Boyfriend's Identity Verification Disappeared in 10 Minutes - Did It Work?

Yes, it's generally a good sign when the verification notification disappears quickly. According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification), once you successfully complete identity verification, the system removes the notification and your return continues processing normally. For most taxpayers, the return will resume processing within 9 weeks, though many see movement much sooner. I'd recommend he continue checking his account transcript (not just WMR) at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript as it will show more detailed updates than the WMR tool.

I had to verify my identity last year and I was SO nervous about it! I printed out every possible document I could think of (3 years of tax returns, birth certificate, social security card, driver's license, passport, utility bills, blood type, star sign... kidding on those last two 😂). But seriously, when my verification notification disappeared quickly like your boyfriend's, it actually did mean everything went through fine. My return was processed about 3 weeks later. But I did notice that my transcript updated before WMR did - is he checking his transcript too? Just wondering if I did something right for once...?

I've observed this same pattern with several clients this tax season. Per Internal Revenue Manual 25.23.2, rapid removal of the verification notice generally indicates successful automated verification. The IRS implemented enhanced verification protocols for TY2023 returns, particularly for first-time verifiers, but their system improvements have significantly reduced processing delays compared to previous years. In my professional experience, approximately 92% of taxpayers who report this quick notification removal experience normal processing timeframes without additional verification steps.

If you want absolute certainty, I'd recommend calling the IRS directly to confirm the verification status. I tried calling about my verification last month and spent exactly 127 minutes on hold before giving up. Then I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through to an agent in exactly 17 minutes who confirmed my verification was complete. For something as important as tuition money, the $20 I spent was totally worth knowing for sure rather than guessing and stressing for weeks.

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but verification isn't always as simple as it seems. It's like when your car's check engine light goes off - sometimes the problem is fixed, sometimes the bulb just burned out. I had my verification notice disappear quickly last year, thought everything was fine, then got a CP05 letter 6 weeks later requesting MORE verification documents. By that point, I'd already made financial plans assuming my refund was coming. Cost me a pretty penny in late fees and interest because I was counting chickens before they hatched.

I completed my verification on February 17th this year, and like your boyfriend, the notification disappeared almost immediately. My return was fully processed and the refund hit my account on March 4th. The system seems to be working much better this year than in previous tax seasons. If he verified through ID.me (which is what the IRS uses), and that verification was accepted, you should be in good shape for summer tuition planning.

As someone who went through identity verification last year, I can relate to the anxiety! The quick disappearance of the notification is definitely promising. In my experience, the IRS system has become much more efficient - when verification goes smoothly, it really does process that fast. One thing I'd suggest is setting up an IRS account online if your boyfriend hasn't already. You can check his account transcript there, which updates more frequently than Where's My Refund and gives you a clearer picture of what's happening behind the scenes. The transcript will show codes that indicate where his return is in the process. Also, just to manage expectations for summer tuition - even with successful verification, refunds can still take 3-6 weeks to process completely. It might be worth having a backup plan just in case, but based on what you've described, things sound like they're moving in the right direction!