Use this order
- Confirm the filer. Read the issuer name and contact information in the “Filer” area of the form.
- Check whether you recognize the account or platform. Look for an old account, transferred asset, sale, exchange, or other disposition before concluding the form is unrelated to you.
- Ask the issuer to review it. State that you do not recognize the reported activity and identify the exact form, tax year and transaction or amount at issue.
- Preserve evidence. Keep the original form, account records, screenshots or exports, and every message exchanged with the issuer.
- Do not wait indefinitely to file. The IRS specifically says not to wait to file your taxes while the issuer review is pending. If the form remains unresolved, get qualified tax help for your specific filing facts.
Generate an issuer review request
Use the free builder to create a calm, specific message asking the filer to review the form. It does not claim the form is automatically wrong.
If the form is yours but the activity looks unfamiliar
A Form 1099-DA can reflect dispositions beyond a simple cash sale, including exchanging one digital asset for another or using digital assets for property, goods, services, or certain broker transaction costs. Compare the form with the broker’s transaction history before treating it as an account you never used.
If you do not recognize the account or activity at all
An unexpected information return does not automatically prove identity theft. But an account or activity you did not create or authorize is a warning sign worth investigating. Secure the relevant account, use the issuer’s official security/support process, and review the IRS identity-theft guide. The IRS notes that most people do not need Form 14039 unless the situation is tax-related or the IRS instructs them to use it.
What not to do
- Do not enter made-up cost basis or transactions just to force the numbers to match.
- Do not send private keys, seed phrases, passwords, or full Social Security numbers through ordinary support messages.
- Do not contact the IRS expecting it to correct the broker’s Form 1099-DA; the IRS says the issuer must correct the form.
- Do not assume an unexpected form means you owe tax on the gross proceeds shown.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I got a 1099-DA but never traded crypto?
Contact the issuer immediately, keep the form and correspondence, and do not wait to file your taxes. Those are the IRS’s current issuer-first steps.
Should I contact the IRS to correct a 1099-DA?
No. The IRS says it cannot correct Form 1099-DA. Ask the filer for a corrected form when information is wrong.
Does an unexpected 1099-DA automatically mean identity theft?
No. First verify the issuer and activity. If you also find an account or transactions you did not create or authorize, follow the issuer’s security process and review the IRS identity-theft guidance.