but you also put your i.p. p.i.n. on it. that way if the i.r.s. gets a return that doesn't have the p.i.n., they won't process it. they know that that's either from the thief or you forgot your p.i.n. if you put it on, they'll know it's from you and you won't be burdened yet again by that identity theft because your rush will go through and they will stop -- return will go through and stop the others. in your case because the fraud didn't happen in the tax system it happened outside the tax system with the banks, you need to call the i.r.s., if you haven't already. sometimes that system doesn't work. sometimes returns, before you had an i.p. p.i.n. and they are held up. in that case i recommend you come to the taxpayer advocate service f you are in ohio we have several offices in ohio. cleveland, cincinnati. and they will take your case and work with you and stay with you through the whole thing until we get this all figured out. i'm so sorry you are having to go through this. host: nina is the i.r.s. national taxpayer advocate. she founded -- exec