IRS Identity Verification Letter Says It's Fraud - What Do I Do?
I got a letter in the mail from the IRS to verify my identity, but when I tried to do it, they're saying it's fraud. What should I do? Has anyone else dealt with this? I'm freaking out!
18 comments

Sean Murphy
Ugh, that sucks! I had a similar issue last year. Have you tried calling the IRS directly? It's a pain to get through, but it might be your best bet to sort this out.
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Anastasia Ivanova
AuthorI've been trying to call for days but can't get through. It's so frustrating! π«
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StarStrider
Pro tip: call right when they open. You might have better luck getting through.
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Anastasia Ivanova
AuthorThanks, I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning!
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Zara Malik
This happened to me too! Turns out there was a mix-up with my social security number. Double-check all the info you provided matches exactly what's on your tax returns.
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Luca Marino
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Nia Davis
Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit?
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Luca Marino
I was skeptical too, but I tried it and it actually worked. Saved me hours of frustration.
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Mateo Perez
20 bucks to avoid IRS hold music? Sign me up! π΅π
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Aisha Rahman
Here's what you need to do: 1. Gather all your documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) 2. Check for any discrepancies between your letter and tax return 3. Try the IRS Identity Verification Service online 4. If that fails, call the number on your letter 5. Be prepared to verify your identity with previous tax return info Don't panic! This happens more often than you'd think. Just be persistent and keep good records of all your communications.
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Anastasia Ivanova
AuthorThank you so much for this detailed advice! I'll start working on this list right away.
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CosmicCrusader
This is solid advice. I'd add: make copies of everything before sending it to the IRS. They've been known to lose stuff.
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Ethan Brown
have you tried turning it off and on again? π€£ jk jk... but seriously, the IRS system is a joke. good luck OP!
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Yuki Yamamoto
lol if only it were that easy π
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Carmen Ortiz
Whatever you do, DON'T ignore this. I made that mistake and ended up with a much bigger headache. Deal with it asap!
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Andre Rousseau
Im in the same boat rn. been dealing with this for 3 months. feels like im just spinning my wheelsπ©
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Anastasia Ivanova
Author3 months?! Oh no, I hope it doesn't take that long for me π°
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Andre Rousseau
yeah its been a nightmare. hope you have better luck!
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