Only employers can legitimately issues W-2s. But this is not legit. So it could be somebody in the IRS. It could also be anybody else too. Answer from SoftwareMaintenance on reddit.com
Internal Revenue Service
irs.gov › faqs › irs-procedures › reporting-identity-theft
Reporting identity theft | Internal Revenue Service
The IRS has many security measures in place to verify the accuracy of tax returns and the validity of Social Security numbers (SSNs) or individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs) submitted.
Internal Revenue Service
irs.gov › newsroom › taxpayers-should-be-on-the-lookout-for-new-version-of-ssn-scam
Taxpayers should be on the lookout for new version of SSN scam | Internal Revenue Service
October 24, 2019 - Scammers may mention overdue taxes in addition to threatening to cancel the person’s SSN.
Is Someone Inside the IRS Filing Fake Tax Returns With Stolen SSNs?
Only employers can legitimately issues W-2s. But this is not legit. So it could be somebody in the IRS. It could also be anybody else too. More on reddit.com
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April 24, 2025My employer has my wrong SSN number by accident… How bad is it?
The company is not in trouble at all. This happens all the time. Are you suuuuuuure the SSN is wrong? Five years is a long time for the IRS to not catch this. More on reddit.com
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January 3, 2025taxes filed under wrong social security number, what do we do?
I don’t understand how this could happen because they reject returns with the wrong social. Look on your IRS online account and verify that a tax return was submitted. More on reddit.com
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June 29, 2024Tax Return Rejected Because SSN or Name Doesnt Match IRS Records
Did you pull tax transcripts from IRS to confirm there's no weirdness? If so I would chat with TT support first. Then call the IRS. More on reddit.com
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February 21, 202508:46
Your Data Has Been Hacked! Secure Your IRS Tax Account NOW - YouTube
03:05
How To Report Identity Theft To The IRS? - CountyOffice.org - YouTube
03:17
How To Report IRS Identity Theft? - CountyOffice.org - YouTube
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How To Fix Identity Theft With The IRS? - CountyOffice.org - YouTube
01:32
Security Measures Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft ...
01:50
IRS Slow Notifying Identity Theft Victims Of Fraud - YouTube
Social Security Administration
ssa.gov › fraud
Fraud Prevention and Reporting | SSA
Whether it is to steal your identity, misuse your benefits while serving as your payee, or selling you services that we provide for free, we have the power to investigate and shut down these criminals if you report them to us. Take the time to read about some of the more common types of Social Security fraud that could impact you directly, and learn how to recognize, prevent, and report them. Do you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security?
Internal Revenue Service
irs.gov › newsroom › form-w-2-ssn-data-theft-information-for-businesses-and-payroll-service-providers
Form W-2/SSN Data theft: Information for businesses and payroll service providers | Internal Revenue Service
Cybercriminals who successfully steal Forms W-2 immediately attempt to monetize their thefts. Criminals may immediately attempt to file fraudulent tax returns claiming a refund. Or they may sell the data on the Internet's black market sites to others who file fraudulent tax returns or use the names and SSNs to create other crimes. Here is some guidance to share with your employees: ... Share IRS Publication 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers PDF, with employees and direct them to the "Steps for Identity Theft Victims" which includes: Contacting one of the three credit bureaus to place a "fraud alert" on their account; they may consider placing a "credit freeze" which offers more protection. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, the lead federal agency on identity theft issues. Review FTC's Identity Theft information for additional steps to recover from identity theft.
Internal Revenue Service
irs.gov › privacy-disclosure › what-are-we-doing-to-protect-taxpayer-privacy
What are we doing to protect taxpayer privacy? | Internal Revenue Service
As part of the communication initiative, the IRS led continuous internal discussions that spanned across the IRS. IRS has created partnerships through collaboration and the exchange of information with other departments to protect taxpayers’ personal identifiable information (PII). The communication initiative was created to expand IRS’ efforts to increase information safeguards and awareness regarding Agency use of taxpayer and employee SSNs. SSN outreach IRS continues to publish internal communication to encourage the elimination or masking of unnecessary SSNs in systems, forms, letters, and notices. As a result, each department analyzed all outgoing correspondence to identify opportunities where SSNs could be masked or eliminated. Ongoing communication will continue as the SSN ER program evolves. The IRS began using barcodes with embedded SSNs on notices mailed to taxpayers to protect taxpayers' PII.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/identitytheft › is someone inside the irs filing fake tax returns with stolen ssns?
r/IdentityTheft on Reddit: Is Someone Inside the IRS Filing Fake Tax Returns With Stolen SSNs?
April 24, 2025 -
This is the second year in a row that someone has used my Social Security number and name to report income under an employer I’ve never worked for. In 2023, I discovered an unexpected income entry on my W-2 wage and earnings statement, a company I had no connection with. I contacted the company and the local police, and after reviewing their records, they confirmed I was never employed there. What’s worse, someone had already filed a tax return using my information and was expecting a refund of over $12,000.
When I spoke with the IRS, they explained that only employers can issue W-2s. But since the police confirmed it wasn’t the company, it raises serious concerns about where the false data originated, possibly even from within the IRS.
Now, while filing my 2024 taxes, I found another unauthorized income, this time over $121,000!!!!! from a completely unknown employer.
I’ve reported both incidents to identitytheft.gov, spoken with the IRS, the Social Security Administration, and the local police, and I’ve also frozen my credit. But honestly, this is incredibly frustrating and concerning!
Has anyone else experienced something like this?
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Only employers can legitimately issues W-2s. But this is not legit. So it could be somebody in the IRS. It could also be anybody else too.
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Make sure you lock down everything, not just the big 3 credit freezes. And put up fraud alerts too, there's a sticky on this sub if you haven't already seen it. If you don't get anywhere and this keeps happening talk to an identity theft attorney, your house rep, and/or possibly even your state's attorney generals office. Good luck.
Forbes
forbes.com › sites › robertwood › 2016 › 04 › 13 › irs-admits-it-encourages-illegals-to-steal-social-security-numbers-for-taxes
IRS Admits It Encourages Illegals To Steal Social Security Numbers For Taxes
December 16, 2020 - In fact, he said that the IRS actually had an interest in helping the illegal immigrants to crook these rules. In fairness, perhaps it's just the 'that's not my department' response that abounds in big government. Perhaps this just isn't the IRS's problem, but it sure seems odd to have any agency chief encouraging illegal immigrant theft of SSNs.
TurboTax
turbotax.intuit.com › tax-tips › security › identity-theft-what-to-do-if-someone-has-already-filed-taxes-using-your-social-security-number › L4NBQHSM2
Identity Theft: What to Do if Someone Has Already Filed Taxes Using Your Social Security Number - TurboTax Tax Tips & Videos
June 25, 2026 - When you discover another a tax return has been filed with your Social Security number, you’ll use IRS Form 14039 to alert the IRS. When you complete this form, you’ll indicate that someone has stolen your identity and it has affected your ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r › IRS › comments › 1rhlyxi › stolen_ssn
Stolen SSN : r/IRS
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Internal Revenue Service
irs.gov › newsroom › national-tax-security-awareness-week-day-4-irs-security-summit-warns-business-owners-about-being-targets-for-identity-thieves
National Tax Security Awareness Week, Day 4: IRS, Security Summit warns business owners about being targets for identity thieves | Internal Revenue Service
An e-filed return is rejected because of a duplicate EIN or SSN is already on file with the IRS. An unexpected receipt of a tax transcript or IRS notice that doesn't correspond to anything submitted by the filer. Failure to receive expected and routine correspondence from the IRS because the ...
IRS
irs.gov › pub › irs-news › fs-17-04.pdf pdf
Media Relations Office Washington, D.C. Media Contact: 202.317.4000
Media Relations Office · Washington, D.C · Media Contact: 202.317.4000 · www.IRS.gov/newsroom · Public Contact: 800.829.1040 · Identity Theft Information for Tax Professionals · FS-2017-4, March 2017 · Tax professionals play a critical role in assisting clients, both individuals and businesses, who are victims of · tax-related identity theft. The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry are working to prevent and detect · identity theft as well as reduce the time it takes to resolve these cases
FTC Consumer Advice
consumer.ftc.gov › consumer-alerts › 2025 › 02 › did-someone-use-your-ssn-file-taxes-heres-what-do
Did someone use your SSN to file taxes? Here’s what to do | Consumer Advice
February 20, 2025 - Now, if the IRS rejects the tax ... your name or they see income from an employer you know you don’t work for, that’s identity theft....
Bitdefender
bitdefender.com › en-us › blog › hotforsecurity › heres-what-you-need-to-do-if-someone-uses-your-ssn-to-file-taxes
Here’s what you need to do if someone uses your SSN to file taxes
February 26, 2025 - Complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, and submit it to the IRS with a copy of your valid government-issued ID. This officially alerts the IRS and allows them to investigate.