Got My Identity Verification Letter Today - Does It Really Take 9 Weeks?

According to Internal Revenue Manual section 4.19.17.5, identity verification processing times can vary significantly. The 9-week timeframe is the maximum processing window per IRS Publication 5027, but actual processing typically occurs within 3-6 weeks for straightforward cases. However, if your return contains certain credits or deductions requiring additional review, the full 9-week period may be necessary. Please note that these timeframes begin from the date the IRS receives your verification, not from when you submitted it.

I'm generally seeing verification processing times of about 4-5 weeks right now, though it can certainly vary. If you want more clarity on your specific situation, you might want to check out https://taxr.ai - it's what I typically recommend to my clients. The service can analyze your transcript once it becomes available and give you a much clearer picture of where you are in the process. It will also explain any codes that appear and give you a more realistic timeline based on your specific situation. In my experience, it's generally much more accurate than the generic timeframes the IRS provides.

I went through this exact process last month. Here's what happened step by step: 1. Got my letter March 1st 2. Verified online the same day 3. Transcript updated with code 570 after 12 days 4. Then code 571 appeared 9 days later 5. DDD (direct deposit date) showed up 3 days after that 6. Money hit my account exactly on the DDD Total time from verification to money was 28 days. So while 9 weeks is the official timeframe, it was much faster for me. I'd recommend checking your transcript every few days to monitor progress.

I received a CP01E verification letter on February 3rd and completed verification that same day. My cycle code updated exactly 21 days later, followed by a 571 release code after another week. DDD appeared 3 days after the 571 code. Total processing time was 31 days from verification to deposit. The 9-week timeframe is definitely their maximum estimate, not the average processing time for straightforward cases.

I might be in the minority here, but my verification actually did take almost the full 9 weeks last year. What finally moved things along was calling the IRS directly, though it took me several days of trying before I could get through. I eventually used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent after about 30 minutes. The agent was able to confirm my verification had been processed but was sitting in a queue waiting for final review. Two days after that call, my transcript updated and I had my refund a week later. I'm not saying you should call immediately, but if you're approaching week 6 with no movement, it might be worth considering.

Has anyone verified their identity recently, like since April 1st? I'm wondering if processing times are different now that we're past the April 15th deadline.

There's an important distinction between the verification itself and the processing that follows. The verification is typically confirmed within 48-72 hours, but then your return goes back into normal processing. If your return was already being processed when the verification request was triggered, you might see faster results (typically 21-28 days). If your return was completely held until verification, the full processing begins after verification, which can take 35-45 days in many cases.

This identity verification thing is like being stuck in tax purgatory! I had to verify in February and was expecting the full 9 weeks based on what the letter said. It's like they tell you it'll take a cross-country road trip when sometimes it's just a quick drive across town. Mine took exactly 4 weeks and 2 days from verification to deposit. The waiting was the worst part because there was no progress bar or status updates - just silence until suddenly everything happened at once.

I've been through the verification process three times in the past five years. In 2019, it took 8 weeks. In 2022, it took 5 weeks. This year, it took just over 3 weeks. My experience suggests that processing times have improved, but it still varies quite a bit. One thing I've learned is that checking your account transcript is more helpful than the Where's My Refund tool - the transcript will show code changes before WMR updates. Also, if you verified online rather than by mail or phone, you'll typically see faster processing.