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I feel obligated to mention a cautionary note regarding verification timelines. Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.9.1.3, identity verification should be processed within 9 weeks, but I've observed numerous cases where this timeline was exceeded without notification to the taxpayer. In one particularly concerning case from last tax season, a client submitted verification on February 3rd and received no updates until May 27th - nearly 16 weeks later. The IRS cited "exceptional processing circumstances" but provided no further explanation. According to Taxpayer Advocate Service Report 2023-1, approximately 18% of verification cases exceed standard processing times. I strongly recommend documenting all verification submission dates and following up proactively if the 9-week mark passes without resolution.
Thank you for sharing your timeline, Diego! As a fellow military family member, I completely understand the frustration of waiting on government processes. From what I've been reading in various tax forums and based on conversations with others who've gone through ID verification this season, your February 17th submission date puts you right in the thick of peak verification season. The IRS verification department seems to be processing in waves, and many people who submitted in mid-to-late February are just now starting to see movement. I'd suggest checking your online account transcript (if you haven't set one up yet) rather than relying solely on WMR - it tends to update faster and gives you more detailed information about where your return stands in the process. From what I've observed, once verification clears, the actual refund processing moves pretty quickly. Hoping you see some positive movement soon!
I may have some relevant information to share. My verification was completed on February 20th, and I received my refund on March 8th, which was approximately 16 days later. It seems the timeframe might be somewhat consistent based on what others have shared here. I checked my transcript every few days and noticed the 846 code appeared about 3 days before the deposit hit my account. I believe the system follows a fairly standard process unless there are additional complications with your return.
Based on everyone's experiences here, it looks like you're right in the normal timeframe window. I completed ID verification on February 25th and got my refund on March 15th - exactly 18 days later. The key thing I learned is that patience is really your only option during this phase. The IRS systems seem to process post-verification returns in batches, which explains why some people get theirs in 9 days while others wait the full 21. Since you're at day 15 and documented everything so well, I'd suggest checking your transcript one more time for any new codes, then waiting about 5-6 more days before calling. The fact that you completed verification online and got confirmation is a good sign - it means you're definitely in the queue.
Tax person here - some practical advice on statute of limitations: 1) Federal: 3 years normally, 6 years if you omit >25% of income, unlimited if fraud or no return filed when required 2) States vary widely! Some follow federal rules, others have different timeframes entirely 3) The "no requirement to file" situation: Technically true that there's no violation if you weren't required to file. BUT proving that years later can be challenging without documentation 4) Documentation is key - keep records of income for at least 7 years, especially for cash/1099 work 5) If you get notices like OP did, ALWAYS respond and keep copies of all correspondence The most practical approach is to file simple returns even when below thresholds, just for the paper trail. It's easier than explaining yourself years later.
Is there a downside to filing when you don't need to? Like could it trigger audits or other issues? I'm in a similar situation to OP and wondering if I should start filing my state returns even though I'm under the threshold.
There's virtually no downside to filing when you don't need to. It won't increase your audit risk - in fact, filing a return that shows very low income is extremely unlikely to trigger an audit since there's little tax revenue at stake. For state returns specifically, it can actually prevent problems. Many states have automated systems that flag taxpayers who filed federal returns but not state returns. By filing a state return (even showing zero tax), you avoid these automatic flags and the notices that follow. It's much easier to file a simple return than to respond to notices and explain why you didn't file. Think of it as preventative documentation.
This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat with state taxes - been under the filing threshold for a few years but always worried about getting notices. After reading everyone's experiences, I think I'm going to start filing simple returns even when not required, just for the documentation. The peace of mind seems worth the small effort, especially after hearing about people successfully using services like taxr.ai to get proper documentation of their filing requirements. One question for the tax professionals here - if I start filing now for previous years where I was under the threshold, is there any specific way I should note on the return that I'm filing voluntarily? Or do I just file normally and let the low income speak for itself? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with the various services too. It's reassuring to know there are options if I ever need to get through to the IRS or state tax office quickly.
I made the terrible mistake of not reporting a $2,200 freelance job on my 2022 taxes because I forgot I got a 1099 for it (it was literally one project). Got a letter from the IRS six months later saying I owed an additional $680 in taxes plus a $127 penalty. The worst part was sweating for weeks wondering if this would trigger a full audit where they'd go through everything!! Thankfully it didn't, but I now triple-check all my 1099s against my bank deposits before filing.
Great post! As someone who's been through an audit, I can confirm these red flags are spot on. One thing I'd add is the importance of keeping contemporaneous records - not just receipts, but actual documentation of when and why expenses occurred. I learned the hard way that you can't just reconstruct your records if you get audited. The IRS wants to see that you were tracking things as they happened, not piecing together a story months later. For business meals, I now write the business purpose and who attended right on the receipt when I pay. Also, if you're claiming education expenses or continuing education for your profession, make sure it's directly related to your current job, not training for a completely different career. That's another area where they look closely at the legitimacy of deductions.
Eli Wang
Is it weird that I issue 1099-NECs to myself? I have an LLC and was told I should be doing this, but now I'm wondering if that's what caused the confusion.
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Caleb Stone
โขIf your LLC is a single-member LLC that hasn't elected to be taxed as an S-Corp or C-Corp, then you typically shouldn't be issuing yourself a 1099-NEC. Since a single-member LLC is a disregarded entity for tax purposes, it's essentially the same as a sole proprietorship, and you don't issue 1099s to yourself in that case. You would only issue a 1099-NEC to yourself if you have two separate business entities, and one is paying the other for services. For example, if you have a Corporation that pays you personally as an independent contractor (though even this arrangement can be questioned by the IRS). Who advised you to issue yourself a 1099-NEC? It might be worth consulting with a different tax professional to make sure you're handling things correctly.
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Eli Wang
โขOh man, I think I've been doing this wrong then. I have a single-member LLC and my previous accountant told me to issue 1099s to myself. Sounds like I need a new accountant! Thanks for the clarification - I'll definitely be looking into this more.
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Dylan Evans
Just wanted to add my experience here - I had a very similar CP2100A notice situation last year. The key thing that helped me was being very specific in my response letter about exactly what the IRS claimed was wrong versus what I actually submitted. In your letter, I'd recommend starting with something like "I am responding to CP2100A notice dated [date] regarding 1099-NEC for tax year [year]. The notice indicates discrepancies in the name and TIN, however, the enclosed copy shows the information was correctly reported as follows: [list the correct name and TIN exactly as they appear on your form]." Also, make sure to include your EIN or SSN at the top of your response letter, not just on the copies of the forms. This helps them match your response to the right account faster. The whole process took about 6-8 weeks for them to acknowledge and correct in my case, so don't panic if you don't hear back immediately. One last tip - if you have your e-filing confirmation or any other proof that shows when and how you submitted the original form, include a copy of that too. It helps establish that the error occurred after you submitted everything correctly.
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