Received 4883C Letter from IRS requesting verification but never filed a return - Identity theft concern?

Thank you so much for the detailed steps. I've been trying to call the number on the letter for two days but cant get through. So frustrating! Is there another way to verify or should I just keep calling?

Yep, IRS phone lines are notoriously jammed. There's a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that can help you get a callback from the IRS without having to wait on hold for hours. Several people in my tax group have used it and said it works really well.

omg thank you for this! never heard of it but im definitely checking it out. anything to avoid those hold times 🙏

I second this. I used Claimyr when I had a similar issue last year and got through to an agent in about 30 min. Before that I spent literally 3 days trying to call with no luck.

Just to add, make sure you check ALL your credit reports, not just one. Sometimes fraud shows up on one but not the others.

Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

It does WAY more than just read transcripts! It actually analyzes everything and explains what's happening in plain English. For my identity theft situation, it told me exactly which forms to file, what supporting documents to include, and even gave me a timeline of what to expect. NOBODY on any forum could give me that level of detail. I've become a total evangelist for taxr since then - it's one of those tools you can't believe didn't exist before.

does it need all your personal info? I'm already dealing with potential identity theft so kinda paranoid about giving more info out...

I've used it too and it's super secure. It just needs the same info you'd use to access your IRS account online - nothing beyond what the IRS already has.

Wait, you had to pay? How much did it cost? Is this just another scam trying to profit off people dealing with identity theft?? 🤔

Not a scam at all! Think about it - I was facing potential identity theft and tax fraud. Getting it resolved ASAP was worth every penny. Plus I got my refund processed correctly after talking to the agent, so it more than paid for itself. You could spend days or weeks trying to get through on your own...

I was skeptical too but ended up using it. When youve been calling for 3 weeks straight with no luck, suddenly the cost seems very reasonable lol

Thanks for sharing this! Just wondering - did they help you file all the identity theft paperwork too or just connect you to the IRS?

They just connect you to the IRS, but once I had an actual agent on the line, the agent walked me through everything I needed to do. She even sent me all the forms I needed to complete.

Oh no that sounds horrible! Did you end up getting it resolved with the IRS?

Still working on it. The IRS part is slowly getting fixed but cleaning up my credit has been a disaster. I should have acted faster when I got that letter. The 30 day deadline is no joke.

this literally happened to my sister last year. took her almost 8 months to get everything straightened out. defnitely file police report ASAP

That's good to know! How long does the resolution process typically take once I contact them?

It varies widely. I've seen cases resolve in 60 days and others take 6+ months. The key is documenting everything. Keep copies of all correspondence and get a case number whenever you speak with an agent.

hey quick question - should OP still file their taxes normally while this gets sorted out?

Yes, absolutely! OP should file their legitimate return as soon as possible. The IRS will then have both returns and can more easily identify which is fraudulent. Just make sure to file a paper return if the electronic one gets rejected.

Bruh for real. They expect you to call but then have you on hold for 3 hours just to disconnect you. Make it make sense 💀

Yup and then they penalize YOU if you don't respond in time. So backward.

they literally don't care about regular people. if you owed THEM money they'd be blowing up your phone tho 🙄

Thanks for the warning. Any specific service you recommend for identity protection?

I use LifeLock now, but there are several good options. The most important thing is to put a freeze on your credit reports right away - it's free and prevents new accounts from being opened.

Is that service like expensive? Why should we have to pay to talk to the IRS???

I get the frustration, but when you're facing identity theft and tax fraud, resolving it quickly is worth every penny. I was spending hours every day trying to get through with no success. My time is worth something too, y'know? The relief of finally talking to a real person who could help was priceless.

For real tho. And then they wonder why people hate dealing with taxes. It's not the paying, it's the ridiculous process!

every other developed country: has simple tax filing systems USA: here's 500 forms and good luck reaching us if you have questions 🤡

i keep seeing this mentioned. does it actually work or is it just another tax gimmick?

It 100% works. I was super skeptical too but desperate after weeks of confusion. The difference is it actually EXPLAINS what's happening rather than just showing you data. For identity theft cases like this, it lays out exactly what forms you need and how to proceed. Complete game changer compared to the usual tax hell.

No, definitely not anyone I know. I'm single and always file my own taxes, haven't even started my 2023 return yet. My parents don't have access to my tax info either.

OK yeah then identity theft is most likely. The good thing is the IRS caught it before a refund went out. That's actually a sign their systems are working as designed.

facts. they can find every penny you owe them but make you jump through flaming hoops when someone steals YOUR identity.

To be fair, their budget has been gutted for years. They're trying to modernize but Congress keeps cutting their funding.

doesnt matter WHY they suck, they still suck lol