IRS has taken almost two years to assist tax identity theft victims get their refunds.

Attract more customers. Get ahead. And enjoy it all over and over. Erin Collins of Taxpayer Advocate Service attends a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington D.C. on May 19, 2021. Erin was speaking as national taxpayer advocate of Taxpayer Advocate Service; her testimony can be seen here: Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAlthough tax identity theft cases at IRS have increased, officials are working on “range of improvements” that should help speed service up; by April, they had nearly half a million unresolved identity theft cases that have not been addressed, up from 484,000 cases last September according to National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins reported last week. Identity theft victims have had to wait over 22 months and several weeks for resolution of tax identity theft; criminals use stolen personal data to file fraudulent tax returns to claim refunds from Uncle Sam. If a criminal files first, the IRS rejects and freezes their return indefinitely for investigation. Read More from Personal Finance: Romance scams cost people over $1.14 billion between 2023-2024. Experts deem fraud to be “insidious”, while experts also point out how using a “bucket strategy” could lower taxes in retirement and how best to utilize this strategy in 2025 Social Security cost of living adjustment could potentially drop significantly, according to multiple estimates; here is why; while waiting time continues. Collins reported in January that identity theft victims have been waiting 19 months for resolution and refunds due to Covid-19 shutdowns and pandemic relief, creating “significant hardship” among taxpayers – particularly lower earners – she wrote. Nearly 70% of cases involved taxpayers with adjusted gross income at or below 250% of federal poverty level (APIL). Identity theft cases are complex and time-consuming to resolve; however, with increased funding the IRS is better equipped than ever to respond more rapidly when such instances arise. On Tuesday they warned tax professionals and clients against identity thieves that may target both themselves or clients with identity theft schemes. Security threats against tax professionals and their sensitive taxpayer information continue to evolve rapidly, so keeping informed on current developments to best safeguard their business and clients is of utmost importance,” according to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel’s statement on Tuesday.