Can I verify my identity in person without receiving my IRS verification letter?

Yes, you can verify your identity in person at a local Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) without the letter. You'll need to bring multiple forms of identification such as a valid government-issued photo ID, Social Security card or ITIN letter, and additional documentation to confirm your identity and address. I recommend calling the IRS appointment line at 844-545-5640 to schedule an appointment specifically for identity verification, as walk-ins may not be accommodated depending on your location.

I went through exactly the same thing last month! Called the regular IRS number 27 times over 4 days and couldn't get through. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in exactly 18 minutes. They confirmed I could make an in-person appointment without the letter and even scheduled it for me right then. Saved me at least 5-6 more days of frustration. The $24.99 was absolutely worth not having to redial for hours.

Thanks everyone. I'm running against an April 15th deadline for my quarterly business filings, and these verification delays are causing serious cash flow issues. I'll try calling for an appointment tomorrow morning. Just to confirm - I should bring my driver's license, social security card, and copies of my pending returns?

This verification issue is actually more common than you'd think. My brother-in-law had the same problem but with his stimulus payment verification last year. He lives in an apartment complex where mail gets mixed up constantly. When he went in person, they asked for his driver's license, social security card, and a utility bill dated within 90 days. The process took about 35 minutes once he was seen, compared to the 6-8 week timeline they quoted for resolving it by phone/mail. Just be prepared for a potentially long wait at the TAC office - his appointment was at 10am but he wasn't seen until 11:20.

After going through this exact nightmare last year, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me understand what was happening with my account. It analyzes your tax transcript and explains all the verification codes and holds in plain English. Once I got access to my account after in-person verification, I used it to understand why my refund was delayed and what the verification process did to my timeline. Saved me so much stress trying to decode IRS jargon.

If you can't get an in-person appointment quickly, try contacting your local Taxpayer Advocate Service. I had a similar issue last February and they were able to help expedite the verification process when I explained it was affecting my business operations. Called on a Tuesday, had a callback Thursday, and was verified by the following Monday. Completely free service that's designed exactly for these bureaucratic roadblocks.

I work at a tax prep office and see this identity verification issue constantly during tax season. Here's what I tell clients: Yes, you can absolutely verify in person without the letter, but call ahead to confirm your local TAC office handles identity verification (not all do). Bring your driver's license, Social Security card, and a recent bank statement or utility bill. Pro tip: if you have a passport, bring that too as it counts as both photo ID and citizenship proof. Also, ask specifically for Form 4506-T when you go - this lets you request your own tax transcripts which can help speed up processing of your business returns once verification is complete. The wait times are brutal right now (2-3 hours typical), so bring snacks and patience.