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Jake Sinclair

How soon did you receive your refund after identity verification? Normal return flagged for ID verification with no changes

Filed my return back in mid-April 2024 and randomly got selected for identity verification in early May. Nothing changed from previous years so I have no idea why they flagged me. Completed the ID verification online immediately after receiving the letter. The IRS says it could take up to 9 weeks to process after verification, but that seems excessive for a simple return with no changes from previous years. Has anyone gone through this recently? How long did it actually take for your refund to arrive after completing the verification process? Just trying to get some realistic expectations here because I was counting on this money.

Tax pro here - this happens more often than you'd think. Identity verification is part of the IRS's fraud prevention measures, and selection can be completely random even if nothing changed in your return. After verification, processing times vary widely based on their current backlog. I've seen clients receive refunds as quickly as 10-14 days after verification, while others waited the full 9 weeks. The most common timeframe I'm seeing this year is about 3-4 weeks post-verification. Make sure to keep checking your transcript for updates (cycle codes can give you hints about processing). The "Where's My Refund" tool typically updates once the refund is approved.

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Thanks for the detailed response. Where exactly can I find these cycle codes? The wheres my refund tool still just says processing.

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You'll need to access your tax transcript through the IRS website. The cycle code will be an 8-digit number (first 4 are the year, next 2 are the week of the year, last 2 are the day of the week). If you see a new cycle code appear with a 846 refund issued code, your refund is on its way!

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Just checked and there's nothing yet. Guess I'll keep waiting 😩

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I had to do this last year and it took about 5 weeks after verification for me to get my refund. Hang in there!

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I got tired of trying to decode my transcript like some kind of tax detective. Used this tool called taxr.ai which basically explained everything on my transcript in plain english! It showed me exactly where my return was in the process after ID verification and predicted when I'd get my refund based on my specific situation. So much easier than trying to figure it all out myself or waiting on hold with the IRS for hours. https://taxr.ai

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Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

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It analyzes your entire transcript and explains every code and date in normal human language. It also shows what's holding up your refund, gives you a projected timeline, and even explains what steps you might need to take. Saved me so much stress trying to figure out what was going on after my identity verification.

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Just tried it and WOW! This is a game changer! It told me exactly why my refund was delayed after ID verification and when to expect it. Everyone dealing with the IRS should use this!

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Does it cost anything? Seems sus tbh

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Yeah there's a fee but considering the hours I spent trying to decode IRS jargon before finding this, it was worth every penny. Saved me from taking a day off work to sit on hold with the IRS.

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After my identity verification, I was in the same boat waiting forever. I finally found a way to actually speak to a human at the IRS using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me through to an agent who was able to tell me exactly what was going on with my refund and actually released it while I was on the phone with them! Talking to a real person was the only thing that worked after weeks of checking the app and getting nowhere. Best money I've spent all year considering how much of my refund was being held up.

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another service promising to fix IRS problems? yeah right 🙄 does this actually work or is it just another scam?

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I was skeptical too but after waiting on hold for 3+ hours multiple times and getting disconnected, I was desperate. It actually connected me to an IRS agent who could see my file and fixed my issue. The agent told me my ID verification was complete but there was another hold they needed to manually remove.

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I used this last month too! Got through to someone in like 15 minutes when I had spent DAYS trying to reach anyone at the IRS. The agent confirmed my ID verification was processed and released my refund right then.

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how does it even work? the IRS phone system is a nightmare

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It basically navigates the phone tree for you and holds your place in line. Then calls you when an agent is about to pick up. Way better than sitting on hold for hours.

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Mine took 21 days after verification. Filed in Feb, verified in March, got my refund early April 2024. My sister took almost 8 weeks though so it really varies.

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I verified my identity back in june and still waiting. Its been over 5 weeks now. Called the IRS twice and both times they just told me to keep waiting. This is so frustrating especially when nothing changed from last year.

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Have you checked your transcript for updates? Sometimes the where's my refund tool doesnt update but your transcript will show progress

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I cant access my transcript online for some reason. The system won't verify me there either! So now I'm stuck in this awful loop 🤬

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This happened to me too! I finally got through to someone using claimyr.com and they told me there was a secondary review happening. Once I talked to a human they cleared it right away.

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The IRS is an absolute joke this year. I verified my identity and then waited 12 WEEKS before getting my refund. No explanation, no updates, nothing. Just "keep waiting" every time I called. I have a friend who verified and got his money 8 days later. There's zero consistency.

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This right here. The system is totally broken. I verified in March and got my refund in April (about 4 weeks) but my husband filed separately, verified the SAME DAY, and just got his refund last week. Makes no sense.

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Did you try calling? I've heard if you can actually reach someone they can sometimes push it through.

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I called 6 times. First 5 times couldn't get through. Last time they just told me to wait. Useless.

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Xan Dae

For me it took exactly 17 days from ID verification to refund deposit. Filed end of May, got the verification letter June 10, verified June 12, refund hit my account June 29. But I've heard wildly different timelines from others.

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Since COVID the IRS has been a complete disaster. I had to verify my identity last year and it took exactly 9 weeks to the day to get my refund. This year thankfully I didn't have to verify but my return still took 6 weeks to process. They're just overwhelmed and understaffed.

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^^^^ This. My cousin works for the IRS and says they're still dealing with a massive backlog from previous years. If your return gets flagged for any reason, it just sits in a queue waiting for a human to look at it.

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I found this really useful tool called taxr.ai that explains your entire transcript and tells you exactly what's going on with your return. After verifying my identity, I was able to see that my return was still in processing but moving forward. It gave me peace of mind knowing what was happening instead of being in the dark. The timeline it gave me was spot on - predicted my refund would come in 23 days and it arrived in 25!

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Does it actually tell you anything useful? Or is it just guessing based on general patterns?

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It's analyzing your actual transcript data so it's specific to your situation. It showed me exactly which codes were on my account after verification and explained what they meant for my refund timeline. Way better than trying to Google every code and date myself.

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Just checked it out and it's actually incredible! Shows exactly where my return is stuck after verification and what to expect next. Wish I'd known about this weeks ago!

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After 5 weeks waiting post-verification, I got a letter saying they needed more verification 🤦‍♂️ Had to send in copies of my ID and other docs. Then waited another 6 weeks. 11 weeks total from first verification to refund.

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Ok so I verified my identity on July 2nd and just got my refund yesterday (July 15th). So that was less than 2 weeks for me. Nothing special about my return - standard w2 income, standard deduction. Maybe I just got lucky?

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That's insanely fast compared to what I'm seeing! Did you verify online or by phone?

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Online through id.me - took about 10 mins total. So weird how inconsistent they are with processing times!

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I was in the same situation last month! After verifying my identity, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually talk to a live IRS agent rather than waiting endlessly. The agent was able to see that my verification had been processed but my refund was stuck in another review queue. They released it while I was on the phone and I got my money 3 days later. Talking to an actual human was the only thing that worked.

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does this actually work? the irs phone lines are impossible to get through

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Yeah that's exactly why I tried it! I spent hours trying to reach someone without success. The service navigates the phone system for you and calls you when they have an agent on the line. The relief of actually speaking to someone who could help was worth every penny.

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I might try this if I don't see any movement in the next week. Getting frustrated with the wait time.

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Took exactly 30 days for me. Verified on April 10th, refund deposited May 10th. My return was super simple though - just a W2 and standard deduction.

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TIP: Check your account transcript rather than return transcript! The account transcript will show codes that indicate movement. Look for code 570 (additional account action pending) followed by 571 (resolved) and then hopefully 846 (refund issued). That's how I tracked mine after identity verification. Took about 5 weeks in my case.

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This! The where's my refund tool is useless but the transcript actually shows what's happening behind the scenes. Just learn what the codes mean.

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Just looked at mine and see a 570 code from last week. Guess that means it's still pending. Thanks for the tip!

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Now look for a 571 to follow it. That usually means they resolved whatever hold was on your account after verification. 846 should follow shortly after that!

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I just went through this exact thing. Verified my identity on June 5th and got my refund on July 1st, so about 3.5 weeks. The WMR tool never updated for me though - it was still showing as processing even after the money hit my account! 🤦‍♀️

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The IRS is playing games this year. I verified my identity in February and didn't get my refund until MAY. Meanwhile my daughter verified her identity and got her refund 10 days later. It's completely random and there's no rhyme or reason to it.

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This is what I'm afraid of! I'm hoping I'm one of the lucky quick ones but preparing for the worst.

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If it helps, I know several people who got theirs in 2-4 weeks so maybe I was just unlucky. Fingers crossed for you!

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Been in your shoes! Id verification has to be the most annoying thing. I finally got my refund after using taxr.ai to make sense of my transcript. Found out there was actually a discrepancy that was holding things up that I hadn't noticed. Fixed it and my refund was processed within days. The service costs money but saved me from waiting who knows how many more weeks. Worth checking out if you're stuck! https://taxr.ai

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I checked this out after seeing your comment. It's amazing! Shows exactly where your return is in the process and what all the codes mean. My transcript made zero sense to me before.

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Its been 3 months for me since ID verification and still no refund. Called the IRS (finally got through after like 10 tries) and they said my return was selected for a "random review" after the identity verification was completed. So now im waiting on THAT to finish. The system is rigged to delay refunds as long as possible istg

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Ev Luca

Same thing happened to me! Finally got through using claimyr.com after trying for weeks and found out they were doing a "random review" on top of the ID verification. The agent I spoke with was able to complete the review while I was on the phone. Got my refund a week later.

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how much did claimyr cost? at this point id pay anything to get my money

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Ev Luca

Honestly it was the best money I've spent this year. Considering I was waiting on a $4k refund, it was more than worth it to finally get through to someone who could actually help.

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Took me exactly 6 weeks after identity verification. I think they say 9 weeks as a worst-case scenario so people don't complain if it takes a while. But my friend got hers in 2 weeks so it's pretty random.

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I went through this exact same situation last year! Filed in March, got flagged for ID verification in April (also had no changes from previous years), and completed the online verification immediately. It ended up taking about 5 weeks to get my refund after verification. The frustrating part is that the "Where's My Refund" tool barely updated during that time - it just said "processing" until literally the day before my refund hit my account. My advice is to check your tax transcript periodically for any new activity codes, as that's usually more accurate than the refund tool. The waiting is awful when you're counting on that money, but hang in there! Most people I know who've gone through this recently got their refunds within 3-6 weeks post-verification.

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Thanks for sharing your experience! It's reassuring to hear from someone who went through the same thing. 5 weeks seems pretty reasonable compared to some of the horror stories I'm reading here. I'll definitely start checking my transcript more regularly - sounds like that's way more reliable than the WMR tool. The waiting is definitely the worst part, especially when you have bills to pay! Did you notice any specific codes on your transcript that indicated things were moving forward?

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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in late March, got the ID verification letter in April, completed it online immediately, and now I'm at week 6 of waiting. Like you, absolutely nothing changed from my previous returns - same job, same deductions, everything identical. It's so frustrating being selected randomly for this when you've done nothing different. I've been checking my transcript weekly and finally saw a 570 code appear last week, so hopefully that means things are moving. The uncertainty is killing me because I was also counting on this refund for some important expenses. Really hoping we both get good news soon!

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I totally feel your frustration! It's so maddening when you get flagged for literally nothing changing. I'm in a similar boat - filed in April, verified in early May, and now I'm going on week 7. The 570 code appearing on your transcript is actually a good sign though! From what I've read here, that means they're actively working on your case. I've been obsessively checking mine and finally saw some movement this week too. The waiting game is brutal when you're depending on that money. Fingers crossed we both get our refunds soon - this whole process has been way more stressful than it should be for something that's supposed to be routine!

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I'm currently going through this exact same situation! Filed my return in early April and got hit with the ID verification requirement about 3 weeks later. Like you, absolutely nothing changed from previous years - same employer, same deductions, everything identical. It's incredibly frustrating to be randomly selected when you've done everything correctly. I completed the online verification through ID.me immediately after getting the letter, and I'm now at about 4 weeks post-verification with no updates. The "Where's My Refund" tool is completely useless - it just keeps saying "processing" with no timeline. I've been checking my transcript weekly and finally saw a 570 code appear, which from reading the comments here seems to indicate they're working on it. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're counting on that money for bills and expenses. It's wild how inconsistent the processing times are - some people get their refunds in 2 weeks while others wait 3+ months. Really hoping we both hear something soon because this whole process has been way more stressful than it should be!

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I'm in the exact same boat! Filed in mid-April, got the verification letter in early May, completed it right away, and now I'm at week 6 with zero updates. It's so frustrating how random and inconsistent this whole process is. The 570 code on your transcript is definitely progress though - I just saw that appear on mine too this week! From what everyone's saying here, that means they're actually working on our cases now. I've been trying to stay patient but it's hard when you're depending on that money. At least we know we're not alone in this nightmare process. Hopefully the 571 code shows up soon for both of us!

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I went through this exact same process last year and completely understand your frustration! I was also randomly selected for ID verification despite having no changes to my return whatsoever. After completing the online verification, it took exactly 4 weeks for my refund to arrive. The hardest part was the complete lack of communication - the "Where's My Refund" tool was basically useless and just kept saying "processing" until the day before my money actually hit my account. My best advice is to check your tax transcript regularly (weekly) rather than relying on the WMR tool, as it's much more accurate about what's actually happening with your case. Look for codes like 570 (additional account action pending) which means they're working on it, followed hopefully by 571 (resolved) and then 846 (refund issued). The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're counting on that money, but try to hang in there! Most people I know got their refunds within 3-6 weeks post-verification, so you're hopefully getting close. The inconsistency in processing times is maddening, but at least you completed the verification right away which puts you ahead of the game.

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Thank you so much for sharing your experience - this is exactly what I needed to hear! It's reassuring to know that 4 weeks is pretty typical and that I should focus on the transcript rather than that useless WMR tool. I've been checking my transcript weekly and just saw a 570 code appear last week, so hopefully that means things are moving along. The lack of communication really is the worst part - you'd think they could at least give you a realistic timeline when you complete the verification. I'm trying to stay patient but it's tough when you have bills due! Really appreciate the breakdown of the codes to look for - I'll be watching for that 571 to show up next.

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I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed in early April, got flagged for ID verification in May (literally nothing changed from last year - same job, same everything), and I'm now at 8 weeks post-verification with still no refund. The inconsistency is absolutely maddening - I've seen people get their money in 10 days while others wait months for the exact same process. I finally broke down and used one of those services mentioned here to actually get through to an IRS agent, and they told me my verification was complete but there was some kind of secondary review happening that they couldn't give me a timeline for. The "Where's My Refund" tool has been stuck on "processing" this entire time, completely useless. I've been checking my transcript religiously and have seen the 570 code for weeks now but no 571 yet. Really hoping something breaks loose soon because I desperately need this money for some major expenses that I've been putting off. This whole system feels designed to frustrate people into giving up on their refunds.

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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this too! 8 weeks is absolutely ridiculous, especially when they completed your verification already. That secondary review thing sounds like what happened to several other people in this thread - it's like they're finding new ways to delay refunds even after you jump through their verification hoops. Have you tried any of those services people mentioned like Claimyr to get through to someone who might be able to push it along? At this point it sounds like talking to a human agent might be your only option to get some real answers. The 570 code sitting there for weeks without a 571 following it is so frustrating. Hopefully that secondary review wraps up soon and you finally see some movement!

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