Got code 810 on transcript with no letter - what's my next move?

Code 810 means there's a freeze on your account while the IRS reviews something. But how are you supposed to respond when they don't even tell you what they're reviewing? Typical IRS, right? Have you checked your mail from the past few weeks? Sometimes they send notices that don't quite match up with the transcript timing. You might want to call the IRS directly, but be prepared for a long wait. Do you have access to your full transcript with all the codes? That might give more context.

I had the exact same issue back on February 12th this year. The 810 code appeared but no letter came until almost three weeks later on March 4th. It was nerve-wracking! I ended up using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It explained that 810 is an indicator of a potential audit or review and showed me what other codes to watch for that would indicate resolution. The site predicted I'd get a letter within 30 days, and sure enough, it arrived right on time. I was surprised by how complicated these transcript codes are - there are dozens of them with different implications depending on what other codes appear alongside them.

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The 810 code hit my transcript last year like a surprise thunderstorm on a picnic day. IRS was questioning my retirement distribution reporting. They never sent a letter either! I had to call 14 times over 3 days before getting through. When I finally reached someone, they said they needed verification of my 1099-R amounts. The whole thing took 76 days to resolve and delayed my $4,371 refund. It was like waiting for a bus that keeps driving past your stop - frustrating beyond belief when you're counting on that money for expenses.

Sometimes it's faster to just go to your local Taxpayer Assistance Center than to wait for letters or phone calls. This is similar to how dealing with the DMV in person can solve in 20 minutes what might take weeks by mail. I've found that bringing a printed copy of your transcript with the 810 code highlighted gets their attention immediately. They can often see notes in their system that don't appear on your transcript. Compared to last year's processing delays, the in-person approach saved me about 3 weeks of waiting.

I would probably recommend checking your mail carefully for the next week or so, as sometimes these notices can be somewhat delayed after the code appears on your transcript. It might also be worth checking if perhaps the notice was possibly sent to an old address if you've moved recently? In my experience, the 810 code is typically, though not always, related to income verification or identity verification issues. If you're somewhat concerned about the delay affecting your finances, creating an online account with ID.me on the IRS website might give you access to more detailed information.

Whatever you do, DON'T ignore this! I got an 810 code last year and thought "I'll just wait for the letter" - big mistake. Never got a letter, and when I finally called THREE MONTHS LATER, they told me they'd been waiting for me to respond to a verification request they claimed they sent. Had to start the whole process over. I now keep a binder with printouts of all my transcripts, confirmation numbers, and notes from every call including agent ID numbers. Might seem like overkill, but after last year's fiasco that delayed my refund by 5 months, I'm not taking chances.

Code 810 can definitely be stressful when it appears without warning! From what I've seen in this community, it's usually related to income verification or identity confirmation. Since you mentioned being retired for 3 years, they might be cross-checking your retirement distributions or Social Security income against what was reported on your return. I'd suggest calling the Practitioner Priority Service line (1-866-860-4259) if you have a tax professional, or the main taxpayer line if not. In the meantime, gather any 1099s, retirement account statements, and documentation you filed with your return - you'll likely need these if they're doing income verification. The good news is that most 810 reviews resolve within 45-60 days once they have what they need, so your home repair plans shouldn't be delayed too long!

I went through this exact same situation last month! Got the 810 code on March 2nd with no letter, and like you, I was pretty frustrated. After reading through all these responses, I ended up calling the IRS directly (took about 45 minutes to get through). Turns out they needed to verify my 1099-R from my pension - apparently there was a discrepancy between what my former employer reported and what I filed. The agent was actually helpful and explained that sometimes the letters get delayed in their system, especially during busy periods. She was able to see exactly what documentation they needed and gave me a fax number to send it directly to the review department. Got it resolved in about 3 weeks after that. My advice: don't wait for the letter that might never come - just call them directly and ask specifically what they need for the 810 review. Have your transcript handy when you call so you can reference the exact date and cycle code. Good luck with those home repairs!

I've been dealing with IRS issues for years through my volunteer work with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), and code 810 is one of the most common freeze codes we see. What's particularly frustrating is that the IRS computer systems sometimes flag returns for review based on automated matching, but the corresponding notice generation can lag behind by weeks or even months. In your case as a retiree, they're most likely verifying retirement income reporting - this happens frequently when there are multiple income sources like pensions, Social Security, and IRA distributions. My recommendation is to call the IRS taxpayer assistance line (1-800-829-1040) early in the morning (7-8 AM) when wait times are typically shorter. When you get through, ask specifically for the "810 review department" and request they tell you exactly what documentation they need. Don't just wait for a letter that may never arrive properly. Also, keep detailed notes of your call including the agent's ID number and any case numbers they provide. The fact that you need this refund for home repairs makes it even more important to be proactive rather than reactive with the IRS bureaucracy.