Filed Jan 25, Needed ID Verification - Finally Got In-Person Appointment After Multiple Calls

I filed my taxes on January 25th and received a projected refund date of February 17th. However, February 17th came and went with no deposit. I called the IRS the following business day and was informed that I needed to verify my identity, and that they would be sending a letter with instructions. Between February 18th and last week, I called the IRS three separate times. During each call, I inquired about scheduling an appointment and whether there were any alternative methods to expedite the verification process. The representatives consistently advised that I simply needed to wait for the letter. Growing increasingly concerned about the delay, I called again yesterday. I explained that I still had not received any verification letter. Fortunately, this representative was able to schedule me for an in-person appointment this morning (March 9th) to complete the verification process. The appointment itself was quite straightforward. The IRS agent only asked me to confirm my bank account and routing number and to present my identification. After verifying these details, he informed me that everything was now in order. While the standard processing time is apparently 9 weeks, he indicated that I should expect to receive my refund within approximately 2 weeks. I'm cautiously optimistic but will provide an update once the funds are received.

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16 comments

Anna Stewart

This is exactly why the verification process is so frustrating. Here's what typically happens: 1. IRS flags your return for identity verification 2. They're supposed to send a letter within 7-10 days 3. Many people never receive the letter or it's significantly delayed 4. Without the letter, you can't complete the online verification 5. Most representatives won't schedule an appointment without the letter number Have others found that the representatives are inconsistent about whether they can schedule an appointment without having received the letter? I'm wondering if I just got lucky with my last call or if this is actually standard procedure that the first three reps weren't following?

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- 11d

Kaylee Cook

Have you considered that the verification requirement might be related to changes in your filing situation from previous years? Perhaps a new job, different address, or significant changes in income? The IRS verification systems are increasingly flagging returns with year-over-year changes as potential identity theft concerns, wouldn't you agree? And isn't it interesting how the timeline they provided (2 weeks versus 9 weeks) has such a wide disparity? This suggests their internal processing can be much faster than what they officially communicate to manage expectations.

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- 9d

Adrian Hughes

The Identity Verification process (Form 14039 pathway) has been significantly backlogged this tax season. Your experience aligns with what we're seeing across multiple cases. The fact that you secured an in-person appointment is actually quite fortunate - many Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) are booked 4-6 weeks out currently. Based on recent processing metrics, post-verification refunds are typically being issued within 14-21 days, so the agent's 2-week estimate is reasonably accurate. The system will now show your return in the post-verification queue with a Transaction Code 971 followed by a 570 hold release.

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- 7d

Molly Chambers

I was in the EXACT same boat last month and was losing my mind trying to get through to the IRS!! Called like 15 times and kept getting disconnected. I had a deadline to pay for my kid's summer program and really needed my refund. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through to someone in about 15 minutes! They set up my verification appointment for the next week instead of making me wait for that stupid letter that never came. Best $20 I ever spent considering I was about to lose my deposit on the summer program. My refund came exactly 13 days after verification!

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Lydia Bailey

Your timeline actually matches current IRS processing standards. Here's what's happening: • Identity verification is one of the most common refund delays this season • The letter (CP01) is typically mailed 10-14 days after filing • USPS delivery issues have been widespread for IRS correspondence • In-person verification typically results in faster processing than phone verification • The 9-week timeframe includes worst-case scenarios and processing backlogs Appreciate you sharing your experience - it helps others know what to expect!

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Alice Coleman

I went through this exact same verification process last year. Called multiple times, no letter ever came, finally got someone who scheduled an appointment. My refund showed up exactly 12 days after verification. The frustrating part is that I was counting on that money for some car repairs and the delay put me in a tough spot financially. I wish the IRS would at least be consistent about whether appointments can be scheduled without the letter - would save everyone a lot of time and stress!

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- 6d

Owen Jenkins

Back in 2022, I had a similar verification issue. I tracked my transcript daily after verification and noticed a pattern: TC 971 (notice issued) appeared first, followed by TC 570 (refund hold) being released about 7-10 days after verification. Then a TC 846 (refund issued) showed up 3-4 days later. If you have access to your transcript, watching for these codes can give you a more accurate timeline than what the Where's My Refund tool shows. In my experience, the deposit arrived 2 days after the TC 846 date.

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