Called IRS for verification but nothing shows on transcripts or 'Where's My Refund' - anyone else experiencing this?

I've seen this happen before. The IRS systems don't always sync up properly. Since you've already called and they confirmed you need to verify, you should follow whatever verification process they told you rather than waiting for the online systems to update. There are a few possibilities: • The IRS representative might be looking at more current information than what's showing in your online account • There could be a delay in your specific verification letter being generated • Sometimes the Where's My Refund tool doesn't update correctly when there's a verification hold • The agent might have placed the verification requirement during your call Most importantly - did they give you specific instructions on how to verify? Did they mention ID.me verification or did they say you need to send in documents? The verification process can take different forms depending on what they're trying to confirm.

I was in basically the same situation a few months ago - called IRS, told I needed verification, but nothing on transcripts or WMR. After weeks of frustration, I found taxr.ai which actually explained my situation clearly when the IRS couldn't. It analyzed my transcript, explained what was happening behind the scenes, and gave me the exact steps to resolve it. Saved me so much time and stress! The tool even predicted when my refund would come through (and was eerily accurate). https://taxr.ai really recommend checking it out instead of trying to guess what's happening.

After weeks of hearing nothing from the IRS and seeing no updates, I finally got through to a real person using claimyr.com. Game changer! Instead of waiting 3+ hours on hold, they got me a callback with an agent who actually fixed my exact issue. The agent confirmed there was a verification hold that wasn't showing online yet and processed it while I was on the phone. My transcript updated 2 days later and refund came a week after that. Honestly it was the best money I've ever spent to get my questions answered directly by an IRS agent instead of guessing.

The IRS is a joke. I had the exact same thing happen - they tell you one thing on the phone but the systems show something completely different. I ended up having to visit a local office in person to get it sorted out. If that's an option for you, I'd recommend it. They were actually helpful face-to-face.

You can also try calling the Tax Advocate Service. They sometimes have more visibility into what's happening with your return and might be able to push things along if the regular IRS channels aren't working.

Heres my experience - same thing happened to me filed in Feb. I waited 6 weeks for a "letter" that never came. Turns out there was a mismatch between my W2 and what my employer reported. But instead of the IRS telling me that, they just put my return in limbo. I finaly got through to them and they fixed it over the phone. My refund came 2 weeks later with no letter ever ariving. The most ridculous part was the IRS knew exactly what the problem was but wouldn't tell me unless I waited on hold for 2 hours to speak to a human.

Heads up - check if your employer filed your W-2 correctly. Mine had transposed two digits in my SSN which caused this exact situation. The online systems didn't update because technically my return couldn't be fully processed until the mismatch was resolved.

omg this is happening to me right now!! exactly the same - they said i need to verify identity but nothing shows on WMR or transcripts. its been 13 weeks since i filed and still nothing. did you get any resolution??

Check if maybe you have a letter sent to an old address? That happened to my buddy last year - he moved and even though he updated his address with USPS, the IRS was still sending his verification letter to his old place.

The inconsistency between what IRS reps tell you, what shows on Where's My Refund, and what appears in transcripts is THE most frustrating thing I've ever experienced. Last year I was told three completely different things by three different reps. You're definitely not alone in this.

I've been staring at blank transcripts for 5 months now 🥲 Called multiple times and keep getting different answers. Latest rep told me I'm "in the errors department" whatever that means. Still waiting for this magical letter that will apparently solve everything!

I actually went through something similar and found out there was an identity verification hold, but it wasn't showing up anywhere online. I finally got through to someone at the IRS who was able to help me verify over the phone instead of waiting for a letter. My refund was processed within 2 weeks after that. Keep calling until you get someone helpful - not all agents are created equal!

Im a tax preparer and see this ALL THE TIME. The IRS computer systems are ancient and don't talk to each other properly. The WMR tool is notoriously unreliable. Their internal systems can show verification requirements that don't appear on transcripts or WMR for weeks. If two separate agents told you that you need to verify, I'd take that information as accurate even if its not showing up online.

My sister works for the IRS (not giving tax advice, just sharing what she's told me). Apparently they have a huge backlog of verification letters that haven't even been generated yet. The system flags accounts for verification, but the actual letters are coming out weeks or even months later due to staffing issues. So you might be in this weird limbo where your account is flagged internally but nothing is showing up yet externally.

When did you file your taxes? I'm wondering if this might be related to a certain batch of returns. I filed on March 21st and am having the exact same issue.

Try checking your account transcript instead of your return transcript. Sometimes verification issues show up there first with a specific transaction code. Look for TC 570 or TC 971 with notice codes.

Did you file with a tax preparer or DIY? Sometimes tax prep software has its own verification process that's separate from the IRS verification, which can cause confusion.

This is so frustrating and unfortunately more common than it should be. The IRS internal systems often flag accounts for verification before the external systems (transcripts, WMR) are updated to reflect this. I went through something similar last year where agents kept telling me I needed to verify but I had zero documentation of this anywhere online. A few things that might help: • When you call again, ask the agent for the specific verification method they need (ID.me, documents by mail, phone verification, etc.) • Request they email you a summary of what was discussed or give you a confirmation number • Ask if there's a specific department or phone number for verification issues rather than the general line • Try calling the Practitioner Priority Service line if you know any tax professionals - they sometimes have better access to current account status The disconnect between what agents see and what taxpayers can access online is one of the biggest flaws in their system. Don't give up - keep calling until you get someone who can actually help you complete the verification process rather than just telling you to wait for a letter that may never come.