Not to be the bearer of bad news, but verification isn't always as simple as it seems. It's like when your car's check engine light goes off - sometimes the problem is fixed, sometimes the bulb just burned out. I had my verification notice disappear quickly last year, thought everything was fine, then got a CP05 letter 6 weeks later requesting MORE verification documents. By that point, I'd already made financial plans assuming my refund was coming. Cost me a pretty penny in late fees and interest because I was counting chickens before they hatched.

I completed my verification on February 17th this year, and like your boyfriend, the notification disappeared almost immediately. My return was fully processed and the refund hit my account on March 4th. The system seems to be working much better this year than in previous tax seasons. If he verified through ID.me (which is what the IRS uses), and that verification was accepted, you should be in good shape for summer tuition planning.

Have you considered that the verification might be related to something specific on your return? Sometimes it's not random but triggered by certain entries. In my case, it was because my address changed AND I claimed a tax credit I hadn't claimed before. The frustrating thing is that they don't tell you why you need verification, right? Just that you need it? Something else to try: check if your state tax agency has a reciprocal verification process with the IRS. In some states, if you verify your identity with the state tax authority, it can satisfy the federal requirement too. Might be worth looking into while you're waiting to get through on the phone.

According to IRS Procedural Regulation 201-08-15, taxpayers facing verification barriers have alternative options that many IRS representatives won't voluntarily disclose. You can request a Taxpayer Advocate Service Form 911 (Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order) if the verification delay is causing financial hardship - which it sounds like it is with your mother's medication needs. Additionally, you can contact your Congressional Representative's office. Each has staff dedicated to helping constituents with federal agency issues, including IRS problems. I've seen cases where a Congressional inquiry resolved verification issues within 48-72 hours when other methods failed. It's frustrating that we have to go to these lengths, but these are legitimate channels specifically established for situations like yours.

Calling the IRS absolutely can make a difference in these situations. Haven't you ever had an issue that was resolved simply because you brought attention to it? The IRS processes millions of returns, and sometimes yours just needs a human touch to move it along. I've personally had holds released within days after speaking with an agent who could see what was causing the delay. Isn't it worth trying rather than just waiting in the dark?

I think I might be able to help a bit... I went through this ID.me verification thing back in February. It took about 4 weeks after verification for my refund to be approved, which seems to be on the faster side from what I've heard. I would suggest checking your transcript every few days rather than WMR - the transcript updated for me a full week before WMR showed any change. Just be prepared for the possibility of additional verification if anything looks unusual on your return.

Based on your situation, here's what I would recommend: 1. Have you tried accessing your tax software account online? Most tax preparation software stores your returns and would show the refund amount. 2. If that's not possible, do you have access to your email? The confirmation email from when you filed would contain the refund amount. 3. If neither of those work, can someone at home access your paperwork and text you the information? 4. For amended returns specifically, did you keep a copy of your 1040-X form? That would show the revised refund amount. What tax software did you use to file? Some have better mobile apps than others for accessing this information while traveling.

I solved this exact problem last year! I'm the kind of person who makes copies of my copies (just in case 😂) but still managed to be stuck in a hotel room without access to my refund amount. The solution that worked for me: I called my tax preparer. If you used one, they'll have all your info on file. If you did it yourself, try logging into the tax software you used - they all save your returns online now. Failing that, check your bank statements from previous years. If you typically get similar refunds, you can make an educated guess based on last year's deposit. The IRS will usually accept an amount that's within a few dollars of the actual refund. And if all else fails, just wait until you get home. Amended returns take 16+ weeks to process anyway, so a few more days won't make much difference in the grand scheme of things!

Be careful! According to Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, certain types of transactions may be limited at financial institutions. On February 15th, I received my refund which was slightly over $10,000 and my bank placed a 7-day hold on it! According to section 31 CFR 1010.311, banks must file Currency Transaction Reports for transactions over $10,000, which can trigger additional scrutiny. This doesn't mean you won't get your money, but there could be a delay that you should prepare for!

I received exactly $11,247 as a tax refund in 2023. My bank has a $10,000 daily limit for certain transactions. The refund deposited without any issues. It took exactly 2 business days to fully clear, but I could access $5,525 immediately. The remaining $5,722 was available after the hold period. Different banks have different policies, but government direct deposits usually have preferred processing.

Your return is likely undergoing a Two-Factor Authentication (TFA) process that's separate from the IP PIN verification. The IRS implemented enhanced verification protocols in 2023 that can trigger multi-layered authentication requirements, especially for returns with international components. I recommend monitoring your transcript daily for Transaction Code 971, which indicates correspondence has been issued. Don't attempt preemptive verification through ID.me or the IRS identity verification service until specifically instructed, as this can further complicate processing.

I went through this exact nightmare scenario last month! Filed February 12th with my IP PIN, got the verification message on my transcript February 20th, and then nothing happened for weeks. Finally got letter 5071C on March 8th asking me to verify online. Completed that the same day, and my refund was approved exactly 9 days later. If you're on a tight timeline like I was (needed my refund for a medical procedure), just keep checking your mail daily. The frustrating part is you can't proactively verify - you have to wait for their specific instructions.

I received my paper check refund last Tuesday, exactly 7 calendar days after the issue date on my transcript. This was actually faster than the 9 days it took for my state tax refund check to arrive, and much faster than the 14 days it took when I had a similar situation in 2022. The USPS delivery performance seems to have improved compared to the pandemic years when mail was significantly delayed.

OMG I was literally just dealing with this last month! So frustrating! 😤 My check took NINE WHOLE DAYS to arrive after the mail date on my transcript. I was checking the mail every single day like a crazy person! I even downloaded the USPS Informed Delivery app so I could see scans of what was coming each day. That actually helped a lot with my anxiety about it. Might be worth trying if you're really worried about it!

Is your son's tax situation straightforward, or does he have any complicating factors? It's kind of like baking a cake - a simple vanilla cake (standard W-2 return) comes out of the oven faster than a complex layer cake with multiple ingredients (multiple income sources, credits, etc). Sometimes those extra ingredients can add days or even weeks to the processing time, even after verification.

I would say that, based on my somewhat extensive experience with post-verification processing, your son will likely see movement within approximately 10-14 days, assuming there are no additional complications. My most recent experience, which occurred in early March of this filing season, resulted in a refund exactly 12 days after verification was completed. It seems that the IRS has possibly improved their post-verification workflow this year, as previous years often took closer to the full 21 days that they typically quote as the maximum timeframe.

I had to verify my identity last tax season and thought I was in the clear afterward. Turns out there was another issue they didn't tell me about! My refund took 6 weeks after verification because they were reviewing a credit I claimed. I wish I'd followed up sooner. I kept assuming it was just slow processing, but when I finally got through to someone, they told me they needed additional documentation. Did they mention anything else they might need from you during your verification appointment?

I've been through the verification process three times over the years. In my experience, there's a pattern most don't realize. The time of year matters significantly. Early season verifications (January-February) typically process faster than mid-season (March-April). Last year, my February verification took 8 days for the refund to arrive. In 2019, my April verification took nearly 4 weeks. The system gets overwhelmed as tax season progresses. Don't count on the money until it's actually in your account.

Has anyone suggested updating your address with USPS to forward mail from your old address? I did this when I moved last year and it worked perfectly! The verification letter was forwarded to my new place without any issues. Saved me so much hassle and didn't cost anything. Did you file your taxes with your new address? Could this create other complications?

Military tax specialist here. For ID.me verification with address mismatch issues: • Military members can use their military ID + PCS orders as primary verification • You can request a "military exception" in the ID.me system by clicking "verify by video call" • The video agent can accept your military ID even with old address • If using the phone verification, mention Code 2501-M (military verification protocol) • Average processing time after military verification: 14-21 days Don't stress too much - this happens to about 30% of military filers after a PCS!