Fill Out IRS Form 14039 Online
Identity Theft Affidavit
Internal Revenue Service
Reports tax-related identity theft to the IRS when someone has fraudulently used your Social Security number.
Reviewed July 2026
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IRS Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit, is how taxpayers tell the IRS that someone has used their Social Security number or a dependent's number for tax fraud, most commonly to file a fraudulent return claiming a refund. Filing it starts the IRS process of verifying your identity and cleaning up your tax account.
You can fill out Form 14039 in the Universal PDF editor and download the completed PDF to mail, fax, or attach to a paper return as the instructions direct. The IRS also offers an online submission option and accepts reports routed through the Federal Trade Commission.
What is Form 14039 used for
Form 14039 reports tax-related identity theft to the IRS. Typical triggers include an e-filed return being rejected because a return already exists under your Social Security number, IRS notices about income you never earned, a tax transcript you did not request, or an EIN assigned to you without an application.
Once the IRS receives the affidavit, it verifies your identity, works to remove the fraudulent return from your account, and typically places a special marker on your account. Confirmed victims are generally enrolled to receive an Identity Protection PIN, a six-digit code issued each year that prevents others from filing with your number.
Who needs to file Form 14039
File Form 14039 if you are a victim of tax-related identity theft and the IRS has not already contacted you about it. You can also file on behalf of a dependent whose Social Security number or ITIN was used on someone else's return without permission.
In most cases taxpayers do not need this form. If the IRS sent you Letter 5071C, 4883C, or 5747C, follow the verification steps in that letter instead of filing the affidavit, and identity theft that does not involve taxes, such as fraudulent credit accounts, is handled through the FTC rather than the IRS.
How to fill out Form 14039
The affidavit collects who was affected, what happened, and how the IRS can reach you.
- Section A: indicate whether the affidavit is for you or for another person, such as a dependent.
- Section B: check the box describing your situation and explain what happened, including how you discovered the identity theft.
- Personal information: provide the affected person's name, taxpayer identification number, current mailing address, and prior address if it changed recently.
- Contact details: list a telephone number and the best time to reach you.
- Sign and date the affidavit; if you are filing for someone else, complete the section describing your relationship and authority.
Frequently asked questions
You can submit it online through the IRS website, mail or fax the completed PDF using the addresses in the instructions, or report through the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, which transmits the affidavit to the IRS electronically. If your e-filed return was rejected, attach the form to your paper return.
No. Those letters mean the IRS already flagged a suspicious return, so follow the identity verification instructions in the letter instead.
The IRS verifies your identity, investigates, and removes the fraudulent return from your account. Your account typically receives a marker, and confirmed victims are generally issued an Identity Protection PIN each year.
It is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a federal return with your Social Security number. A new PIN is generated every year, and any taxpayer can request one proactively through the IRS online tool.
Yes. The form includes an option to file on behalf of another person, such as a dependent whose number was used on a return without permission.
Yes. File a paper return with Form 14039 attached so your legitimate return is processed while the IRS investigates.
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