You may have received a letter from the IRS asking you to verify your identity after filing a tax return.
These letters are sent by the IRS to prevent identity thieves from getting your refund.
When do you need to verify your identity?
The most common situations when you are required to verify your identity with the IRS are when you receive one of the following letters:
- Letter 5071C
- Letter 5747C
- Letter 6331C
- Letter 5447C
Note that the IRS does not send such letters by email. You should only respond to an IRS letter that you receive via U.S. mail.
While the letter may state that you must respond within 30 days, the IRS states on the verification line that they will work with you regardless of the number of days that have passed.
First, gather your supporting documents
You’ll need to gather the following:
- Photo ID (e.g., driver’s license or state ID)
- Your 5071C letter, 5747C letter, 5447C letter, or 6331C letter
- The income tax return (form 1040,1040-PR, 1040-NR, 1040-SR, etc.) for the year shown on the letter
- A copy of a previous year return other than the year in the letter if you filed one
Second, verify your identification
There are three ways to verify your identity with the IRS.
You can verify it online, by phone, or by visiting your local IRS office (appointment required).
Online ID verification
Online is the quickest and easiest way to verify your identity.
Visit the IRS' identity verification service.
Other ways to verify your identity
If you aren’t able to verify our identity online or don’t have the required documentation, you’ll have to contact the IRS using the toll-free number listed on the letter.
If you can’t verify online call us at XXX-XXX-XXXX between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time.
TIP: It is recommended that you try the online option first, as hold times on the phone can be long.
If the IRS can’t verify your identity over the phone or online, the IRS phone rep may ask you to schedule an appointment at your local IRS office to verify your identity in person.
Third, wait for your return to process
After you’ve successfully verified your identification, the IRS will continue processing your return. It can take up to nine weeks to process.
Been verified my IDME. After approved and verified, they had me call the IRS and told me it takes 9 weeks. By any chance can this process be less the 9 weeks to receive your funds or take longer?
Actually 9 weeks isn’t bad with the backlog they have. The only way I believe you might, and I mean a big might, is to call your local taxpayer advocate and tell them how bad you are struggling financially and need the money.
Have you received it yet? Was wondering if so…I had to do the same thing and just the 04/25/22 show’s processing now. I verified myself back in 03/21/22.
Hopefully yours have came in by now
How long did it take for you to receive your refund after you successfully ID’d yourself?
Are you still waiting on last year’s refund too?
Yes
Yes
If you are still waiting and do the where’s my refund and don’t see it as being received at least call the IRS number, ends in 1040, cause they are actually answering now within 15-20 minutes.
I’ had been calling for week’s then I accidently hit the wrong number from the prompts and what do u know a live person answered . I was completely in shock but anyways .This is what u gotta do , when the voice ask u to make ur selections always press the number for payments .It turns out if they think u owe them money they answer .
Thank you for your input on how to talk to them
Cab in send a copy of my id
I did the same thing and it worked
They wait is 30-60 minutes but it worked for me too.
Yes, you are absolutely 💯% right.. then they will transfer you to a live rep.. caring is sharing and sharing is caring ❤️
LoL, Murphy’s law at work. You get where you want to go by accident…
Thank you for the tip on how to get an actual person on the phone at the IRS.