My son's Social Security Number was used by someone else to file taxes - what do we do now?
My son just started his freshman year at university and attempted to file his taxes for the very first time yesterday. Talk about a stressful introduction to adulting! He received a notification that his tax return was rejected because someone has already filed using his Social Security Number. He immediately called the IRS and is currently waiting to speak with someone, but I'm absolutely freaking out about what this means for both him and our family. We still claim him as a dependent on our taxes (which we haven't filed yet this year), and I'm worried this could create a massive headache for all of us. Has anyone dealt with identity theft related to a Social Security Number before? How is this typically resolved when someone else uses your SSN to file taxes? And most importantly, how long does the resolution process usually take? We were counting on his refund to help cover some of his textbook costs for next semester.
18 comments
Join the conversation
Cynthia Love
This is unfortunately becoming more common, but try not to panic! Your son is doing exactly the right thing by contacting the IRS directly. This is clearly a case of tax-related identity theft, and there's a specific process to handle it. Here's what needs to happen: Your son will need to file IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) along with a paper copy of his tax return. He'll also need to provide proof of identity. The IRS has a specialized identity theft unit that handles these cases. Since you still claim him as a dependent, you should be able to file your taxes normally, but make sure to mention this situation if you speak with the IRS or your tax preparer. The resolution time varies - it can take 120-180 days for the IRS to investigate and resolve the issue. The good news is that he will eventually get his proper refund, though it will be delayed.
0 coins
Darren Brooks
•Does filing the Identity Theft Affidavit guarantee that his actual tax return will be processed? Also, should he file a police report for the identity theft?
0 coins
Cynthia Love
•Filing the Identity Theft Affidavit doesn't guarantee immediate processing, but it does start the official resolution process. The IRS will investigate, determine which return is fraudulent, and then process your son's legitimate return. This is why documentation proving his identity is crucial. Regarding a police report, yes - it's generally a good idea to file one. Not only does it create an official record of the identity theft, but it can be helpful documentation for the IRS investigation and for disputing any other fraudulent activity that might occur with his SSN. I'd also recommend he check his credit reports immediately to see if there's been any other suspicious activity.
0 coins
Rosie Harper
I went through something similar last year and discovered a tool that saved me countless hours - taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). When my return was rejected for the same reason, I was totally lost in all the paperwork and process. I uploaded my rejection notice and ID documents to taxr.ai, and they guided me through exactly what forms I needed and how to file them properly. The best part was they helped me draft the perfect explanation letter to the IRS that clearly explained my situation. They even have this cool feature where they can analyze your tax documents to identify potential identity theft markers I wouldn't have caught myself. For your son's situation, having everything properly documented from the start will make a huge difference in how quickly this gets resolved.
0 coins
Elliott luviBorBatman
•How does this actually work? Does it just help with the forms or does it actually communicate with the IRS for you? My nephew had his identity stolen last year and I want to tell my sister about this.
0 coins
Demi Hall
•I'm skeptical about these kinds of services. Couldn't you just follow the IRS instructions online for free? What makes this worth using instead of just calling the IRS identity theft hotline?
0 coins
Rosie Harper
•It doesn't communicate with the IRS directly, but it analyzes your specific situation and creates customized instructions and documentation. It saved me from making mistakes that would have delayed my case. You simply upload your documents, answer some questions about your situation, and it creates a personalized action plan with all the forms you need. What made it worth it for me was the guidance on exactly what to write in my explanation letter. The IRS instructions are generic, but each case is unique. Having specific recommendations for my situation meant I only had to submit my paperwork once instead of going back and forth with the IRS for months. It doesn't replace talking to the IRS, but it makes those conversations much more productive.
0 coins
Demi Hall
I was totally skeptical about taxr.ai at first but after my identity theft nightmare dragged on for months, I decided to give it a try. Wish I had used it from the beginning! The IRS kept sending me confusing letters asking for more documentation, and I was getting nowhere. The service analyzed my rejection notices and immediately identified which forms I was missing. What really surprised me was how it found discrepancies in my previous documentation that would have caused more delays. Within 6 weeks of using their guidance, my case was resolved and I received my refund. Before that, I had spent 4 months getting nowhere on my own. OP, tell your son to document EVERYTHING. Each phone call, letter, and submission to the IRS. That documentation history really helped speed things up.
0 coins
Mateusius Townsend
When this happened to my daughter two years ago, the worst part was trying to get through to the IRS to resolve it. We spent DAYS getting busy signals or being disconnected after hours on hold. Then someone told me about Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer. They have this system where they wait on hold with the IRS for you and then call you when an actual human agent is on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c With your son's identity theft situation, speaking to an actual IRS agent is crucial, and waiting for them to process paperwork without following up can add months to the resolution time. Using Claimyr, we got through to an IRS identity theft specialist in about 2 hours instead of days of trying. The specialist gave us specific instructions that weren't clearly explained on the website.
0 coins
Kara Yoshida
•How does this service actually work? Sounds too good to be true honestly. The IRS hold time is insane these days.
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•This sounds like a scam. You're telling me some random service can magically get through IRS phone lines when millions of people can't? And then they just call you? Yeah right. They probably just take your money and leave you hanging.
0 coins
Mateusius Townsend
•The service uses an automated system that constantly redials the IRS using their optimal routing technology until it gets through. Then it holds your place in line. When an actual IRS agent picks up, Claimyr calls your phone and connects you directly to that live agent. No more listening to hold music for hours! I was suspicious too, but it's legit. They don't handle any of your tax information or speak to the IRS for you - they just solve the "being on hold forever" problem. The IRS phone system is actually designed to limit how many calls can be in the queue at once, which is why you get busy signals. Their system is specifically designed to work around these limitations and get you in the queue efficiently.
0 coins
Philip Cowan
OK I have to eat my words here. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr myself because I've been trying to reach the IRS about an amended return for THREE WEEKS. Got a call back in 90 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line! I asked the agent about identity theft cases specifically (thinking about this thread), and she confirmed they prioritize these cases but said the paper documentation absolutely has to be correct the first time or it adds months to processing. She also mentioned they have a specific identity theft hotline that's sometimes easier to reach than the main line. So yeah, I was wrong. Sometimes solutions actually work. Hope your son gets this resolved quickly!
0 coins
Caesar Grant
Don't forget to tell your son to place a fraud alert on his credit reports immediately! Call one of the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) and request a fraud alert - whichever one you contact is required to tell the other two. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in his name. He should also get his free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com right away to see if there's any other suspicious activity. If someone has his SSN, they might be doing more than just filing a fake tax return. Better to catch everything now.
0 coins
Naila Gordon
•Thank you for this advice! We actually hadn't thought about the credit reporting aspect at all. Just called Experian to place the fraud alert and we're going to check his credit reports tonight. Is there anything else we should do for protection beyond what you mentioned?
0 coins
Caesar Grant
•I'd also recommend freezing his credit with all three bureaus for maximum protection. Unlike a fraud alert which expires, a credit freeze stays in place until he lifts it. It prevents anyone from opening new accounts in his name because creditors can't access his credit report. Also, have him set up an account on the Social Security Administration website (ssa.gov) before someone else tries to using his information. And definitely enroll in IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) program after this is resolved - it's an extra security code he'll need for future tax filings that prevents anyone else from filing with his SSN again.
0 coins
Lena Schultz
Did your son have a job where he received a W-2? Because if someone else filed using his SSN, they probably made up income that doesn't match what's reported to the IRS from his actual employers. This mismatch actually helps his case because the IRS can verify the legitimate income sources.
0 coins
Gemma Andrews
•This is super important! When this happened to my cousin, the IRS identified the fraud pretty quickly because the fake return claimed income from companies that had never issued him a W-2. The agent said this is one of the most common ways they catch these fraudulent returns.
0 coins