Waiting for that verification letter is like watching paint dry while your house is on fire. I've been through this three times in the last five years. The first time, I waited patiently for the letter (big mistake). The second time, I called immediately and got it resolved in one day. The third time, I tried the online verification without the letter and it worked perfectly. The IRS verification system is like a maze where they keep moving the cheese - sometimes you need the letter, sometimes you don't. Try the online route first, then call if that fails. Just don't sit around waiting for a letter that might take weeks to arrive or get lost in the mail.

OMG I had this EXACT same issue last month! Filed Feb 1st, got the verify notice on the 15th. I freaked out bc I needed my refund ASAP for rent. Didn't wait for any letter - just went to irs.gov/verify and did the whole ID.me thing. Had to upload my ID and do a video selfie thing. Kinda weird tbh but it worked! My return started processing again literally that same day. Got my $$$ about 10 days later. Don't wait for that letter - try online first! Def worth a shot, right?

Here's another approach you might consider: 1. Try the Tax Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They can sometimes intervene in cases of hardship. 2. Document everything - dates, times, who you spoke with, what they told you. 3. Check if your state has a local Taxpayer Advocate office you can contact directly. 4. If you have documentation proving financial hardship (like eviction notice, utility shutoff, etc.), mention this specifically. 5. Contact your Congressional representative's office - they often have staff dedicated to helping constituents with federal agencies. The key is persistence and documentation of your attempts to resolve this through normal channels.

I had exactly this problem in March 2023. Called the verification line 17 times over 3 days without getting through. Finally reached someone who told me I needed an in-person appointment that was 42 days away. I explained I was facing a mortgage approval deadline in 21 days that required my tax transcript. The agent gave me a direct number to the Taxpayer Protection Program at 800-830-5215, which is different than the standard verification line. Called at exactly 7:01am when they opened, waited 38 minutes, and was able to verify over the phone. The key was explaining the specific financial hardship and asking for the TPP department specifically.

I actually went through this exact process last year! I had an amended return from 2022 that was stuck in processing for almost 7 months while I was facing possible eviction. I reached out to my congresswoman's office in desperation, and honestly, I was shocked at how helpful they were. They had me fill out a privacy release form and provide documentation of my hardship (eviction notice, past due bills, etc.). Their constituent services person submitted an inquiry to the IRS Congressional Liaison office, which has special channels for handling these requests. My amended return was processed within 3 weeks after that! One thing to note - they won't help with regular returns that are just a bit delayed. There needs to be a genuine hardship AND the return needs to be well beyond normal processing times.

Have you considered the potential downside of involving your representative? Could drawing additional attention to your return trigger a more thorough review or even an audit? I've been waiting 9 months for my amended return and am facing similar hardships, but I'm hesitant to rock the boat. Has anyone experienced negative consequences from this approach?

Word of caution! I had a 570 code last year and assumed it would resolve on its own. After 45 days with no change, I finally called and discovered they needed verification documents from me. The notice had gotten lost in the mail, and I had no idea. If your 570 goes beyond 3 weeks: • Check if there's a 971 code (notice issued) • Call to confirm if they need anything from you • Check your mail carefully • Verify your address is correct on the return Don't be like me and lose 2 months of waiting time!

The 570-to-846 timeline is much faster now than it was during the pandemic years. In 2021, my 570 took almost 4 months to resolve because of the backlog. Last year, it took 19 days. This year, I've seen friends get their 846 codes in as little as 10 days after a 570. The IRS has cleared most of their processing backlog compared to previous years, so the current wait times are much more reasonable than what you might read about in older posts.

Maryland Comptroller's office is experiencing precisely 43% longer processing times this year according to their March 15th press release. Average processing time has increased from 12.4 days to 17.8 days for electronic filers with direct deposit. Paper returns are taking 28-35 days minimum. I'd recommend checking if you have any credits that might trigger additional review - particularly the earned income credit or education credits.

I've filed in both Maryland and Virginia for years, and Maryland is consistently slower. This year is exceptionally bad though - my Virginia return was processed in 6 days while Maryland took 22 days. If your return includes any credits or deductions that aren't straightforward W2 income, it's likely going through additional verification. Last year my neighbor had a similar delay and it turned out someone had attempted to file fraudulently using his info before his legitimate return was submitted.

I was SO NERVOUS about mailing my identity documents! Planned everything meticulously - made high-quality copies, used certified mail with tracking, kept copies of EVERYTHING, and even took photos of the sealed envelope before sending! The process took 7 weeks exactly, but my refund arrived safely. The peace of mind from doing it right was worth the extra effort!

Just went through this in March. Here's what you need to know: • Use CERTIFIED mail with tracking - non-negotiable • Send COPIES only, never originals • Include your case/letter number on EVERY page • Keep copies of everything you send • Expect 6-8 weeks minimum processing time • Check WMR tool weekly, not daily (wastes time) • Don't bother calling regular IRS lines - agents can't access verification status

I would... cautiously suggest... checking with each state's offset program separately. The Federal Treasury Offset Program might indicate a federal offset is coming, but it may not have complete information about state-level actions. Perhaps consider contacting each state's revenue department directly to inquire about potential offsets. While not guaranteed to be accurate, this approach might provide some clarity regarding which returns could be affected.

Last year I had NY take my entire refund for an old utility bill I didn't even know about, but my NJ refund came through fine even though I had the same address for both! My federal was partially offset - they took about 80% of it. The weird thing was that I got the NY offset notice a full month AFTER they'd already taken the money. I was budgeting based on getting all three refunds and it completely messed up my plans. Now I always assume the worst and treat any potential refund as a surprise bonus rather than counting on it for my budget.

Did you send it certified mail? With tracking? Always important with tax documents. Especially amended returns. Gives you proof of delivery. Peace of mind matters too. Have you checked your transcript online? Sometimes shows pending amendments.

You might want to consider submitting Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service Application) if this is causing financial hardship or if your PCS timeline creates special circumstances. The Taxpayer Advocate can sometimes expedite processing when there are compelling reasons. The normal 20-week processing timeframe might be problematic with your military relocation timeline.

After my identity verification in March, I received my refund exactly 31 days later. The key indicator was the Transaction Code 570 (additional account action pending) followed by TC 571 (resolved additional account action) on my transcript. Many filers don't realize that the verification process has specific codes that indicate progress. Once you see TC 571 followed by TC 846 (refund issued), you're in the final stage. The IRS processing pipeline has specific verification resolution teams that work these cases in batches, typically processing them in 2-week cycles.

I verified my identity on February 23rd, 2024. My transcript showed no updates until March 15th. Refund was issued on March 22nd. The IRS representative I spoke with on March 10th confirmed my verification was approved on February 28th, but it took 15 more days to appear on my transcript. Your experience matches the typical pattern this tax season - verification approval takes 3-5 days internally, but transcript updates take 3-4 weeks, and refund issuance takes another 7-10 days after transcript updates.

I tracked my timeline precisely because I was in the exact same situation: - Mailed 2022 return: January 17th, 2024 - IRS received (per tracking): January 20th, 2024 - 2022 return processed (per transcript): March 5th (45 days later) - Filed 2024 return electronically: March 6th - 2024 return accepted: March 6th (same day) - 2024 refund direct deposited: March 27th (21 days after e-filing) Total time from mailing prior year return to receiving current year refund: exactly 70 days. I checked my transcript exactly 17 times during this process. The key indicator was seeing the 2022 return finally appear on my transcript with a 150 transaction code.

Ugh, went thru this last yr and it was a PITA tbh. Sent my 2021 taxes in Feb, waited FOREVER (like 9 wks), then finally got the ok to file 2023. But here's what rly helped - I sent the old return CERTIFIED mail w/ tracking so I could prove when IRS got it. Also printed "PRIOR YEAR RETURN - PROCESS IMMEDIATELY" in red on the envelope. Dunno if that actually did anything but my tax guy recommended it lol. Also don't waste ur time calling the regular IRS # cause you'll just get the "high call volume" BS and get disconnected. If u need to check status, try calling right when they open at 7am EST or try the tax advocate line instead.