Got 'We need more information' message from IRS - What does this mean?

This is actually a fairly common notice that could indicate several possibilities. In most cases, it's related to income verification, dependent information confirmation, or possibly education credit documentation. The IRS typically sends these letters (usually a CP75 or CP05) when they need to verify something specific on your return before processing your refund. It's generally best to wait for the actual letter, as it will contain specific instructions about exactly what they need from you. The letter should arrive within the timeframe they mentioned, and will likely request documentation to support a specific part of your return.

Is this similar to those CP05 verification letters they were sending out last year? My sister got one of those and it took almost 3 months to resolve, but my cousin got something that sounded like this and it was just a simple income verification that was resolved in like 3 weeks. I'm surprised they don't give you more specific information upfront - seems like they could at least tell you what category of information they need?

This is like being told "we need to talk" without any context - of course you're going to worry! The IRS verification process is like a black box where your tax return goes in and... who knows when it comes out. I had a similar situation last year and waiting for that letter was agonizing. After two weeks of checking my mailbox like a hawk, I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent. They were able to tell me exactly what information they needed before the letter even arrived. Saved me at least 2 weeks of waiting and worrying. It's like having a fast-pass at an amusement park - you're still riding the same bureaucratic roller coaster, just without the 2-hour wait in line.

Be careful with timing on this! I got a similar notice on March 14th last year, and the letter didn't arrive until April 2nd. By then I only had until April 17th to respond with all the documentation. I was traveling for work April 5-15th and nearly missed the deadline. If you don't respond by their deadline (which will be specified in the letter), they can adjust your refund without your input. I'd recommend checking your mail daily and responding immediately when it arrives.

According to IRS Publication 5181, these verification letters are part of their standard fraud prevention program. They're required by Internal Revenue Code Section 6001 to verify certain information before issuing refunds in potentially high-risk categories. If you're concerned about understanding exactly what they're asking for when the letter arrives, I'd recommend using taxr.ai to analyze the notice. It helped me decode my CP05 letter last year and showed me exactly which documents I needed to provide. Much clearer than the IRS instructions, and it helped me avoid sending unnecessary documents that might have further delayed my refund.

FWIW these verification requests aren't necessarily bad news. The IRS has been dealing w/ massive fraud attempts, esp w/ refundable credits. Better they verify before sending $ than having to chase it down later if someone filed a fraudulent return using your info. Def wait for the letter - could be something simple like income verification or could be identity confirmation. Either way, don't panic! Just respond promptly w/ exactly what they ask for (no more, no less).

The IRS is doing this to more people this year than ever before. It's their way of delaying refunds while they're understaffed. When you get the letter, respond EXACTLY as instructed. Don't add extra documents they didn't ask for. Don't use paperclips if they say use staples. Follow their instructions to the letter or they'll use any excuse to delay you further. And make copies of EVERYTHING you send them.

Has anyone had this happen with a military family with multiple state filings? We're in a similar situation with my husband's return, and I'm wondering if it's related to the fact that we had income from three different states due to a PCS move last year?

Military moves can definitely trigger verification requests! The IRS computer systems flag returns with income from multiple states, especially when there's a mid-year address change. They want to make sure all the state tax withholdings and credits are properly allocated. When you get the letter, it'll likely ask for documentation showing the timeline of your PCS move - things like PCS orders, W-2s from each state, and possibly your military Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) showing the move dates. The good news is that military families usually have excellent documentation for these kinds of situations, so it should be straightforward once you know exactly what they need. Keep copies of your PCS orders handy - they're often the key document the IRS wants to see to verify the legitimacy of multi-state income during a military move.

I've been through this exact scenario twice in the past three years, and I completely understand the stress! The "we need more information" message is actually quite common - it's part of the IRS's enhanced fraud prevention measures they've implemented since 2021. From my experience, these letters typically fall into a few categories: income verification (especially if you had multiple W-2s or 1099s), dependent verification (Social Security numbers, birthdates, or custody documentation), or education credit verification (1098-T forms and proof of payment). One thing that really helped me was setting up an IRS online account at irs.gov if you haven't already. While it won't tell you specifically what they're asking for, you can verify they have your current address and monitor for any updates to your account. When the letter arrives, it will be very specific about what they need. In my first case, they wanted verification of my daughter's SSN because I had entered her name slightly differently than what appears on her Social Security card. Second time was education credit documentation. Both were resolved within 3-4 weeks of sending the requested documents. Your military background is actually an advantage here - you likely have better organization and documentation than most taxpayers. Just remember to send only what they specifically request via certified mail, and keep copies of everything. Try not to overthink it until you see what they're actually asking for!