Tax Guys - Not sure how to proceed - need help (1 Viewer)

[belljr]

So I filed my taxes, efiled - then started my kids taxes.

When I go to submit hers it says someone files using her ssn.

I then noticed my federal got rejected because someone else used my dependents ssn number,

I checked her credit reports and all clean.

I assume I need to call the IRS tomorrow? Can I efile again?

Advice?

Did she get ID theft?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Sounds extremely bad. Here's the IRS site about this crap. There's a section just for you with links to the forms you need.

Sorry that happened.

(I figure a lot of folks are watching TV today, or I would have left this to those guys.)

 

[dgreen]

This has happened with my daughter’s SSN the last few years. If your daughter is 18+, you won’t be able to call for her. She will need to call to prove she is the one who should use that SSN. They then might give her a PIN that you add to your efile. This can all take a while. My daughter had to call many times before she could finally get through to someone.

 

[belljr]

really ? even if shes an dependent? I can't file my taxes because of it

Was there any other issues with her identity?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

really ? even if shes an dependent? I can't file my taxes because of it

Was there any other issues with her identity?

If she's a minor or you are her guardian, you can call. Otherwise, she must call.

 

[belljr]

So I can't sudmit my tax return but my daughter has to call to prove she is an adult dependent so I can file my return?

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

So I can't sudmit my tax return but my daughter has to call to prove she is an adult dependent so I can file my return?

Please see this page.

Looks like you'll have to file a paper return. It's the Pony Express!

 

[dgreen]

really ? even if shes an dependent? I can't file my taxes because of it

Was there any other issues with her identity?

No, we haven’t noticed anything with her identity.

And, yeah, I had to file with paper last year because I acted too late to get her PIN and ran out of time to file.

 

[johnnycakes]

Hey, Chief, if someone else has used an SSN you are trying to use, that is identity theft. Be prepared for the IRS to issue you an IP PIN. You need to file your return, and probably hers, on paper with Form 14039. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/how...ntity Theft,mail your paper return separately.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I can just picture there being some 85 year old guy as the entire paper returns department

 

[GroveDiesel]

It’s incredible that this is still so rampant and the IRS seems to have no way to prevent it up front other than everyone establishing a PIN.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I can just picture there being some 85 year old guy as the entire paper returns department

Have you seen Everything Everywhere All At Once? Pretty much covers this.

 

[belljr]

It’s incredible that this is still so rampant and the IRS seems to have no way to prevent it up front other than everyone establishing a PIN.

Especially since she was on my return for 17 years.

So are they trying to take her refund money? I don't understand the reasoning for this?

 

[Steve Tasker]

It’s incredible that this is still so rampant and the IRS seems to have no way to prevent it up front other than everyone establishing a PIN.

The IRS does generally have the capability to suss out fraudulent return filings, and likely could do so for every taxpayer if they wanted to. The problem is that it would very significantly delay tax return processing, and thus very significantly delay people getting their refunds, which is a political PR disaster. There's also strict timeframes in which the IRS can refund a taxpayer's overpayment without paying interest to the taxpayer; undertaking a huge identity theft program like this would cost the IRS a not-insignificant amount of interest on late refunds.

 

[Steve Tasker]

It’s incredible that this is still so rampant and the IRS seems to have no way to prevent it up front other than everyone establishing a PIN.

Especially since she was on my return for 17 years.

So are they trying to take her refund money? I don't understand the reasoning for this?

If they have her name and SSN, they can file a tax return with fake W-2 withholding, claim a refund via direct deposit into a fraudulent bank account, the IRS pays the refund to the fraudulent bank account before matching the W-2 withholding to the taxpayer's account (because the W-2 withholding doesn't exist). The IRS often pays out erroneous refunds early on, in an effort to efficiently process tax refunds without delays (see my post above).

The fraudsters collect the refund - or multiple refunds from many different identity theft returns - in a bank account, then drain the bank account and close it. By the time the IRS figures out that an identity theft return has been filed, like right now, the money is long gone and the IRS has no way to claw back the erroneous refund from the scammers.

 

[belljr]

It’s incredible that this is still so rampant and the IRS seems to have no way to prevent it up front other than everyone establishing a PIN.

Especially since she was on my return for 17 years.

So are they trying to take her refund money? I don't understand the reasoning for this?

If they have her name and SSN, they can file a tax return with fake W-2 withholding, claim a refund via direct deposit into a fraudulent bank account, the IRS pays the refund to the fraudulent bank account before matching the W-2 withholding to the taxpayer's account (because the W-2 withholding doesn't exist). The IRS often pays out erroneous refunds early on, in an effort to efficiently process tax refunds without delays (see my post above).

The fraudsters collect the refund - or multiple refunds from many different identity theft returns - in a bank account, then drain the bank account and close it. By the time the IRS figures out that an identity theft return has been filed, like right now, the money is long gone and the IRS has no way to claw back the erroneous refund from the scammers.

I will privately wish full "xXXXXXXX" on these people.

It's funny this is the first year I waited to file knowing I would owe some money. Normally I file as soon as possible. I wonder if that would have mattered if I was "first".

THis sucks. I wonder how they got the information. I'l have to have her put a hold on her reports now I guess.

 

[NutterButter]

Always knew this was a possibility but never thought about taking steps to prevent it. Similar to how i've frozen my credit, I think this thread has motivated me to create a pin.

 

[arrow1]

So I can't sudmit my tax return but my daughter has to call to prove she is an adult dependent so I can file my return?

"I'm with the government, I'm here to help"

 

[Navin Johnson]

Anyone know? My wife gave up her green card and I plan on becoming a naturalized German citizen and staying here but I want to keep my US citizenship. Do I have to claim my wife's income on my US taxes?

 

[The Z Machine]

Anyone know? My wife gave up her green card and I plan on becoming a naturalized German citizen and staying here but I want to keep my US citizenship. Do I have to claim my wife's income on my US taxes?

Not a tax expert nor accountant.

Since your wife no longer has to file a return because she is no longer a resident and no longer obliged to pay US taxes, then you can end the tax obligation. See here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-spouse

And https://www.irs.gov/publications/p519#en_US_2024_publink1000222201 in the section "Ending the choice"

She might have to file this year and attach the form saying that this is the last year she is a tax resident.

You could also search reddit for info. I've found that to be helpful.

GLLLLLLLLLLLLL

 

[Steve Tasker]

Anyone know? My wife gave up her green card and I plan on becoming a naturalized German citizen and staying here but I want to keep my US citizenship. Do I have to claim my wife's income on my US taxes?

This is what I do for a living (US tax for expat/international businesses and individuals). PM me and I can off-the-cuff answer these questions. I can't promise a quick response though, this is a busy two weeks.

 

[Snotbubbles]

So I filed my taxes, efiled - then started my kids taxes.

When I go to submit hers it says someone files using her ssn.

I then noticed my federal got rejected because someone else used my dependents ssn number,

I checked her credit reports and all clean.

I assume I need to call the IRS tomorrow? Can I efile again?

Advice?

Did she get ID theft?

Did you claim her as a dependent on you taxes? If you did, there's a box to check on their form that someone else claims them as a dependent. That might be it.

 

[Navin Johnson]

Anyone know? My wife gave up her green card and I plan on becoming a naturalized German citizen and staying here but I want to keep my US citizenship. Do I have to claim my wife's income on my US taxes?

This is what I do for a living (US tax for expat/international businesses and individuals). PM me and I can off-the-cuff answer these questions. I can't promise a quick response though, this is a busy two weeks.

Thanks, I'll hit you up in a couple weeks. I have until June 15 to file