Filed and Accepted on 1/24 - WMR Says I Need to Verify but No Mail Coming - Code 05?

This situation is similar to what happened to a lot of filers last year. The verification code you entered during filing was likely the Identity Protection PIN, which is different from identity verification. Code 05 on your transcript just means you're a regular taxpayer with no special processing conditions - it's not related to verification at all. When WMR says 'verify' but you haven't received mail, it's usually because they're still in the process of deciding whether they need additional verification. I really appreciate when people share these details because it helps us all understand the process better.

Have you tried calling the IRS Identity Verification line directly? Sometimes the WMR tool shows generic messages that don't actually apply to your specific situation. Did you receive an IP PIN in the mail before filing season started? That might be what you entered during filing, which is different from identity verification after filing.

Back in 2022, I had almost the identical situation. WMR showed I needed to verify but no letter came. I wasted two weeks waiting before I tried calling. After 30+ attempts over 3 days, I couldn't get through to anyone. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. Turns out there was no verification needed at all - it was just a generic message in their system, and my refund was actually processing normally. The agent was able to confirm everything was fine and my refund came about a week later. Saved me from weeks more of unnecessary stress.

I've been researching this issue carefully, and there seems to be some confusion between different types of verification in the IRS system. The code you entered during filing was probably an IP PIN (Identity Protection Personal Identification Number), which is a pre-filing security measure. What WMR might be referring to is post-filing identity verification, which typically requires a letter (CP01A or 5071C). It's... frustrating... that the IRS doesn't make this distinction clearer in their messaging. Without the letter, I wouldn't take any action yet. The WMR tool is known to display generic messages that don't always apply to your specific situation.

Have you checked your actual tax transcript, not just the code? Sometimes the transcript contains information that WMR doesn't show. Is it possible you're looking at an account transcript instead of a return transcript? What if you tried using a tool like https://taxr.ai to analyze your transcript? It can often identify patterns that indicate whether you need to verify or if it's just a standard processing delay. I've found transcript analysis to be much more reliable than the WMR tool, especially during peak filing season when the system gets overwhelmed with generic messages.

According to the IRS website, if you need to verify your identity, you'll receive Letter 5071C, 5747C, or 5447C. If you haven't received any of these letters, the WMR message might be generic. I had this happen last year - WMR said verification needed but no letter came. After waiting three weeks, my refund was suddenly approved without me doing anything. The system is overloaded right now and showing lots of standard messages that don't actually apply. Just keep checking your mail and transcript daily.