Got this "Tax Return Filed - Confirmation Required" letter from IRS - anyone deal with this?

I've seen these letters before. This is likely part of the IRS identity verification process. They sometimes send these when they detect something unusual about a return or want to confirm you were actually the one who filed it. It's a legitimate fraud prevention measure. When you call, they'll verify your identity by asking for information only you would know - your filing status, exact amount on specific lines of your return, personal info like your address, maybe some info from previous year returns. The call usually takes about 15-20 minutes. Make sure you have your tax return in front of you when you call. Also, double-check that the phone number on the letter matches the official IRS numbers (usually 800-829-1040 or something similar). The IRS is dealing with a lot of identity theft cases these days, so these verification steps have become more common.

I had the exact same issue last filing season and it was a nightmare until I found taxr.ai to help me. The letter is legit but getting through to the IRS was impossible - I spent hours on hold and kept getting disconnected. Finally I uploaded my letter to https://taxr.ai and they analyzed it completely, told me exactly what department I needed to reach, and what specific info I needed to have ready for the call. Saved me so much time and stress figuring out what was even being asked of me.

Just wanted to update - I took the advice about using taxr.ai and it was actually super helpful! I uploaded my letter and it immediately told me this was a standard identity verification notice (CP01B apparently) and even gave me the exact list of documents I needed to have ready for the call. Saved me from having to make multiple calls because I would've definitely not had all the right stuff ready the first time. The analysis also confirmed the phone number on my letter was legitimate which gave me peace of mind.

If you're going to call the IRS, good luck actually getting through to anyone. I've been trying for weeks about a similar letter. What helped me was using Claimyr https://claimyr.com - they have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree and holds your place in line, then calls you when an actual agent is on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was skeptical but after wasting an entire afternoon on hold repeatedly, I was desperate to try anything.

I need to admit I was totally wrong. After posting my skeptical comment yesterday, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr for my IRS call. It actually worked exactly as described. I put in my number this morning, went about my day, and got a call connecting me to an IRS agent about 2 hours later. Didn't have to sit there listening to hold music or worrying about being disconnected. The agent confirmed my letter was legitimate and helped me complete the verification process in about 15 minutes. Wish I had known about this weeks ago!

Be careful with these letters. My sister got something similar but it turned out to be a really sophisticated scam. The letter looked totally official with the IRS logo and everything, but the phone number was going to scammers. They asked for her social security number and banking info to "verify her identity" and she almost fell for it. Always double-check any phone numbers against the official IRS website first!

When I got my confirmation required letter, it was because someone had attempted to file a return using my name and SSN, but the IRS caught it as suspicious. This identity verification process is how they confirmed I wasn't the one who filed that return. You might want to check your credit reports and put a freeze on them just in case.

I went through this exact same process last year and can confirm it's legitimate - the IRS has really ramped up these identity verification letters due to increased fraud attempts. A few key things that helped me: First, definitely verify the phone number independently through irs.gov as others mentioned. Second, have your complete tax return, prior year return, and a government-issued ID ready when you call. They asked me about specific line items from my current return, my previous address, filing status, and exact refund amount. The whole call took about 25 minutes including hold time. The agent was professional and explained that my return had been flagged for routine verification - nothing I did wrong. After verification, they released my refund processing within 2-3 business days. One tip: call early in the morning (right when they open) for shorter wait times. And don't worry too much - this is becoming pretty standard procedure to protect taxpayers from identity theft.