Has anyone had an issue with someone else filing your taxes? My former employer leaked my W2, and it looks like someone has filed it. Now I have to file additional forms to prove I and who I say I am, and hope this doesn't go beyond just filing my W2.

Happened to my son this year. The IRS caught it. He took care of it and didn't seem to complain about the hassle or time involved. Could have been though, and he just didn't a

say anything.

From a tax filing standpoint, you will probably have to paper file your returns for a while; e-file isn't available for ID fraud victims.

You will have to mail in your returns and provide proof of your identity along with Form 14039. Be prepared to wait a while on your refunds, if you are expecting one. Sometimes it is 6 months or more.

 

You should call the ID Theft division of the IRS and start a case with them ASAP. 1-800-908-4490

 

You should monitor your credit through creditkarma or similar means just to make sure nothing is going on there. Thieves can open new credit cards using your SS# and name and you want to catch that quickly.

 

Check out the IRS guide --- Taxpayer Guide To Identity Theft

 

They recommend filing a claim with Federal Trade Commission

This is unfortunately becoming so commonplace that it isn't a shock anymore.

 

The last I heard, the IRS had over 3,500 employees just devoted to identity theft issues.

I've already filed with the FTC. I've tried contacting the IRS without much luck this morning. I have an account with Experian's Protect My ID which my formed employer set me up with since they sent out my W2. I tried calling them and was on hold for 15 minutes to speak with their identity theft specialist. It sounded like they only had one, which kinda sounds messed up. Was just curious if anyone else has dealt with this as this short amount of time is making this look like it's going to be a pain.