IRS delays after ID thefts 'unconscionable,' watchdog says. Here are 3 ways to protect yourself

(NEXSTAR) – A new tax season is nearly here, and with it an opportunity for identity thieves to take advantage of taxpayers.

On Wednesday, Erin M. Collins, the IRS national taxpayer advocate, issued a report calling the agency's delays in responding to identity-theft cases "unconscionable."

The report found that nearly half a million taxpayers were impacted by the delays in 2023, a situation made worse by the IRS reassigning identity-theft case workers during the filing season, Collins said.

The current average time to resolve such cases is two years, a time frame Collins urges the IRS to reduce to 90 days or less.

So what can taxpayers do to protect themselves in 2025?

Don't wait until the last minute

Massive online security breaches are a common occurrence, so assuming that one's personal information is potentially in the hands of bad actors can help keep your identity safe.

Thieves will get to work once tax season starts, so tax attorney Adam Brewer recommends getting returns in as early as possible to block anyone who might try to file a fraudulent return in your name.

"Don't wait until April 15. Don't wait till October 15. Get your return in, and then no one else can file after it," Brewer said. "The other way to do it is file electronically, because you could file the first week of February, but if you file by paper it might sit there for a couple weeks, couple months even."

Take advantage of the IRS pin

The IRS provides an identity protection pin to help taxpayers safeguard their identities.

The six-digit number is known only by the taxpayer and the IRS and keeps thieves from filing a return using that person's Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number.

Previous victims of identity theft will be mailed a new pin number each year, but taxpayers can proactively request one from the IRS.

Make sure to file, even if not required

Even if you aren't required to file taxes, you may still want to just to block someone from doing so in your name.

"Let's say a Social Security recipient, they're under the filing threshold, or someone else that just has low, low income, they may not file a return and that leaves the door open," Brewer said. "So even if they don't have a filing requirement, they're leaving the door open for a fraudster to come in and file a return."

What to do after one's ID is stolen

While there's unfortunately no easy way to speed up the recovery process, Brewer says, there are some things you can do after someone files under your name, or your dependant's name.

"A lot of times, if there's a fraudulent refund that was issued out, IRS may ask for something like a police report," Brewer told Nexstar. "They never really go anywhere, but a lot of times it's just a step that you can take to kind of bolster your claim to the IRS and say 'Look, someone did actually steal my ID.'"

Brewer added that once someone fraudulently files electronically, you won't be able to file using the same method.

"Go ahead and get that paper return submitted by USPS and send it certified as quickly as you can," Brewer said.

To file an identity-theft affidavit with the IRS, open a support ticket or get a personal pin number, see the agency's website.