Getting Different Answers from IRS Reps About Identity Verification? So Frustrated!

I understand your frustration with the inconsistent information. This is unfortunately common during peak verification season when the IRS implements their Taxpayer Protection Program (TPP) protocols. What's likely happening is that your return has been flagged for potential identity verification, but the case hasn't fully propagated through their internal systems yet. Different departments and representatives have different levels of visibility into your case status, which explains the contradictory guidance you're receiving.

It seems like you might be experiencing what I would call a "system lag" issue. In my experience, there's typically a 7-10 day period where your verification status is somewhat ambiguous in their system. You might want to consider checking your tax transcript online, if possible, to look for specific codes that could indicate verification requirements. The transcript often shows TC 570 or 971 codes if there's a verification hold, though I'm not 100% certain this applies in all cases.

I had this EXACT issue last filing season with the Identity Verification process (Form 14039 situation). The key is to check your IRS online account for a specific notification banner. If you don't see a verification requirement in your online account, it's likely not fully processed in their system yet. The Letter 5071C is the standard verification request, while Letter 4883C requires in-person verification. If you're a military spouse, make sure to mention your husband's active duty status when you do connect with them - there are special procedures under MSRRA provisions.

I've been through this EXACT nightmare. Three different answers from three different reps. Complete waste of time. • First call: 45 min wait, then disconnected • Second call: Told to wait for letter • Third call: Told I needed to verify immediately • Fourth call: Told first rep was right Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to someone who actually knew what they were talking about. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of hours of redial hell. The agent confirmed I needed to verify and helped me complete it right then. Worth every penny to not deal with the phone tree nightmare.

OMG same boat here! Military fam too. What worked 4 me was going to the IRS website directly & checking if I had any notices in my online acct. Nothing showed up for like 2 wks then BAM - verification notice appeared. Didn't even get the paper letter til a wk later! Def create an online acct if u haven't already - way faster than waiting 4 snail mail. Hang in there, the military spouse struggle is real! 🫡

Ask for a supervisor. Be polite but firm. Get their ID number. Write down everything they say. Call back later if needed. Different departments have different information. The verification department knows more than general reps. Military returns sometimes get flagged differently. There's a specific military tax hotline too.

I feel your pain! As someone who's dealt with IRS verification issues before, here's what I've learned: The inconsistent answers you're getting are unfortunately typical because different IRS departments don't always have real-time access to the same information in their systems. My suggestion would be to create an IRS online account at irs.gov if you haven't already - this will show you any official notices or verification requirements directly from their system rather than relying on phone reps who may be working with outdated info. Since your husband is deployed, make sure you have power of attorney documentation ready if you need to handle his tax matters. Also, try calling early in the morning (around 7-8 AM in your time zone) when wait times are typically shorter and you might get more experienced representatives. Document every call with date, time, and what you were told - this creates a paper trail if you need to escalate later. Hang in there - dealing with tax issues while managing military life is incredibly stressful, but this will get resolved! 💪