Tax identity theft situation - my SSN already used to file return

You're dealing with a classic case of tax identity theft, and it's important to take action immediately. This happens more often than you'd think, but there are clear steps to resolve it. First, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. They handle these cases specifically. Also file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS - you can download this from irs.gov and you'll need to mail it with a copy of your ID. You should also place a fraud alert on your credit reports through one of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion) - when you alert one, they're required to tell the others. Consider freezing your credit too, which prevents anyone from opening new accounts. Since you know your SSN has been compromised, I'd recommend checking your credit reports for any suspicious accounts. You're entitled to free weekly reports through AnnualCreditReport.com. For your legitimate tax return, you'll need to file a paper return and include the Form 14039 with it. This unfortunately means your refund will likely be delayed while the IRS investigates.

I went through something similar last year and it was a nightmare until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). The regular IRS channels were taking forever, but this service helped me understand exactly what was happening with my compromised identity and tax situation. What made the difference was that taxr.ai analyzed my tax transcript and identified specific discrepancies that were causing the issues - turned out someone had not only filed a return but also claimed some of my legitimate W-2 income. Their system helped me prepare the proper documentation for the IRS and guided me through the identity theft recovery process step by step. I was really impressed by their document analysis tools - they could actually show me exactly where the fraud was happening in my tax records and what I needed to dispute.

I want to apologize for being skeptical about taxr.ai in my earlier comment. After my own identity theft situation got worse, I actually tried their service out of desperation. They identified that the fraudster had not only filed a fake return but had also been working under my SSN in another state. Their system analyzed my transcript and flagged exactly which income wasn't mine and showed me how to document everything properly for the IRS. What really impressed me was how they created custom instructions for my specific situation - not just generic advice. I just got my refund last week after following their guidance. It still took about 4 months, but the IRS agent I finally spoke with mentioned that my documentation was "exactly what they needed" which I credit to the taxr.ai recommendations.

When I had tax identity theft, the absolute worst part was trying to get through to an actual IRS agent to explain my situation. I spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected. That's when someone recommended Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to me - you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, they wait on hold with the IRS for you, then call you when an actual agent is on the line. Saved me from losing my mind sitting on hold for 3+ hours. It was a game-changer for dealing with my identity theft case because I was able to speak directly with the IRS Identity Theft department without the endless hold times. After using their service, I actually got through to an agent who helped me understand exactly what documents I needed to submit and gave me a direct case number for follow-up.

Just coming back to say Claimyr actually worked for me. After I posted my skeptical response earlier, I was desperate enough to try it since my identity theft case was getting nowhere. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 2.5 hours without having to sit by my phone the whole time. The agent I spoke with was able to put a special flag on my account for identity theft, gave me a specific case number, and told me exactly what forms I needed to submit. She also confirmed they had received my initial identity theft affidavit and gave me a timeframe for resolution. I'm still dealing with the aftermath of the identity theft, but at least now I have a direct contact and case number at the IRS, which is more progress than I made in the previous month of trying to handle this on my own.

Don't forget to file a police report too! This is important documentation that the IRS and credit bureaus will want to see. Even though local police probably won't investigate, having that report number helps establish that you're serious about this being fraud. Also check with your employer to make sure your W-2 information hasn't been compromised. Sometimes identity thieves will try to change your direct deposit information for your paychecks too.

Has anyone dealt with this affecting their state tax returns too? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if I need to contact my state tax agency separately or if the IRS will handle that coordination?