I think the safest approach might be to complete the online verification first, wait about a week, and then call to confirm it was properly received and processed. While some people don't need the follow-up call, many of us in this community have found that the call often speeds things up or resolves issues that would otherwise leave your refund in limbo. It's not ideal to spend time on the phone with the IRS, but it's probably worth it to avoid months of waiting and wondering.

Just to clarify - did your verification letter specifically mention ID.me for the online verification? And did it have a specific deadline for completing the verification? These details can actually indicate which verification pathway you're on and whether a follow-up call would be needed.

Have you considered what happens after the verification call is complete? Many taxpayers assume their refund will process immediately, but there's actually a systematic approach the IRS follows: 1. Your verification status must be updated in the Centralized Authorization File (CAF) system 2. Then it moves to the Return Review Program (RRP) for fraud screening 3. Finally, it enters normal processing in the Integrated Enterprise Return Processing system Each step typically takes 5-7 business days, which is why you might not see movement right away. Wouldn't it be more efficient if the IRS simply told us this upfront? I've been incredibly impressed with how detailed the community information has been compared to official IRS communications. The verification call is essential - I tracked 15 cases in my tax preparation practice this season, and every single client who verified online still needed the follow-up call.

I was in this exact situation on February 17th. Online verification completed, then nothing happened for two weeks. Called on March 3rd after seeing a post like yours, and the agent confirmed I needed the phone verification despite completing everything online. My refund was finally deposited on March 15th - exactly 12 days after the call. Would have saved me a month of waiting if they'd just made this clear from the beginning! I was counting on that money for some car repairs and ended up having to put them on a credit card while waiting. Not everyone has the budget flexibility to handle these kinds of delays.

I called exactly 17 times over 3 days trying to reach someone about my mom's rejected refund last month. Complete waste of 8 hours and 42 minutes of my life! Finally figured out a workaround - called the tax form ordering line at 800-829-3676 at precisely 7:01am, waited 4 minutes, then asked to be transferred to accounts management. Got through in exactly 12 minutes total. The person I spoke with explained the rejection was due to an identity verification issue from a previous address change. Took 22 minutes to resolve once I reached someone. My mom's refund was deposited 9 days later.

Have you considered what specific type of rejection occurred? E-file rejections (where the return wasn't accepted) are handled differently than refund rejections (where the return was accepted but the refund was later denied). For e-file rejections, you often don't need to call at all - the tax software should provide the specific error code and resolution steps. For refund rejections, the Practitioner Priority Service at 866-860-4259 can sometimes be accessed if you can convince them you're calling on behalf of a client. Not technically allowed for non-tax professionals, but when the system is broken, sometimes you need creative solutions, wouldn't you agree?

Tbh, the 9wk timeline is worst-case scenario. IRS reps always quote max times to CYA. If ur docs were all good at verification, you'll prob see movement in 7-10 days. Check ur transcript daily (usually updates Wed/Thurs overnight). Look for TC 570 (hold) being replaced by TC 571 (hold released) and then 846 (refund issued). DDD will be about 5-7 days after the 846 code appears. Don't stress the full 9wks - almost nobody waits that long post-verification.

I had to verify my identity exactly 47 days ago on March 21st, 2024. They also told me 9 weeks, but my transcript didn't update for 32 days. Then suddenly I got code 846 with a direct deposit date 5 days later. The entire verification process took exactly 37 days from appointment to money in my account. I checked my transcript exactly 3 times per day during this period. Be careful about making any financial commitments based on the expected refund date - I nearly missed my rent payment waiting.

For anyone experiencing blank transcripts, here's what typically works best: 1) First check your Return Transcript AND Account Transcript (they show different information) 2) Verify your e-file was actually accepted (not just submitted) 3) Wait at least 21 days before calling 4) When you call, specifically ask them to check for internal codes that might not be visible to you 5) Request they verify if your return is in ERS (Error Resolution System) The system often resolves itself, but a call can definitely trigger movement in some cases.

I had the exact same situation happen on February 3rd this year. My transcript was blank until March 15th, then suddenly updated with a direct deposit date of March 20th. The interesting thing is that I also called on March 12th, and three days later everything updated. Seems like there might be a connection between calling and sudden transcript updates. I was so relieved when it finally processed!