Recover from Tax Identity Theft and Secure an IRS IP PIN
The fraudulent filing is reported to the FTC and the IRS, your identity is verified, the bogus return is removed from your transcript, and you hold an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) plus a recovery file ready for every filing that follows.
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Who it's for
U.S. taxpayers whose e-filed return was rejected because a return was already accepted under their Social Security number, or who received an IRS letter about a return filed in their name. It suits filers who want to handle the recovery themselves rather than pay for professional help.
About this playbook
A fraudulent federal tax return filed under your Social Security number can block your own filing, stall your refund, and take months to untangle. This guide walks the IRS recovery procedure in the order it actually happens: confirming the fraud, filing Form 14039 and your paper return, verifying your identity when the IRS writes back, and securing the Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) that shields every future filing. You finish with the fraudulent return removed from your transcript, a current-year IP PIN, and a recovery file you can reuse if it happens again. It covers the federal IRS side only — state tax identity theft, credit bureau disputes, and legal action against the thief are mentioned but not run end to end. When a notice demands money you do not owe, you get the exact response to send.
What you'll do, step by stepFree preview
Only a sample is open: 3 of 20 steps can be read in full. The rest unlock when you buy.
Phase 1: Confirm the fraud and gather your evidence
5 stepsPhase 2: File Form 14039 and your paper return
4 stepsPhase 3: Verify your identity when the IRS asks
4 stepsPhase 4: Secure your IP PIN and clear the fraud
4 stepsPhase 5: Build your recovery file and the next-season routine
3 steps
Details
What you need first
You have been turned away from e-file because a return already exists under your SSN, or you hold an IRS notice about a suspicious filing. You have your Social Security number, a government-issued photo ID, and your prior-year tax documents. You are able to print, sign, and mail documents, and to make phone calls during IRS business hours.
