CP05A Letter After Multiple 60-Day Reviews - Transcript Shows 570 and 971 Codes

You need to act quickly on this. The CP05A letter means the IRS is reviewing your return for accuracy, but needs additional information. I received one on March 12th, 2024 and had to respond by April 2nd, 2024. The 570 code means they've frozen your refund, and the 971 codes indicate notices sent. Check the dates on those transcript codes - they'll tell you exactly when the notices were issued. Don't wait for more letters - this could drag on for months if you don't address it immediately!

I went through this exact situation last year. Look into taxr.ai to help you understand your transcript better. I used it and it explained what each code meant for my specific situation. It told me exactly what the 570/971 combination meant and what to expect next. The site doesn't ask for personal info - just helps interpret what's on your transcript. Saved me a lot of confusion.

I can share what worked for me when I got a CP05A this past January! Step 1: I gathered EVERYTHING - not just what they asked for. All income documents, receipts, prior year returns. Step 2: I created a detailed cover letter explaining each document and how it answered their questions. Step 3: I made copies of everything and sent it certified mail with return receipt. Step 4: I called the number on the letter exactly 3 weeks after sending to confirm receipt. My refund was released 14 days later! I was so relieved after stressing for months. Make sure you're extremely thorough - they're looking for ANY inconsistency.

How many days have you been waiting exactly? I'm curious because I've seen CP05A processing times vary from exactly 45 days to exactly 120 days. Have you tried calling the IRS? I used Claimyr.com to get through to an agent in about 17 minutes when I was dealing with a similar situation. They connected me directly to an IRS rep who could see exactly what was flagged on my account. Saved me hours of hold time and the agent was able to tell me exactly what they were reviewing.

Okay so I've been through this whole ordeal and can tell you exactly what's happening (with a little tax humor to keep us sane 😅). The CP05A is basically the IRS saying "we need to verify some info before we send your money." The 570 code freezes your refund, and each 971 represents a notice they've sent you. Here's what you need to do: 1. Call the EXACT number on your CP05A letter 2. Ask specifically what information they still need 3. Send EVERYTHING via certified mail with a detailed cover letter 4. Keep copies of EVERYTHING 5. Follow up every 2 weeks The good news is that once they clear this, they'll usually pay interest on your delayed refund. So you'll get a little bonus for your trouble! I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - made me feel less alone during my 4-month wait last year.

Got the same letter in February. Still waiting. Been 87 days now. Called multiple times. Different answers each time. One agent said income verification. Another said random audit. Third said identity verification again. It's maddening. Sent in all documents twice. No resolution yet. Keep following up weekly.

I'm dealing with a CP05A right now too and it's been such a stressful experience! Mine came after 3 months of waiting and multiple 60-day letters. What I've learned from calling the IRS directly is that the CP05A often means they're doing a final review of specific line items on your return - usually business expenses or income verification. One thing that helped me was requesting a case transcript (different from your regular transcript) by calling the practitioner priority line. It shows exactly what flags were raised and what specific documentation they need. Also, when you send your response, include a point-by-point explanation addressing each item they questioned rather than just sending a pile of documents. The waiting is absolutely brutal for cash flow, but hang in there! Most CP05A cases I've read about get resolved within 60-90 days once you send the requested info. Make sure to send everything certified mail and keep detailed records of all your communications with them.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation and it's been incredibly frustrating! I received my CP05A letter about 6 weeks ago after months of waiting and multiple review letters. What's been driving me crazy is that every time I call, I get different information about what they need or what's causing the delay. One thing I found helpful was keeping a detailed log of every phone call - date, time, agent name (if they give it), and exactly what they told me. This helped me track the inconsistencies and when I mentioned this to a supervisor, they were able to give me more specific guidance. I also learned that you can request to speak with a Tax Examining Technician who is actually reviewing your case rather than just a customer service rep. They have access to more detailed notes about what specifically triggered the review. The cash flow impact is real - I've had to delay some business investments because of this uncertainty. But reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope that it will eventually resolve. Has anyone had success with requesting expedited processing due to financial hardship?

I'm going through something very similar right now and it's been absolutely exhausting! I received my CP05A about 3 weeks ago after waiting since February with multiple 60-day letters. My transcript shows the same codes - 570 followed by two 971s. What I've learned from calling repeatedly is that the CP05A typically means they need to verify specific items before releasing your refund, but the frustrating part is they often can't tell you exactly what until you get through to the right department. I finally got connected to someone in the Exam unit who explained that my business expense deductions were flagged for verification. One tip that helped me: when you call, ask specifically for your "case notes" to be read to you. Sometimes there are internal notes about what triggered the review that aren't obvious from just the letter. Also, I sent my response with a detailed spreadsheet matching each receipt to the corresponding expense line on my return - this seemed to help them process it faster. The cash flow stress is real, especially for small businesses. I've had to put several purchases on hold while waiting for this to resolve. But based on what others have shared here, it sounds like most cases do get resolved once you provide the right documentation. Hang in there!

I'm dealing with a CP05A situation right now too and it's been such a rollercoaster of emotions! I received mine about 5 weeks ago after filing in January and going through the whole identity verification process in February. Like many of you, I've gotten those dreaded 60-day letters multiple times, and my transcript shows the same 570 and 971 codes. What's been particularly challenging for me is that I'm a freelancer, so this delayed refund represents a significant portion of my expected cash flow for the year. I've had to take on some additional client work just to cover expenses while waiting for this to resolve. One thing I discovered that might help others here: when I called the IRS, I asked them to email me a summary of our conversation (some agents can do this if you request it). This helped me keep better track of what different agents told me and gave me something concrete to reference in follow-up calls. I also started recording the direct phone numbers that agents gave me for callbacks - sometimes these bypass the main queue. The stress and uncertainty is definitely taking a toll, but reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel less alone in this process. It's reassuring to know that most of these cases do eventually get resolved, even when it feels like you're stuck in an endless loop of reviews and requests for documentation.

I'm going through this exact nightmare right now and honestly, it's such a relief to find this thread and know I'm not alone! I got my CP05A letter about 4 weeks ago after filing in early February and dealing with multiple 60-day review letters. My transcript also shows the 570 code with two 971 codes following it. What's been driving me absolutely crazy is that I've sent them everything they've asked for - twice! - and I still can't get a straight answer about what's causing the delay. I called last week and the agent told me my case was "under review" but couldn't give me any specifics about what they were actually reviewing or how much longer it might take. The financial stress is real. I run a small consulting business and was counting on that refund to cover some equipment purchases and business expenses. Now I'm having to carefully manage cash flow and delay investments while this drags on. Reading everyone's strategies here is incredibly helpful though. I'm definitely going to try calling back and asking for my case notes to be read to me, and I love the idea of creating a detailed spreadsheet matching receipts to expense lines. I'll also start keeping a log of every call like some of you suggested. Has anyone had success with calling early in the morning vs later in the day? I'm wondering if there are better times to get through to agents who might have more detailed information about your specific case.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I received my CP05A letter about 2 weeks ago after filing in late January. Like many of you, I went through identity verification in February and have been getting those frustrating 60-day letters ever since. My transcript shows the same pattern - 570 code followed by multiple 971 codes. What's particularly stressful for me is that I'm a small business owner and was planning to use part of my refund to pay quarterly estimated taxes that are due soon. The uncertainty around timing is making it really difficult to plan my business finances. I've already sent in all the documentation they requested, but reading everyone's experiences here, I think I need to be more proactive about following up. I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning and specifically ask for my case notes to be read to me - that seems like such a smart approach that I never would have thought of on my own. The tip about creating a detailed spreadsheet matching receipts to specific expense lines is brilliant too. I just sent everything in one big packet, but I can see how organizing it more systematically would make the examiner's job easier. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and strategies. It's reassuring to know that most of these cases do eventually get resolved, even though the waiting and uncertainty is incredibly stressful. I'll make sure to update this thread when I hear back from the IRS!

I'm also going through this exact situation right now and it's been such a stressful ordeal! I received my CP05A letter about 3 weeks ago after filing in February and dealing with multiple 60-day review letters. My transcript shows the same 570 and 971 codes that everyone else is mentioning. What's been most frustrating for me is that I've called multiple times and gotten completely different explanations each time - one agent said it was income verification, another said random audit selection, and a third couldn't even tell me what was being reviewed. The inconsistency is maddening when you're trying to figure out what documentation to send. I'm a single parent running a small home-based business, so this delayed refund is really impacting my ability to cover childcare costs and business expenses. I was counting on that money to get caught up on some bills and invest in my business growth. Reading all of your strategies here has been incredibly helpful though! I had no idea I could request case notes to be read to me or ask for a Tax Examining Technician specifically. I'm definitely going to try calling early tomorrow morning and use some of these approaches. The spreadsheet idea matching receipts to specific expense lines is genius - I just sent everything in a big envelope hoping they'd figure it out. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and making me feel less alone in this process. It's reassuring to know that most cases do eventually get resolved, even though the waiting is absolutely brutal. I'll keep you all updated on my progress!

I'm currently dealing with a CP05A letter myself and this thread has been incredibly valuable! I received mine about 6 weeks ago after filing in January and going through the usual identity verification process. Like so many of you, my transcript shows the 570 code with multiple 971 codes. What struck me most reading everyone's experiences is how the lack of clear communication from the IRS creates so much additional stress. I've called three times and gotten three different explanations - business expense verification, income matching, and "routine review." It's exhausting not knowing what they actually want. I'm implementing several strategies I've learned here: I started keeping detailed logs of every phone call (wish I'd done this from the beginning!), and I'm planning to call early tomorrow morning specifically requesting to speak with a Tax Examining Technician and asking for my case notes to be read aloud. The tip about organizing documentation with a detailed spreadsheet is brilliant - I initially just sent everything in one package. For those asking about timing, I've had slightly better luck calling between 8-9 AM on weekdays. The agents seem less rushed and more willing to dig into specifics. The financial stress is real for all of us, but reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that persistence eventually pays off. Thank you all for sharing your strategies and making this feel less isolating!