trying to call the IRS myself and getting disconnected twice after 45+ minute waits, I figured it was worth a try. I got a call back in about 2 hours with an actual IRS representative on the line. Saved me a ton of frustration.

I tried setting up an IRS account but they need to verify my identity by mail before I can access anything. They said the letter would arrive in 5-10 business days. I'm getting more worried with each passing day. The preparer has all my personal info - SSN, address, income details. Should I be doing something to protect myself in case this is identity theft?

Yes, I would recommend taking protective steps. First, place a fraud alert with one of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) - they'll inform the other two automatically. This lasts for a year and makes it harder for someone to open accounts in your name. Next, get your free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com and review them for any accounts you don't recognize. You might also consider freezing your credit, which prevents anyone from opening new accounts in your name until you lift the freeze. Finally, file Form 14157 with the IRS to report the preparer. This puts the IRS on notice that there might be issues with your return, which can help if problems arise later.

How did you resolve this? Did you have to pay everything back or were you able to prove you didn't know about the fraud?

I had to pay back the full amount plus interest. The IRS was somewhat sympathetic but their position was that I signed the return (they had a copy of my signature on Form 8879), so I was ultimately responsible. I tried arguing that I never received a copy of the actual return that was filed, but they said it was my responsibility to review it before signing the e-file authorization. I did file a police report and the IRS waived some (but not all) of the penalties after a long appeal process. The preparer was eventually arrested for filing fraudulent returns for hundreds of clients, but I never got my money back. It was an expensive lesson in why you should always review your complete return before signing anything.

This is excellent advice, Diego. I'm new to this community but have been lurking and reading about tax issues. What really struck me about your response is the urgency - I think a lot of people (myself included) would assume this is just poor customer service rather than potential fraud. The 24-hour deadline makes total sense given what others have shared about these scam operations. One question - when you mention requesting the tax transcript from the IRS, is that something you can do online immediately or does it also take time to arrive by mail like the account setup process that Zainab mentioned? If someone is worried about fraud, time seems really critical here. Also, for anyone reading this who might be in a similar situation - are there any other warning signs we should watch for when choosing a tax preparer to avoid this nightmare scenario entirely?

Great questions, Zoey! For tax transcripts, you can get them online immediately if you already have an IRS account set up. If not, you'll need to verify your identity first (which takes 5-10 days by mail as Zainab mentioned). However, you can also call the IRS directly or use services like Claimyr that others mentioned to get transcript information over the phone more quickly. As for warning signs when choosing a preparer: 1) They guarantee unusually large refunds before seeing your documents, 2) They base their fees on a percentage of your refund rather than a flat rate, 3) They won't provide you with a copy of your return, 4) They don't have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) displayed, 5) They suggest direct depositing your refund into their account instead of yours, and 6) They operate out of temporary locations or only during tax season. The biggest red flag is any preparer who won't let you review your complete return before filing. Legitimate preparers want you to check everything because they know they're liable if there are errors. If someone is being evasive about showing you what they're filing in your name, that's an immediate deal-breaker.

Dylan, this is such comprehensive advice and I really appreciate how you've connected all the dots from the other community members' experiences. The point about not cashing the refund check is something I hadn't considered but makes total sense - if the refund is based on fraudulent deductions, you'd essentially be borrowing money from the IRS that you'll have to pay back with interest later. I'm also glad you mentioned IRC Section 6107 specifically - having the actual legal code reference makes this feel less like "customer service preference" and more like "this preparer is breaking the law." That's a game-changer when it comes to how seriously to take this situation. One thing that really concerns me after reading all these responses is how common this seems to be. Are there any resources for people to research preparers beforehand? It sounds like there are licensing boards and PTIN numbers to check, but is there a centralized database or website where you can verify a preparer's credentials and complaint history before hiring them? As a newcomer to this community, I'm learning so much about protecting yourself in these situations, but it would be great to know how to avoid them entirely in the first place.