Report the theft to the IRS first, then to law enforcement
If someone has stolen your tax refund—whether they intercepted it by mail, claimed it fraudulently in your name, or took it after it arrived—you need to report it to the IRS and file a police report. The IRS has a dedicated fraud line and will flag your account to prevent future theft. Law enforcement creates an official record that you will need if the IRS asks for proof of the crime.
Do not wait to see if the money reappears. The sooner you report, the sooner the IRS can investigate and the sooner you can receive a replacement refund or a corrected tax return if someone filed in your name.
Key Takeaways
- Call the IRS Criminal Investigation hotline at 1-800-366-4484 to report refund theft directly to federal investigators.
- File a police report with your local law enforcement agency or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if the theft involved identity theft or online fraud.
- Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov if someone filed a false tax return in your name.
- Provide the IRS with your police report number when you contact them, as this speeds up their investigation.
- Request a replacement refund in writing once you have reported the theft; the IRS will reissue it by check or direct deposit depending on how it was originally stolen.
Contact the IRS Criminal Investigation division
The IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) division handles tax refund theft and identity theft cases. Call 1-800-366-4484 to report the theft. Have your Social Security number, the refund amount, and the date you expected to receive it ready when you call.
The IRS will ask you to describe exactly what happened: whether the refund was intercepted in the mail, deposited to an account you do not recognize, or claimed by someone who filed a fraudulent return in your name. Be as specific as possible about dates and amounts.
After you report, the IRS will place a fraud alert on your account and may freeze your refund if it has not yet been issued. If your refund was already stolen, the IRS will investigate and work toward reissuing it.
File a police report with local law enforcement or the FBI
Contact your local police department's non-emergency line and report the theft. You will need to provide your name, the refund amount, when it was supposed to arrive, and how it was stolen. Ask for a police report number; you will need this when you contact the IRS.
If the theft involved identity theft—someone filed a tax return in your name—you can also file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. The IC3 accepts reports of identity theft, tax fraud, and mail theft. Filing with the IC3 creates a federal record and helps law enforcement track patterns of tax refund fraud.
If your refund was stolen from the mail, you can also report mail theft to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at postalinspectors.uspis.gov or by calling 1-877-876-2541. Mail theft is a federal crime, and the Postal Inspection Service investigates these cases.
Report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission
If someone filed a tax return in your name to claim your refund, report the identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. This is a free, government-run site where you create an identity theft report. The FTC uses these reports to track fraud patterns and may share information with law enforcement.
The identity theft report you create at IdentityTheft.gov serves as proof of the crime and can be used when you contact your bank, credit card companies, or other financial institutions. You can also use it when communicating with the IRS about your stolen refund.
Provide documentation when you contact the IRS
When you call the IRS at 1-800-366-4484 or write to them about your stolen refund, have the following ready:
- Your police report number and the name of the police department that filed it
- Your identity theft report number from IdentityTheft.gov (if applicable)
- The refund amount and the tax year it was for
- The date you filed your return and the date you expected to receive the refund
- Proof of how the refund was stolen (a bank statement showing no deposit, a letter from your mail carrier, a credit card statement showing fraudulent activity, etc.)
The IRS may ask you to submit Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, if someone filed a fraudulent return in your name. This form tells the IRS that you did not file the return and that you are the victim of identity theft. You can download it from irs.gov or request it by phone.
Request a replacement refund in writing
After you have reported the theft to the IRS and law enforcement, send a written request to the IRS asking for a replacement refund. Include your police report number, your identity theft report number (if you filed one), and copies of any documentation proving the theft.
Mail your request to the IRS office that handles your area. You can find the correct address on irs.gov or by calling 1-800-829-1040. The IRS will review your case and either reissue the refund by check or direct deposit, depending on how it was originally stolen and how long the investigation takes.
Replacement refunds typically take 4 to 12 weeks after the IRS approves your request, though this varies depending on the complexity of the case and the current volume of fraud cases the IRS is handling.
Protect your account while the investigation is underway
While the IRS investigates your stolen refund, take steps to prevent future theft. Place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name.
You can also place a credit freeze, which prevents anyone from opening accounts in your name without your permission. A credit freeze is stronger than a fraud alert but requires you to unfreeze your credit when you want to open new accounts yourself.
Monitor your credit report for unauthorized accounts or inquiries. You can check your credit report for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com. If you see accounts you did not open, report them to the credit bureau and the creditor immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take the IRS to investigate a stolen refund?
The IRS does not publish a standard timeline for refund theft investigations. Most cases take 4 to 12 weeks from the time you report the theft, but complex cases involving identity theft can take longer. Call the IRS Criminal Investigation hotline at 1-800-366-4484 to ask about the status of your case.
What if my refund was deposited to someone else's bank account?
Report this to the IRS, your local police, and the bank where the deposit was made. The bank may be able to reverse the deposit or freeze the account. Provide the IRS with the bank name, account number (if you have it), and the date of the deposit. The IRS will investigate and work with the bank to recover the funds.
Can I get my refund back if the person who stole it already spent it?
Yes. The IRS will reissue your refund regardless of whether the stolen money has been spent. The criminal investigation is separate from your refund reissuance. You will receive your money back from the IRS; law enforcement will pursue the person who stole it.
Do I need to file a new tax return if someone filed one in my name?
No. If someone filed a fraudulent return in your name, do not file another return for that year. Contact the IRS first and report the identity theft. The IRS will investigate the fraudulent return and correct your account. Filing a second return will complicate the investigation.
What if I do not have a police report number yet?
Call your local police department and ask them to file a report for you. Provide them with the details of the theft and ask for a report number. You can then provide this number to the IRS. If local police will not file a report, file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov instead.