Imagine discovering that a criminal has already filed a tax return in your name and pocketed your refund. That's the annual nightmare for a growing number of American taxpayers — and untangling it can be agonizing.

According to the

latest report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), tax-related identity theft cases take an average of about two years to close. Most of that time is spent in administrative purgatory waiting for help to become available.

Staffing shortages further compound the situation. Last year, the IRS lost nearly 300 trained identity theft assistors to the

Deferred Resignation Program alone, part of broader workforce cuts by the Trump administration that shrank the

federal tax agency by nearly 30,000 workers .

With fewer agents available to help untangle fraudulent filings, taking proactive steps is essential.…