Different ID Verification Methods Causing Delays - Online vs Phone vs In-Person

You're absolutely right. I went through this last year and had to do the phone verification. Took me about 45 minutes on hold but got it done. This year my sister had to do the in-person verification and she's still waiting for her refund 3 weeks later. The method they assign you seems pretty random, but definitely impacts how quickly your return gets processed after verification.

I was confused about why my verification process was taking longer than my husband's until I used https://taxr.ai to analyze our letters. The tool explained that different verification codes on our notices indicated different risk assessment levels. My husband's online verification was a standard security check, while my in-person requirement suggested a higher scrutiny level. Have others noticed that certain tax situations trigger specific verification methods?

Been thru all 3 verification types over the yrs. Online = super quick, phone = annoying hold times, in-person = total nightmare w/ appointments. If u need to reach IRS quickly abt verification issues, try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). Got me thru to an agent in ~20 mins when the reg line had 2+ hr wait. They explained my verification was stuck in a weird status & fixed it while I was on the call. Def worth it when ur refund is stuck.

In my experience as a tax professional, there are typically underlying factors that determine which verification method is assigned. Online verification is generally reserved for returns with lower risk factors and straightforward income reporting. Phone verification is often assigned when there are possible discrepancies that need verbal clarification. In-person verification is typically required when there are potentially significant identity concerns or complex situations that require document examination. I'm somewhat concerned that many taxpayers don't realize their verification method might be indicating a higher level of scrutiny on their return.

After dealing with this verification nightmare myself, here's what I learned: • Online verification: Usually processed within 2-3 days • Phone verification: Can take 7-10 days after the call • In-person: Can take 14-21+ days after appointment I'm skeptical of anyone claiming there's a "quick fix" - each method has its own processing timeline. My in-person verification on April 2nd is still showing as "processing" in the system. The IRS rep told me they're backlogged with verification cases this year.

Could someone clarify if the verification method is tied to specific credits claimed? It's like the IRS is using different levels of security - online is like the standard door lock, phone is a deadbolt, and in-person is the bank vault. I'm wondering if claiming certain credits (like EITC or CTC) automatically triggers the higher security levels.

I did some digging into this because it seemed so random (and frustrating!). Turns out the IRS uses something called the Return Review Program (RRP) which has different risk scoring models. 😂 Your "verification path" is assigned based on your risk score and available verification channels in your area. Fun fact: they actually increased in-person verifications by 25% this tax season according to the National Taxpayer Advocate report. So if you got stuck with the in-person option, you're definitely not alone!