What to do if your tax return was rejected for being “duplicate”
There are several reasons why your tax return may be rejected, for example if it is “duplicated”. Here is what needs to be done if it happens to you.
The 2024 tax season in the United States is about to come to an end. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began receiving and processing the tax returns of millions of taxpayers, with in relation to fiscal year 2023, on 29 January. The deadline to get all your paperwork done and submitted, including the payment of any taxes outstanding, is Monday 15 April 2024.
That said, if you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you still have time to do so, either the traditional way or online, with the help of tax preparation software. If you use the latter, verify every piece of information you provide, as the system may reject your declaration for different reasons, including “duplication.”
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What does it mean if your return has been “duplicated”?
Without a doubt, a duplicate declaration is not a good sign for any taxpayer. This can only mean two things, that you misspelled your Social Security number (SSN) or, the most feared reason: you’ve been the victim of identity theft.
Being in this position can trigger panic in anyone. However, you have to keep a cool head. Here, we explain what to do if your tax return has been duplicated and your Social Security number is correct.
What to do if your tax return was rejected for being “duplicate”
According to experts from financial advisor The Motley Fool, the first action to take is to verify all your bank accounts to rule out any fraudulent activity. It is also recommended to check your credit history or report, not to be confused with a credit score, to confirm that your identity has not been used to open new bank accounts. Every year at AnnualCreditReport.com you can request one free credit report from each of the three main credit agencies—Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
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The next step will be to put a freeze on your credit to prevent someone else from trying to create a new account in your name. Then, you will have to inform the IRS that you’ve been the victim of identity theft. To do this, you need to file an Identity Theft Affidavit before the federal agency in charge of tax collection. For more information, contact 800-908-4490.
You will also want to visit IdentityTheft.gov. This is a government website that allows users “to report identity theft and get a recovery plan.” This service is offered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), an agency set up to protect the country’s consumers. You can also get in touch with the FTC over the phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338); TTY 1-866-653-4261.