Filed 3/1, still processing - IRS wants to verify address but waiting for letter. Any way to speed this up?
I submitted my tax return on March 1st and it's still saying 'processing' when I check the status. Called the IRS after waiting 8 weeks and they told me they need to verify my address but I have to wait for some verification letter to arrive. This seems so inefficient - why can't I just verify over the phone? Has anyone been through this? Is there another number I can call to verify my address sooner rather than waiting even longer for this letter to show up? I'm counting on this refund and every week of delay is making things harder financially.
54 comments
Isabella Oliveira
This is a verification procedure the IRS implements when certain security flags are triggered in their system. Unfortunately, you cannot verify your address over the phone as this is specifically designed as a written verification process for security purposes. Your options are: 1. Wait for the letter (typically 4571C or 5071C letter) which should arrive within 2-3 weeks of them putting it in the system 2. Check your IRS online account to see if there are any action items or notices there 3. Visit a local Taxpayer Assistance Center (appointment required) with ID The letter will have specific instructions on how to verify your identity/address. Once you complete this process, they typically process your return within 2-9 weeks. I understand the frustration, but trying to circumvent this process often creates more delays.
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Malik Jackson
Ugh thanks for the info. So frustrating that there's no way to speed things up. Do you know if the 2-9 week timeframe starts when they mail the letter or when I respond to it?
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Isabella Oliveira
It starts when you complete the verification. The clock doesn't start ticking until you've verified unfortunately. And yeah, the system is definitely frustrating.
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Ravi Patel
I had the same issue last yr. The 2-9 weeks is generous...mine took almost 12 weeks AFTER I verified. The whole process took me almost 5 months total. Horribl experence.
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Freya Andersen
Have you tried taxr.ai? When I was in this exact situation last year, I was so confused about what was happening with my return. I kept getting told different things by different agents and couldn't make sense of anything. I tried this tool and it analyzed my transcript and explained exactly what I was dealing with and what my options were. Saved me from hours of frustration and helped me understand exactly what verification they needed and why. Not sure if it'll help speed up your actual verification, but it'll at least help you understand exactly what's happening with your return. https://taxr.ai
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Omar Zaki
Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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Freya Andersen
It connects to your IRS transcript and uses AI to interpret all the codes and dates. It explained that my address verification was triggered because I had moved mid-year and some info didn't match up. It gave me detailed steps on what to do next and what to expect. Way more helpful than the generic info the IRS gives you.
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Omar Zaki
Just tried it and WOW. Wish I'd known about this months ago! It's like having a tax pro explain everything in plain English. It showed me exactly why my return was flagged and what I need to do. I can finally stop stressing about what's happening with my money!
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CosmicCrusader
Is it accurate tho? I've seen so many tools that claim to help with tax stuff but end up being useless.
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Freya Andersen
It literally reads your actual transcript data from the IRS and explains it, so yeah it's accurate. It's not making predictions or guesses - it's interpreting the actual official IRS data.
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Chloe Robinson
After dealing with the same problem (address verification holding up my refund), I finally got through to a real person using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I had been trying for weeks to reach someone at the IRS with no luck - always disconnected or hours on hold. The calling service got me connected to an agent who confirmed exactly what was happening with my return and gave me a timeframe for when to expect the letter. Didn't speed up the process but at least I got clear answers instead of the automated system runaround. Best money I've spent to finally get my questions answered directly.
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Diego Flores
how does that even work? seems sketchy to have some third party calling the IRS
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Chloe Robinson
They don't actually call for you - they navigate the phone tree and wait on hold, then call you when they have an agent on the line. You take over the call yourself, so all the personal info conversation is directly between you and the IRS agent. They just save you from the hold time nightmare.
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Anastasia Kozlov
No way this actually works...the IRS is impossible to reach
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Chloe Robinson
I was skeptical too but it actually worked. Got through to an agent after trying on my own for like 3 weeks straight. Talking to a real person made all the difference in understanding what was happening with my return.
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Sean Flanagan
I can second this. Used their service last month when my return was stuck in limbo for 2+ months. Got connected to an agent who explained everything and my refund was released a week later. They can't speed up the actual IRS process but at least you can get real answers.
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Zara Mirza
I had this happen last year. The letter came about 2 weeks after I called. It was a 4506-T form that I had to fill out and mail back. Then it took another 6 weeks after they received my response before my refund was approved. The whole ordeal was about 3-4 months from filing to getting my money. The system is broken 🤦♂️
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NebulaNinja
I'm in the same boat right now! Filed early February, still saying "processing" in mid-May. Called last week and they told me they sent a letter on April 30th to verify my address but I haven't received anything yet. This is so frustrating. The IRS can take our money instantly but takes forever to give refunds lol.
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Luca Russo
call them again and ask for the letter to be resent. sometimes they get lost in the mail and you'll never know unless you follow up.
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NebulaNinja
Good idea, will try that tomorrow. This whole process is making me lose my mind 😫
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Nia Wilson
If you're near an IRS TAC (Taxpayer Assistance Center) you can make an appointment and verify in person. Way faster than waiting for mail. Call 844-545-5640 to schedule. Bring 2 forms of ID.
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Malik Jackson
Thank you!! I didn't even think of this option. There's one about 45 minutes from me. Definitely going to try scheduling an appointment.
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Mateo Sanchez
You can try calling the IRS ID Verify line at 800-830-5084. Sometimes they can handle address verification issues too depending on the specific reason for the hold. Worth a shot before waiting for the mail which is slow af these days.
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Aisha Mahmood
This number never works for me. Always says "due to high call volume we cannot take your call" and hangs up 😡
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Mateo Sanchez
You have to call right when they open at 7am EST. I got through after about 20 minutes on hold doing it that way.
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Ethan Clark
Tried this number last year for similar issue and they told me they couldn't help - had to wait for the specific letter that was coming. Not all verification issues can be handled through that line unfortunately.
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AstroAce
welcome to irs purgatory, my friend 🤡 I've been waiting since February 12th on a "processing" return. Turned out they had my old address even though I updated it with USPS. Had to wait for their letter which took 3 weeks to arrive, then verify, then wait more. Still don't have my refund.
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Yuki Kobayashi
The irony is that they need to verify your address...by mailing something to that address. Make it make sense. 🤦♀️
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Carmen Vega
government logic 101 lmao
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Andre Rousseau
They're making sure mail can be delivered there, which confirms it's a valid address. Actually does make sense from a verification standpoint.
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Yuki Kobayashi
But what if the letter is going to the wrong address? Then you never get it and your return is in limbo forever. That's my point.
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Zoe Stavros
this isn't what you want to hear but honestly just gotta wait for the letter. trying to shortcut the process usually just leads to more delays or confusion. i had a similar situation with address verification in 2023 and just had to be patient. once i got the letter and verified, my refund came about 3 weeks later.
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Jamal Harris
I'm a former IRS employee and can confirm there's no way to speed up the address verification letter. It's part of their fraud prevention system. If your refund is large or there were changes to your address recently, it triggers automatically. You'll just have to wait for the letter unfortunately.
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GalaxyGlider
Is there anything that can be done if the letter never arrives? My cousin has been waiting for 3 months for a verification letter that never came.
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Jamal Harris
After 30 days of the letter being sent, you can call and request they resend it. If you've waited more than that, your cousin should call ASAP and explain they never received it. They can resend or sometimes offer alternative verification methods at that point.
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Mei Wong
Check your online IRS account at irs.gov/account - sometimes they post notices there before they arrive in the mail.
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Malik Jackson
Just checked and nothing there yet. But thanks for the suggestion - will keep monitoring it.
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Liam Sullivan
I had to verify my address last yearbut I never got a letter. After 2 months of waiting I checked my transcript using taxr.ai and it showed me that they had sent a letter weeks ago, but to my old address!!! So it never arrived. Called the IRS and confirmed this, and they resent it to my current address. Verification tool was so helpful in figuring out what was going on - saved me from waiting indefinitely for a letter I was never going to get. https://taxr.ai
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Amara Okafor
I've never heard of taxr - is it legit?
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Liam Sullivan
Yeah it's just a tool that connects to your IRS transcript and explains all the codes and dates. I couldn't make sense of all the transaction codes but it broke everything down and showed exactly what was happening with my return and where things went wrong.
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Giovanni Colombo
Can confirm it works great. I was completely lost trying to figure out why my refund was delayed last month. Used this and it pinpointed exactly where the issue was in processing. Saved me hours of stress trying to interpret those cryptic transcript codes.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
dude the IRS is so behind this year it's not even funny. i filed in january and didn't get my refund until april. if they told you to wait for a letter then that's all you can do. the system is broken af.
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StarStrider
On the bright side, once they start the verification process you'll usually get interest on your refund since they've held it so long. Small consolation but better than nothing I guess.
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Dylan Campbell
Do they automatically add interest or do you have to request it?
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StarStrider
It's automatic if your refund is issued more than 45 days after the filing deadline (or after you filed if you filed after the deadline). The current rate is around 7% which isn't terrible.
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Sofia Torres
Have you tried calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service? 877-777-4778. They might be able to help if you're experiencing financial hardship due to the refund delay.
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Dmitry Sokolov
TAS is so backed up they're not taking new cases unless its extremely urgent. They're rejecting most cases now because they're overwhelmed.
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Sofia Torres
damn, didn't know it had gotten that bad. thanks for the update
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Ava Martinez
after struggling with this exact problem I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me through to a live IRS agent in about an hour. The agent confirmed my verification letter had been sent and gave me the exact date to expect it. Talking to an actual person was so much better than the automated systems. It was the only way I could get real answers about my refund status.
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Miguel Ramos
Did it actually help resolve your issue faster or just give you more information?
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Ava Martinez
The actual verification process still took the same time, but I was able to confirm exactly when they sent the letter and what type of verification they needed. Gave me peace of mind instead of wondering what was happening with my money.
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QuantumQuasar
Did you move recently or change addresses from your previous tax filing? That's usually what triggers these verification letters in my experience.
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Malik Jackson
Yeah I moved last summer, so I guess that's why. Still seems excessive to delay everything for weeks over an address change.
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QuantumQuasar
It's because of refund fraud. People try to file returns for others and have refunds sent to different addresses. It's annoying but actually protects your refund from being stolen.
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