I just went through this process 3 weeks ago and can confirm - you do NOT need to call back after completing online verification! I was in the exact same situation as you. Got the 5071C letter, completed the ID.me verification online, and spent days worrying if I needed to take additional steps. My refund showed up exactly 10 days later without any further action on my part. The confusion your friend experienced might be because some people receive different types of verification letters or have issues during the online process that require follow-up. But if your online verification went smoothly and you received a confirmation, you're all set. The IRS systems are actually pretty good at updating automatically once you complete the required verification steps. Don't overthink it - follow exactly what your letter says and nothing more. The online verification through the letter is designed to be a complete solution, not just the first step in a longer process.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to find this thread! I'm currently in the exact same situation - received my 5071C letter yesterday and completed the online ID.me verification this morning. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. It sounds like the consensus is pretty clear: if you successfully complete the online verification through the letter, you're done and don't need to call back. The confusion seems to stem from different types of verification letters and processes, but for the standard 5071C letter with online verification, no additional steps are required. I'm going to follow the advice here and resist the urge to call the IRS just to double-check. Based on the timeline shared by others, I should expect to see my refund processed within the next 9-14 days. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating these confusing IRS processes!

I'm surprised nobody mentioned this, but you might want to check if you reported the transactions on the wrong form. This happened to me - I reported stock sales on Schedule D but forgot to include Form 8949, so the IRS computer thought I hadn't reported them at all. When I called and explained this to the IRS agent, they checked my return and confirmed the income was actually there, just not on the correct form. They adjusted the proposed assessment significantly because I had reported most of the income, just not in the right place. Another common issue is when brokerages report gross proceeds but don't report basis to the IRS. So the IRS thinks the entire sale amount is profit when in reality you might have only gained a small amount or even had a loss.

Dylan, I went through almost the exact same situation last year! Got a CP2000 notice about unreported investment income that I received weeks after the deadline due to mail forwarding issues. The stress was overwhelming, but it worked out fine. Here's what I learned: The IRS is actually pretty reasonable about late responses when you have a legitimate excuse like mail forwarding delays. When you call (and definitely call ASAP), be honest about the mail situation and mention that you're a teacher who was traveling for work. They document everything and will likely grant you an extension. Before you pay anything, get your hands on Form 1099-B from whatever brokerage sent the report to the IRS. The CP2000 notice should list the payer name. In my case, I had sold some inherited stock but only reported the sale price, not realizing I needed to also show my stepped-up basis. The IRS thought I had a $8,000 capital gain when my actual gain was only $400. Also, don't feel bad about being new to this - tax law is incredibly complex and even experienced people make mistakes. The fact that you're addressing it promptly (even though it feels late) shows you're handling it responsibly. You've got this!

I'm wondering... did they tell you specifically what triggered the verification requirement? Was it something about your business filing that might have raised a flag? I'm asking because I may be in a similar situation and want to prepare myself for what might be coming.

I had nearly the identical situation last year with my small business return. Verified in person, then nothing for weeks. I kept checking online and calling with no updates. Turns out there was a secondary review happening that nobody told me about. When I finally got through to someone, they said my return was flagged for a "business rule exception" that required manual review after the identity verification. By the time I found this out, it had already been resolved, but I wasted so much time and stress not knowing. Document everything from your visit and be prepared for a longer wait than they tell you.

Coming back to the original question - I'm on day 31 of waiting for my refund. E-filed on February 3rd, still stuck in processing. Called IRS (finally got through after multiple attempts) and they said my return was selected for "random review" but couldn't give me a timeframe. Super frustrating when you're counting on that money!

I'm in week 5 of waiting and getting really anxious about it. Filed through H&R Block on January 28th, expecting about $2,800 back. The "Where's My Refund" tool has been saying the same thing for three weeks now - just "still processing." Reading through these comments, it sounds like there are actually some tools that might help figure out what's going on rather than just waiting indefinitely. Has anyone else tried multiple approaches? I'm torn between just being patient (since it seems like delays are normal this year) versus being more proactive about finding out if there's an actual issue with my return. Also seeing mixed experiences with calling the IRS - some people get through and get helpful info, others waste hours trying. Would love to hear more about what's worked for people in similar situations.

Hi Anthony! Without being able to see the specific document or notice you're referring to, I can offer some general guidance. If you're expecting a tax refund, you can check your refund status using the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS website or by calling the automated refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. You'll need your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount. If you're waiting for other IRS payments (like stimulus payments or tax credits), those have their own tracking systems. Could you share what type of payment you're expecting? That would help us give you more specific guidance on where to check your status.