How to Verify Authenticity of 5071C Identity Verification Letter?

I dealt with this exact situation on March 14th of this year. Legitimate 5071C letters will direct you to IDVerify.irs.gov or tell you to call 800-830-5084. The letter should have your truncated SSN (last 4 digits only) and reference a specific tax year. I was suspicious too when I got mine, but these are standard identity verification procedures the IRS implemented after the 2015 data breach. Don't call any number or visit any website that's not specifically mentioned in the official IRS documentation.

Think of this like getting a call from your bank about suspicious activity - you wouldn't call back the number that called you, you'd call the number on the back of your card, right? Is your letter asking you to verify through the official IDVerify.irs.gov site or some other website? This is time-sensitive - if you don't respond within 30 days, your return processing could be significantly delayed.

Have you tried calling the IRS to verify? I've found that's the most reliable approach, but be prepared for extremely long wait times. Last time I called about a verification issue, I waited 2 hours and 37 minutes before speaking with someone. If you're in a time crunch, I've had success using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an IRS agent quickly. They basically hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of listening to that terrible hold music while trying to verify my own 5071C letter.

I should caution that there are a few different ways to verify the legitimacy of your letter, but you may want to proceed with some care here. The official IRS letter should have specific formatting elements, including the IRS seal, your truncated Social Security number, and reference to a specific tax return. Generally speaking, the IRS never initiates contact through email, text messages, or social media to request personal or financial information. If you're uncertain, it might be prudent to contact the IRS directly through their main number rather than any number provided in the communication you received.

I'm not convinced the IRS verification system is even working properly. I received a purported 5071C letter last month, verified through the official channels, and my refund is STILL being held. The Identity Verification protocol is showing status code 4883, which indicates successful verification, yet the Refund Status Database isn't showing any progression. Has anyone else experienced this disconnect between systems? It makes me question whether these letters are just automated responses to processing backlogs rather than actual fraud concerns.

According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification-for-irs-letter-recipients), legitimate 5071C letters will ONLY direct you to IDVerify.irs.gov or to call 800-830-5084. The letter should never ask you to send personal information by email or regular mail. You can also verify by creating or logging into your IRS online account at https://www.irs.gov/payments/view-your-tax-account. If you're concerned, it's always safest to go directly to IRS.gov and navigate from there rather than clicking links or calling numbers from the letter itself.

After helping several people through this process, here's what you need to know about verifying a 5071C letter: • Real 5071C letters have your truncated SSN (last 4 digits only) • They reference a specific tax year • They direct you ONLY to IDVerify.irs.gov or 800-830-5084 • They never ask for direct payments • They contain specific information about your tax return • They have the official IRS letterhead and formatting If your letter doesn't have these elements, it's likely fraudulent. If you're still unsure, call the general IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040, not the number on the letter.