Got IRS Letter 86C - What does this even mean and why did I get it?

The 86C letter is basically the IRS saying they received your return but need more time to process it. Its not bad news, just means theyre backed up and reviewing your stuff. Could take a few more weeks to get sorted.

Hey, I actually found this amazing tool called taxr.ai that helped me understand my transcript and all these weird IRS letters. It costs $1 but totally worth it - gives you a clear breakdown of whats happening with your return and estimated timeline. Way better than trying to decode these vague letters yourself.

In the same boat rn. Been waiting 4 months since I got that letter smh

Another thing to remember - dont ignore any other letters they might send after this one. Sometimes they need additional info and will send another letter requesting it.

u can also check ur transcript online to see if theres any updates that the letter doesnt mention

these clowns at the irs need to get it together fr. tired of these cryptic messages that dont tell us anything useful 🤡

Don't stress too much about it! Letter 86C is pretty common - it just means they're taking a closer look at your return for accuracy. Could be something as simple as verifying your income matches what employers reported. Usually resolves itself within 45-60 days, but definitely keep an eye out for any follow-up correspondence like others mentioned.

Had the same thing happen to me last year! The 86C basically means they're doing a manual review of your return - nothing to panic about. Mine took about 6 weeks to clear and then I got my refund as normal. Just keep checking your transcript every week or so to see if there are any updates. The waiting is the worst part but you're definitely not in trouble!

I got a letter 86C last tax season and it was nerve-wracking at first! Turns out it's just their way of saying "we got your return but need to double-check some stuff." In my case, they were verifying some W-2 info that hadn't been matched up yet in their system. Took about 2 months total but everything worked out fine. The key is just being patient and not calling them every day (learned that the hard way lol). If they need anything else from you, they'll send another letter with specific instructions.

Letter 86C is actually one of the less scary ones to get! It's just their standard "we received your return and it's in the review queue" notice. I've been doing taxes for years and see these all the time. The IRS processes millions of returns so sometimes they need extra time to verify everything matches up in their systems. Don't worry about calling them unless you get a follow-up letter asking for specific documents - they'll contact you if they need anything else. Most 86C cases resolve automatically once their computers finish cross-referencing your info with employer records and other data sources.

I actually just went through this exact same thing a few months ago! Got the 86C letter and immediately started googling like crazy thinking I was in trouble. Turns out it's super common - they're just doing their due diligence to make sure everything on your return checks out with what they have on file. Mine ended up taking about 7 weeks total, but I got my full refund with no issues. The hardest part is definitely the waiting and not knowing what's happening, but based on everyone's responses here it sounds like you're in good company! Just try to be patient and resist the urge to call them unless you get another letter asking for specific documents.