Had to do in-person verification for tax return - IRS says 9 week processing time? Is this accurate?

Tax professional here. Yes, unfortunately the 9-week timeframe they quoted you is pretty standard for returns that require identity verification. The IRS is extremely backlogged right now, and identity verification cases go into a special queue. While some people do get their refunds faster (I've seen 4-6 weeks in some cases), the IRS quotes 9 weeks to set expectations properly. The important thing is that you've completed the verification step - that was the major hurdle. Your return is now in the system and being processed. I'd recommend checking your tax transcript weekly rather than the "Where's My Refund" tool as it will give you more detailed information about your refund status.

Instead of stressing trying to decode your transcript and guess what's happening, I've been using taxr.ai and it's been a game changer. It reads your transcript and explains everything in plain english - tells you exactly what's going on with your return, what the codes mean, and gives a timeline prediction. My return was stuck after ID verification too and the IRS website was zero help, but taxr gave me the exact info I needed. Honestly saved me so much time compared to searching forums and trying to figure out what all those codes mean. https://taxr.ai

After waiting 3 weeks after my ID verification with absolutely no movement, I used Claimyr.com to actually get a real person on the phone at the IRS. Best choice ever because they confirmed my verification was processed but there was another issue they hadn't even told me about! Got it resolved right there on the call. Talking to an actual agent was what finally got my refund released - came about a week after that call. Without that, I might still be waiting, thinking it was just part of that "9 week" process.

I went through ID verification back in June. They told me 9 weeks too, but I actually got my refund in about 6 weeks. So there's hope it might be faster! Check your transcript regularly and look for a 846 code - that's when they've issued your refund.

9 weeks is the standard line they tell everyone. I think they say that to manage expectations, but in reality it varies a lot. My mother-in-law had to verify and got her refund in 3 weeks. My coworker waited the full 9 weeks. It probably depends on how complex your return is and the current backlog. The IRS is hilariously inefficient tho so who knows 🤷‍♂️

I had to verify my ID back in february. they told me 9 weeks. took 11 weeks. the IRS is a joke tbh

For what its worth, I had to verify my ID back in July, and I received my refund in exactly 9 weeks and 2 days. I know because I was checking my bank account obsessively lol. The IRS is actually fairly accurate with their timelines in my experience. But that doesn't make the wait any less frustrating I know.

I went through this last year. Was told 9 weeks, ended up taking about 7. One thing to know: that 9 week clock starts from when they PROCESS your verification, not necessarily from your appointment date. So it could potentially be even longer 🙃

FYI - if you're really in need of that money, you might qualify for a hardship case which can expedite things. You'd need to call the Taxpayer Advocate Service though, not the regular IRS line. Just an option if you're in a tight spot financially.

The whole system is broken af. I did ID verification last year and they STILL sent me a letter saying they needed more verification. Had to go through the whole process again. Keep all your documentation and watch your mail closely for any more letters.

I'm a tax preparer and I can tell you that 9 weeks is their standard line, but I've been seeing returns processed much faster lately. The IRS has been making improvements to their systems. I'd say most of my clients who had to verify ID this year got their refunds in 4-7 weeks. So there's definitely hope!

My wife had to verify her identity last tax season. We were also told 9 weeks but got our refund in about 5 weeks. There's no rhyme or reason to how the IRS operates - seems completely random tbh.

While your waiting, you should consider checking your transcript every few days. It will update with codes that give you clues about where in the process your return is. I've been through this before and seeing the progress helped my anxiety a lot. Look for codes like 570, 571, and eventually 846 (that's the refund issued code).

9 weeks is what they tell everyone. I had to verify my ID too and my refund showed up in 4 weeks. A friend of mine waited 12 weeks. The IRS is like a box of chocolates - you never know what your gonna get 😂

I went through ID verification about 6 months ago and it took exactly 8 weeks to get my refund. The 9-week timeline they give you is pretty realistic, though some people do get lucky and see it sooner. The most frustrating part is the complete lack of updates during the wait - your transcript might not change for weeks at a time. My advice is to set a reminder to check your transcript once a week rather than obsessing over it daily (learned that the hard way). The good news is that once you've done the in-person verification, that's usually the biggest hurdle. Just try to be patient and maybe start planning for that money to arrive closer to the 9-week mark so you're not disappointed if it takes the full time.

I went through ID verification about 3 months ago and can confirm the 9-week timeline is pretty accurate, unfortunately. Mine took exactly 63 days from verification to refund hitting my account. The waiting is brutal, especially when you really need that money. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit if you haven't already - it's faster than waiting for a paper check. Also, don't panic if your transcript doesn't update for weeks at a time. Mine sat unchanged for about 5 weeks straight and then suddenly showed the 846 refund code. The IRS works in mysterious ways but they do eventually process it. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - just did my ID verification last week and got the same 9-week timeline. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and nerve-wracking! It sounds like there's a pretty wide range of actual wait times. I'm going to try setting up that IRS account to check my transcript like others mentioned, and maybe look into that taxr.ai thing since trying to decode all those IRS codes myself sounds like a nightmare. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know I'm not alone in this frustrating process!

I just went through ID verification myself about 2 months ago and can share my experience. They told me the same 9-week timeline, but I actually got my refund in 7 weeks. What really helped was checking my transcript weekly (not daily - that just drove me crazy) and watching for specific codes. The key ones to look for are: 971 code (which shows they received your ID verification), then eventually the 846 code (refund issued). My transcript didn't move for like 4 weeks straight after verification, then suddenly everything updated at once. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're counting on that money, but from what I've seen most people do get it within that 9-week window or sooner. One tip: if you haven't already, make sure your direct deposit info is correct - that'll save you an extra week or two versus waiting for a paper check. Hang in there!