Sign in to your IRS online account and review your tax records and available transcripts for a return you did not file or authorize. An IRS notice asking you to verify a return, or an e-file rejection saying your Social Security number has already been used, can also signal a filing conflict. If you find one, use the IRS process that matches how you learned about it; the steps differ for a verification notice, an e-file rejection and a request for the fraudulent return’s records.
Check your IRS account and transcripts
Review the tax records and transcripts available through your IRS online account. A transcript shows information the IRS processed, which you can compare with a return you signed or approved. Look for a return or account activity you do not recognize. An unfamiliar entry is a reason to investigate, not by itself proof of who filed it or how.
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If you need information from a return accepted using your name and Social Security number (SSN), the IRS offers a separate request for a masked transcript through Form 4506-F. You can request it through the IRS online account or by submitting the form as instructed by the IRS. You must be listed as the primary or secondary taxpayer on the return; someone listed only as a dependent cannot obtain the return information through this process. The transcript is masked, not necessarily an unredacted copy.
Match the next step to what alerted you
| What happened | What to do |
|---|---|
| You received a CP5071-series notice or Letter 5447C | Use the IRS return-verification process specified for that notice. Keep the notice available and say that you did not file the return if that is the case. After completing verification, do not submit Form 14039 unless the IRS tells you to. |
| Your e-filed return was rejected because your SSN or ITIN was already used | Investigate the filing conflict with the IRS. If you cannot e-file, file a paper return and complete Form 14039 as directed by the IRS. Do not assume the rejection alone establishes why the conflict occurred. |
| Your transcript shows a return you do not recognize, or you otherwise suspect misuse | Follow any IRS notice instructions that apply. Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, may be used by an actual or potential victim to ask the IRS to mark the account; follow the form’s current submission instructions. |
| You need records of the return accepted using your identity | Request a masked fraudulent-return transcript using Form 4506-F, subject to the IRS eligibility rules. |
If the IRS sent you a verification notice
Respond using the contact information and instructions on the notice. For a CP5071-series notice or Letter 5447C, use the return-verification service specified by the IRS for that notice type. Verify your identity and the return, and report that you did not file it if that is true. Do not use a verification service simply because you received a different IRS letter; follow that letter’s instructions instead.
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The IRS says that once you complete the specified verification process, you do not need to file Form 14039 unless the IRS instructs you to. Sending a duplicate affidavit for the same incident can delay handling.
If your e-filed return was rejected
A rejection stating that a return has already been filed with your SSN or ITIN means the filing cannot be completed electronically as submitted. It does not, on its own, explain whether the conflict resulted from identity theft or another issue. Follow the IRS identity-theft steps. If you are unable to e-file, submit a paper return and complete Form 14039 as directed. Do not send multiple Form 14039 affidavits for the same incident.
Contact the IRS about a tax-account identity-theft issue
For tax-account issues related to identity theft, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490, or use the phone number on your IRS notice. This number and the described procedures were current as of October 4, 2026; check the IRS’s current instructions before calling because contact details and procedures can change.
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Help prevent another fraudulent federal filing
Consider requesting an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). It is a unique six-digit number used to help verify a taxpayer filing a federal return and help prevent misuse of an SSN or ITIN. Eligible taxpayers can request one after identity verification. The IRS issues a new IP PIN each year, so taxpayers who opt in must retrieve the new number annually.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check separately with your state tax agency
The steps above address federal returns and IRS accounts. If you suspect someone also filed a state return using your information, contact your state tax agency for its reporting and account-protection procedures; federal action does not replace state-level steps.
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