Absolutely no surprise here. My father-in-law passed away last Fall. When my Mother-in-law filed her taxes this year, the IRS notified her that a tax return had already been filed using his SS#.
IT took a rather long-roundabout journey and battle to get her taxes re-filed, along with a copy of his death certificate, and many calls to the IRS. Was a major pain.
Yet no word on any attempts to actually tack down who used his SS# (or how they got it). Where is all the news on prosecution of these criminals?
Its all because the IRS is more concerned with nailing the average “Joe” for incorrectly counting some mileage or depreciation, thus making him owe an extra $50 plus a couple hundred in interest and penalties... all while these frauds are ripping the IRS for $billions by simply filing fraudulent returns.
The very crime my deceased FIL was the victim of, is the exact “fix” the IRS supposedly implemented before returns began being processed this year... and what crashed their servers. More of that wonderfully ineffective government work.
I am sorry for your loss.