Got a 12c letter from the IRS asking for my W2 - what happens next?

The 6-8 week timeline is fairly accurate for 12c letter responses, but it can sometimes take longer depending on their backlog. The 12c letter is basically the IRS saying they need additional documentation to verify information on your return - in this case, your W2. For sending your response, I strongly recommend using certified mail with return receipt requested. This gives you proof of delivery and when it was received. Keep copies of everything you send them, including the original 12c letter and your W2. You can check on the status of your refund using the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website or through their IRS2Go app. However, it probably won't update immediately after they receive your documentation. Once they start processing your return again, you should see an update there.

I went through this exact same situation last year with a 12c letter asking for my W2. I was so frustrated trying to get updates from the IRS until I found this AI tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out exactly what was happening with my case. The tool analyzed my 12c letter and explained that these verification requests are totally normal - especially if there's any discrepancy between what your employer reported and what you filed. What I liked is that it gave me a personalized checklist for responding correctly and even told me what additional documentation might help speed things up. Definitely made me feel less anxious about the whole process.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. It was actually super helpful! I uploaded a picture of my 12c letter and it gave me really specific instructions for my situation - even told me about an additional form I should include that wasn't mentioned in the original letter. The timeline predictor was interesting too - it analyzed current IRS processing times and gave me a more realistic estimate (in my case, 9-10 weeks) rather than the standard 6-8 weeks they always quote. Now at least I have proper expectations instead of checking the refund status tool every day like I was doing before!

If you're worried about the timeline and need to actually talk to someone at the IRS (which feels impossible these days), I used this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at the IRS in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was in a similar situation with a 12c letter about 3 months ago and was getting nowhere with the "Where's My Refund" tool. After finally talking to an agent, I found out they needed additional verification beyond what I'd sent. Would have never known this without actually speaking to someone, and my refund would have been delayed even longer.

Well I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After I posted that skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone about my amended return so I tried it anyway. The service actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 35 minutes and was connected to an IRS agent who pulled up my file and explained exactly why my refund was delayed. Turns out they needed verification of my education credits which I had no idea about. Now I've submitted the right documentation and my refund is back on track. Honestly wish I had tried this months ago instead of checking the refund status website 50 times a day seeing the same "still processing" message. Sometimes you actually need to talk to a human!

Don't forget to keep COPIES of everything you send to the IRS!! I learned this the hard way when I responded to a similar letter last year. Sent in all my documents and then 3 months later got another letter saying they never received certain pages. Had to start the whole process over because I didn't make copies of what I sent. Also when you mail your response, write your Social Security Number and the letter reference number (should be in the top right corner of the 12c letter) on EVERY page you're sending back. This helps ensure nothing gets separated or misplaced in their processing centers.

Has anyone had their refund actually come FASTER than the 6-8 weeks mentioned in the 12c letter? I'm in a similar situation and really hoping I might get lucky.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago with a 12c letter requesting my W2. Here's what I learned that might help you: First, the 6-8 week timeline is actually pretty accurate if you respond quickly and completely. Mine took about 7 weeks from when I mailed my response to when I got my refund deposited. Definitely use certified mail like others mentioned - it's worth the extra cost for peace of mind. I was paranoid about them losing my documents too, so I also made sure to write my SSN and the letter reference number on every single page I sent. One thing that helped me was calling the IRS about 4 weeks after I sent my response to confirm they had received it and that it was being processed. Yes, it's a pain to get through to them, but it was worth it to know my case was moving forward. Also, keep checking the "Where's My Refund" tool regularly. Once they start processing your documentation, you'll see the status change from "still processing" to showing an actual refund date. That's when you know you're in the home stretch. Good luck with your refund! $3,800 is definitely worth the stress of dealing with this paperwork.

I'm dealing with a 12c letter right now too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add one thing I learned from my tax preparer - if your W2 shows any corrections or amendments (like a W2c), make sure to include BOTH the original W2 and the corrected version when you respond. The IRS needs to see the complete paper trail to understand any discrepancies. I almost made the mistake of just sending the corrected W2c thinking that was all they needed, but my preparer caught it and said that could have delayed my case even further. Also, if you have multiple W2s from different employers, send copies of ALL of them even if the letter only mentions one specifically. Better to give them more information than they need rather than having to go through another round of correspondence. Hope this helps someone avoid the mistakes I almost made!