Stolen tax return

Earlier this year we were talking about how we file our taxes. I used the Free Fillable forms on the IRS website as I've done for the past few years. They are annoying, but free, and I feel strongly that I shouldn't have to pay to file my taxes. Well this year, I got an email message after I submitted, saying that a return had already been filed for that tax period for that SSN. There was information and links included, none of which was particularly helpful. I checked out the links, e-mailed, live chatted, and finally called. I was told I would have to file a paper return and that the IRS was seeing a huge number of fraudulent filings. So I filed a paper return (this was in Feb). I waited patiently for months, and then finally called in April to check on the status of my return. I was told that someone was doing something with my account, and to call again in three weeks if I hadn't heard anything. I called again in July (I was trying to be patient, and calling the IRS is very time-consuming and frustrating) and I was told that a refund check had been mailed to me in May. I was given info on the steps to take to have the matter researched.

I received a letter today with a copy of the check that had been cashed. It was really creepy! The check had been mailed to an address in GA (I live in MA). My name was signed on the back of the check (not my writing and not even spelled correctly). Below the signature was printed "pay to the order of Tevine S Evans" who is nobody I've ever heard of (and I'm not interested in protecting his/her privacy, so that's the real name). I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on how this would have happened? I don't think my computer was hacked because I do enough transactions online that I would expect to see lots of other issues. If someone actually filed under my SSN for the correct amount due to me, wouldn't that mean they had somehow seen my actual return - either an inside job at the IRS or access to the Free Fillable Forms?

I have forms to send in confirming that I did not cash the check and requesting that my refund be reissued, so I am proceeding with that. I've adjusted my withholding to minimize my return for next year, and I think I'll adjust further so that I'll owe the IRS a small amount and have no return forthcoming. I'm glad I'm not someone who had my return spent before I got it; it is earmarked for savings when it finally arrives!

Stolen tax return