2023 Taxes Letter 2645C - Timeline & Third Party Verification Process

The IRS verification process has changed significantly in recent years. What you're experiencing with Letter 2645C is part of their expanded verification system to combat identity theft and tax fraud. The third-party verification you mentioned is their Field Verification process. While frustrating, it's actually a good sign they're taking this route rather than a full audit. The Field Verification team contacts employers to confirm your employment history and income amounts rather than requiring you to provide additional documentation. These extended timelines are unfortunately common now. While they quote 60 days initially, the actual processing time nearly always extends to 120+ days due to backlog. Their systems automatically generate the "we need more time" letters at 60-day intervals. My advice? Set up online access to your IRS account if you haven't already at IRS.gov - sometimes you can see updates there before receiving official mail. Also, make sure your address is current with the IRS, as any mail issues will further delay the process.

After dealing with the exact same issue last year, I found a service called taxr.ai that helped me understand exactly what was happening with my return. I was also stuck in verification hell with multiple 2645C letters. I uploaded my letters and tax documents to https://taxr.ai and their system analyzed everything and explained precisely what was triggering the verification and how long it would typically take based on thousands of similar cases. It gave me estimates that were WAY more accurate than what the IRS told me (like you, they kept saying 60 days when it was really 120+). The service also identified that one of my 1099s had a discrepancy that was likely causing the extended verification. I was able to contact that client and get it corrected, which seemed to speed things up considerably.

I just wanted to update everyone. After seeing the comment about taxr.ai, I decided to try it myself since I was in the same situation with multiple 2645C letters and approaching 5 months of waiting. The analysis showed that my verification was likely triggered by a substantial increase in business income compared to previous years plus claiming the home office deduction for the first time. The timeline estimate was surprisingly specific - it predicted 147-163 days total processing time based on current IRS workloads for my specific type of verification. What really helped was the detailed explanation of the third-party verification process. Knowing exactly what was happening and why made the wait less stressful. They also provided documentation templates I could use if I needed to follow up with the IRS. My refund was finally deposited yesterday - exactly 156 days after filing, right within their predicted window. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

I was in this same situation last year and wasted WEEKS trying to get through to anyone at the IRS who could actually help. After my fifth attempt waiting on hold for 3+ hours only to get disconnected, I found Claimyr at https://claimyr.com - there's even a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, their system navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you once they get a live person on the line. I was skeptical, but when I got connected to an actual IRS agent within minutes of getting their call, I was sold. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly why my return was flagged (one of my contractors submitted a 1099 with a typo in the amount) and gave me a much more accurate timeline than the letters. They also noted in my file that I had called about the delay which sometimes helps expedite things.

I need to update my earlier skepticism about Claimyr. After another frustrating week of trying to reach the IRS myself about my 2645C verification letter, I decided to try the service despite my doubts. I was genuinely shocked when I received a call back in about 3 hours connecting me directly to an IRS representative. They didn't "skip the line" like I wrongly assumed - they just handled the waiting part. The IRS agent I spoke with was actually really helpful. She explained that my return was flagged because I had received an early distribution from my 401k that triggered additional verification. She also told me exactly which stage of verification my return was in and gave me a much more accurate timeline (5-6 more weeks) than the generic letter. What I found most valuable was getting confirmation that my return wasn't lost in the system or forgotten. Just knowing where things stood and having a more realistic timeline made a huge difference for my peace of mind.

One thing I learned during my verification process last year is to check the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool daily. In my case, it updated to "refund approved" status before I received any resolution letter in the mail. The online status went from "still processing" to "refund approved" on day 132 after filing, and the deposit hit my account 3 days later. The actual letter stating my verification was complete didn't arrive until almost 2 weeks after that. Also worth noting that in my case, the amount of my refund changed slightly (about $120 less than what I calculated). The IRS made a small adjustment but didn't require any additional information from me.

Has anybody had success contacting their Congressional representative about this? I've been waiting 6 months on my 2023 return with multiple 2645C letters, and I'm considering reaching out to my Congressman's office for help.

Thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience with Letter 2645C! I'm currently in month 3 of this same verification process and your timeline information is incredibly helpful. I received my first 2645C letter in February and just got the "we need another 60 days" letter last week. Like you, I was initially told it would be 60 days, but after reading your post I called the IRS again and confirmed they actually need 120+ days for the third-party field verification. The most frustrating part is the lack of transparency about what's actually happening. The IRS representatives I've spoken with couldn't tell me much beyond "your return is in verification" but your explanation about the third-party company physically visiting employers makes so much sense. I'm definitely going to set up online access to track any updates, and I really appreciate you mentioning that you'll continue posting updates. There's such a lack of real-world timeline information for this process - most people just disappear from forums once their issue is resolved. One question: did the IRS give you any indication of what specifically triggered your verification? I'm trying to figure out if it was income changes, certain deductions, or just random selection.

Thank you for creating such a comprehensive post about the 2645C verification process! As someone who went through this nightmare last year, I can confirm everything you've shared matches my experience exactly. I filed in January 2024 and didn't get my refund until August - nearly 7 months later. Like you, I kept getting those misleading "60 day" letters when it was actually 120+ days each time. The worst part was the complete lack of communication about what was actually happening. What I found most helpful was keeping a detailed log of every call I made, including date, time, representative name, and what they told me. The information was often inconsistent between different reps, but having that record helped me track the actual progression of my case. One thing I'd add for anyone reading this: if you're in a genuine financial hardship situation because of the delayed refund, you can request expedited processing through the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They won't speed up the third-party verification itself, but they can sometimes help prioritize your case once the verification is complete. Also, make sure to file your 2024 taxes on time even if your 2023 return is still processing. The delays are completely separate and filing late will just create more problems. Really appreciate you sharing the realistic timeline expectations - so many people need to see this information!