What this notice is about We received your Form 14039 or similar statement for your identity theft claim. If you're due a refund, we'll issue it when we finish processing your case. We'll contact you if we need additional time or information. You will receive notification that your case has been resolved. This is generally within 120 days but, due to extenuating circumstances caused by the pandemic, our identity theft inventories have increased dramatically and, on average, it is taking us up to 260 days to resolve identity theft cases. The IRS takes identity theft seriously and is committed to resolving identity theft cases as quickly as possible and are taking steps to reduce this timeframe to 120 days or less. We'll contact you if we need additional time or information. What you need to do You don’t need to take further action, other than responding promptly to any requests for information. We’ll contact you when we resolve your case. Please don’t submit duplicate Forms 14039 or contact the IRS about the status of your identity theft claim until 260 days have passed from the date of your notice. Continue to file your federal income tax returns as required by law. You may want to Review the information at How IRS ID theft assistance works. Review the information at Identity Theft Central. Review Publication 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers PDF. Frequently asked questions Who should I contact if I have more questions about my account related to identity theft? The Identity Protection Specialized Unit can assist you with questions regarding identity theft related to your account. You can call them at 800-908-4490. You can also find the number on your notice. For all other tax account related questions, contact the IRS help desk at 800-829-1040. Where can I find more information on preventing identity theft? Review the information provided on the following websites: Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Consumer Advice website and their OnGuard Online website. Social Security Administration's (SSA) website for identity theft. Learn what you can do to help make your personal, financial, and tax data safer at: Taxes. Security. Together. Tips for next year File your return as you normally would. If we find that someone is attempting to use your Social Security number for filing a tax return, we will notify you and provide you with an identity protection personal identification number (IP PIN) to use when filing your return. The IRS IP PIN can help prevent misuse of your taxpayer identification number on fraudulent federal income tax returns. Learn more at Get an Identity Protection PIN. Reference tools Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax Full list of tax forms and instructions Need help? You can authorize someone to contact the IRS on your behalf. See if you qualify for help from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. If you can’t find what you need online, call the IRS number at the top of your notice or letter. If you didn’t receive a letter or notice, use telephone assistance. If you can't resolve the penalty on your own, contact Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within IRS.