Make sure your dad has the letter in front of him when he calls! The 5071C has a specific verification number he'll need to reference. Also, they'll ask for the exact amount of the refund claimed on the return (if applicable). When I went through this, they asked me to confirm: - My full name and SSN - Address on the return - Filing status - Dependents' names and SSNs - Specific income amounts from W-2s - Last year's AGI

One more tip for your dad - if possible, have him practice saying the key numbers out loud beforehand. When I helped my grandmother with her 5071C call, we went through her SSN, AGI, and refund amount several times so she felt more confident pronouncing the numbers clearly over the phone. Also, if he gets confused during the call, it's totally okay to ask the agent to repeat a question or speak more slowly. The IRS agents are used to working with people who have language barriers and they're generally pretty accommodating. The most important thing is that he has all his documents organized and doesn't rush through the answers. The whole process usually takes about 15-20 minutes once he gets connected to an agent, so it's not as long or scary as it seems!

I'm dealing with almost the exact same timeline as you! Filed 1/28, accepted 1/30, and got hit with that same 570 code. The waiting game is absolutely brutal, especially when you're checking your transcript multiple times a day hoping for any movement. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the key is figuring out whether you actually need identity verification or if you're just stuck in the general review queue. Since you mentioned talking to 3 different reps with 3 different stories, that unfortunately seems par for the course with the IRS phone support. One thing that's helped me stay (somewhat) sane is setting a specific day each week to check my transcript instead of daily - the constant checking was driving me crazy and nothing ever changes that quickly anyway. Have you checked your IRS online account to see if there are any action items or notifications there? Sometimes that shows identity verification requests before the letters arrive. Really hoping both of us see some movement soon - this waiting is exhausting!

I'm going through something very similar and your rollercoaster analogy is spot on! Filed 1/24, accepted 1/27, and got the 570 code with a 3/3 date. It's been almost two weeks of checking my transcript obsessively. From what I've learned lurking in these forums and talking to a few people who've been through this, the 570 code is basically the IRS saying "hold up, we need to take a closer look." The frustrating part is that "random review" can mean so many different things - income verification, education credit review, or even just their system flagging something that looks unusual. One thing that's helped me is understanding that if you truly needed identity verification, you'd typically get a specific letter (the 5071C that others mentioned) and there would be clear instructions. Since you haven't gotten that yet, you're probably just in the waiting game like the rest of us. I know it's easier said than done, but try not to drive yourself crazy with the daily checking. I've started limiting myself to checking twice a week max. The processing times have been brutal this year - I've seen people wait 6-10 weeks for resolution on these random reviews. Hang in there!

Has anyone had success with reasonable cause abatement specifically for medical issues? I'm curious how detailed the medical documentation needs to be. Do they want actual medical records or just a doctor's letter?

Based on my experience helping clients with penalty abatements, your strategy of trying first-time abatement first is solid. You can absolutely submit a second Form 843 for reasonable cause if the FTA is denied - there's no restriction on multiple attempts using different abatement theories. One thing to consider: since you have both a potential FTA qualification AND a strong reasonable cause argument (medical situation), you might want to mention both briefly on your initial Form 843. In section 4, you could state something like "Requesting first-time penalty abatement as I have no penalties in the prior three years. Additionally, I experienced a serious knee injury requiring surgery that significantly limited my mobility during the filing period." This way, if the IRS agent reviewing your case sees any issue with your FTA eligibility, they can immediately consider your reasonable cause without requiring a second submission. The medical documentation you mentioned would only be needed if they specifically request it or if you end up filing a dedicated reasonable cause request later. The only real downside to your sequential approach is time - but given that you have a legitimate reasonable cause backup, there's no harm in trying the simpler FTA route first.

I filed 3/25 and my transcript updated this morning with a DDD of 4/8, so that'll be 14 days total. I claimed EIC too, so I was surprised it moved so quickly. I think they're catching up on the backlog from earlier in the season.

Filed 3/29 here and still showing "received" on WMR. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like there's really no rhyme or reason to the timing this year! Some getting it in 8 days, others taking the full 21. I have a pretty straightforward return - just W-2 and standard deduction, no kids or credits - so hopefully I'll be on the faster side. Thanks for sharing your timelines everyone, it helps to know I'm not the only one obsessively checking every morning!

wait we're supposed to check our transcripts? where do you even do that lol

This is such a relief to hear! I've been seeing so many horror stories about 971 codes that I automatically assumed the worst when mine appeared yesterday. Thanks for sharing the positive outcome - gives me hope that mine might just be a routine adjustment too. Did you get any indication on your transcript about what caused the increase?