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Nia Thompson

How to verify my identity for tax refund without receiving the IRS letter? Desperately need refund for newborn expenses

I filed my taxes back in February and got notified that I need to verify my identity with the IRS before they can release my refund. They supposedly mailed a verification letter on April 10th but its almost May and I still havent received anything. I just had my first baby in January and Im not working right now because daycare is too expensive. Im really counting on this refund (around $5800) to help cover expenses until I can figure out childcare and get back to my job. Is there any way to verify without having that specific letter? Ive tried calling the general IRS number but keep getting disconnected after waiting forever. Anyone gone through this? I really need this money soon.

You can verify your identity online through ID.me even without the letter. You'll need to go to the IRS website and look for the identity verification section. Have your ID ready, Social Security card, and any financial documents like W-2s or 1099s. You'll need to take pictures of your documents and yourself (selfie verification). The system will walk you through the steps. If that doesn't work, try calling the Identity Verification number directly at 800-830-5084 instead of the general IRS line. They're specifically for identity verification issues and might be easier to reach. Hope this helps!

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Nia Thompson

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Thank you so much! I'll try the ID.me route first thing tomorrow. Do you know if the refund gets processed quickly after verification?

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In my experience it took about 2-3 weeks after verification for the refund to process. But ive heard of people getting it faster sometimes. Check your transcript after verification to see if theres movement.

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Just adding that I verified through ID.me in March and got my refund exactly 9 days later. Hopefully you'll have the same quick turnaround!

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Ethan Wilson

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Be prepared for ID.me to be a pain sometimes. I had to try three times before my selfie would verify properly. Make sure you're in good lighting!

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NeonNova

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I was in almost the exact same situation last year with my refund. After getting nowhere for weeks, I found this tool called taxr.ai that honestly saved me. It analyzed my transcript, explained exactly what was happening with my refund, and gave me specific steps to fix the identity verification issue. It was so much better than trying to piece together random advice from forums and guessing what was happening. You can check it out at https://taxr.ai - it gives you a clear picture of your specific situation instead of generic advice. Seriously, best decision I made during my tax nightmare.

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Yuki Tanaka

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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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NeonNova

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It does WAY more than just read the transcript. It actually interprets all the codes and statuses, explains exactly whats happening with your refund in plain english, and gives you specific action steps based on your situation. For me, it identified that my identity verification wasn't properly processed even though I had completed it, and gave me the exact department to contact. I was just spinning my wheels before that!

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Carmen Diaz

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do you work for them or something? sounds too good to be true 🤔

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NeonNova

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Lol no I don't work for them 😂 I'm just someone who was pulling my hair out dealing with the IRS for 3 months and this tool finally gave me answers. Trust me, when you've been waiting on thousands of dollars that you need for bills, and something finally helps, you get pretty enthusiastic about it!

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Andre Laurent

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Had this exact problem in March! After weeks of frustration, I used the Claimyr app (claimyr.com) and got connected to an actual IRS agent who helped me verify my identity over the phone. They basically call the IRS for you and when they reach someone, they connect the call to your phone. I was about to give up after being hung up on like 20 times trying myself. The agent verified me right there on the call and my refund was processed the following week. It saved me so much stress with a newborn at home!

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Nia Thompson

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That sounds awesome! Did you have to pay for the service?

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Andre Laurent

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Yeah there is a fee but honestly it was worth every penny to finally get my refund processed. Considering I was waiting on nearly $6000 and had already wasted hours trying to call myself, it was the best money I've spent this year. The relief of talking to an actual person who could help was priceless.

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Emily Jackson

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Another app promising miracles... sure 🙄 Do they actually get you through to the IRS?

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Andre Laurent

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Listen, I was skeptical too. But after spending literal DAYS trying to get through on my own (and getting disconnected every single time), I was desperate. And yeah, they actually did get me through to a real person who could help. Not a robot, not a call center - an actual IRS agent with access to my account.

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Liam Mendez

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I used Claimyr too when I was freaking out about my amended return. Got through to the IRS in like an hour instead of days of redial hell. Agent told me directly what was wrong and how to fix it.

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Sophia Nguyen

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I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now!! Filed in January, got told I needed to verify in March, letter never came. I have a 6 month old and am going insane waiting for my refund. The IRS is a complete joke. How are we supposed to verify our identity when they can't even get a letter to our house??

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The identity verification letter isn't actually required. You can call 800-830-5084 directly which is the dedicated ID verify line. Much easier to get through than the main IRS number. Alternatively, go to irs.gov and click on "Verify Your Identity" to do it online through ID.me. You'll need your photo ID and some tax documents. For anyone struggling with this - remember that once you verify successfully, your return processing typically resumes within 9 weeks. But I've seen it happen much faster lately (2-3 weeks).

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Nia Thompson

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Thanks for the info! Has anyone here successfully verified without the letter? I just want to make sure I don't waste more time on something that won't work.

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I verified without the letter in 2023. Used ID.me online and it worked fine. My refund came about 3 weeks later.

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Maya Patel

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I did it online too. Never got any letter. The online process is kinda annoying (takes like 30 min) but it worked.

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U don't need the letter at all! Go to irs.gov and look for ID verify section. U can do everything online with ID.me. Need ur drivers license, ssn, and a way to take selfies. They'll verify u on the spot. I did this in 2023 and got my refund like 2 weeks after. Good luck!!

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Emma Garcia

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Ugh the IRS and their "we sent a letter" BS! 🙄 I swear half the time they don't even send anything. I had to verify my identity last year and waited 6 weeks for a letter that never came. Finally I just went to irs.gov and did the ID.me verification online. It worked fine without any letter. Just have all your docs ready and a phone that can take clear pics. The verification was approved instantly and I got my refund about 3 weeks later.

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Ava Kim

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Same experience! I'm convinced they just say they sent letters to buy time. The whole system is broken.

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Emma Garcia

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100% they do this to delay refunds. It's all a game to hold onto our money as long as possible 😡

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Just a heads up - when I tried to verify online through ID.me last year, it wouldn't accept my documents for some reason. I ended up spending HOURS trying to get through to the IRS. Nothing worked until I used that Claimyr service (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an IRS agent who manually verified me over the phone in like 15 minutes. Refund showed up a week later. With a baby at home, time is literally money - might be worth looking into if the online stuff doesn't work.

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Layla Mendes

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How much does that service cost? Sounds useful but I'm already struggling financially.

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There is a fee but when I was staring down another month+ delay on my $4700 refund, it was absolutely worth it. Think about how much your time is worth too - I had already wasted about 8 hours trying to call them myself.

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I had to wait 14 WEEKS for my 2022 refund because of identity verification issues. Tried calling over 30 times. Never got the letter either. Eventually I went physically to a local IRS office as a last resort and was able to verify in person. If nothing else works, see if you can make an appointment at your nearest IRS office. Just FYI it took me about 3 weeks to get an appointment, but at least it worked.

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Nia Thompson

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I didn't even think about going in person! There's an office about 45 minutes from me. Do you just call to make an appointment?

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Yep! Call 844-545-5640 to schedule at your local office. They book up fast though so do it ASAP. Bring every possible document - ID, SS card, tax returns, etc.

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Aria Park

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The most reliable way I found to get through to the IRS is to call right when they open at 7am Eastern Time. Not 7:01, not 7:05 - exactly 7:00am. The identity verification line is 800-830-5084. Set an alarm and be ready to dial the second it hits 7:00. Even then you might wait 30+ minutes, but at least you'll get through. Better than waiting for a letter that may never come.

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Noah Ali

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After days of struggle with my transcript, I finally used taxr.ai to help me understand what was happening with my refund and identity verification. It was insanely helpful - showed me exactly why my refund was delayed and the steps to fix it. The tool explained everything in plain English instead of IRS code language. In my case, it showed that I needed to verify my identity PLUS fix a discrepancy in my reported income. Wouldn't have known this without taxr. Worth checking out at https://taxr.ai

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I keep seeing people mention this. Does it actually help or is it just analyzing the same info you can see yourself?

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Noah Ali

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It interprets all the codes and gives you actionable steps. Like in my case, it spotted that I had TWO issues - the identity verification flag AND a discrepancy with one of my W2s that was holding things up. I wouldn't have known to address both issues just looking at the transcript myself. Plus it explains the timeline so you know what to expect.

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👀 might have to try this. I've been staring at transcript codes for weeks and have no idea what any of it means

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Olivia Harris

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I needed to verify my identity for my 2023 tax return and also never received the letter the IRS claimed to have sent! I tried calling over and over with no luck, even used the "call early in the morning" trick. Finally went through ID.me on the IRS website and got verified that way. Took about 30 minutes total. Be warned though - the ID.me process is kinda invasive, they take a video selfie and scan your ID. But it worked, and my refund showed up 3 weeks after verification.

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If you have access to your tax transcript, check for code 570 with a note about identity verification. This confirms that's the only issue. If you see other codes like 420 or 424, you might have multiple issues to resolve. Understanding your transcript is key to knowing exactly what's happening.

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Nia Thompson

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I don't have access to my transcript because... I need to verify my identity to see it 🙃 It's a frustrating loop!

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Classic IRS catch-22! In that case, your best bet is definitely the ID.me route through the IRS website or the dedicated phone line (800-830-5084). Don't wait for the letter - they're notorious for claiming they sent things that never arrive.

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Alicia Stern

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Might be worth checking if your letter was returned to the IRS. If you moved recently or if your address on file isn't exactly right (even small differences like "Street" vs "St"), the post office might have returned it. I had this happen and found out the IRS had my old apartment number wrong by one digit!

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Hot tip: if ID.me isn't working for you (it can be glitchy AF), try using a computer instead of your phone, or vice versa. I couldn't get it to work on my laptop but it worked fine on my phone. Also make sure you're in good lighting for the facial verification part.

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Drake

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I tried everything to reach the IRS - calling multiple numbers, checking online, even emailing my congressman's office for help. Nothing worked until I used Claimyr (claimyr.com). Was skeptical at first but they actually got me connected to a live IRS agent within an hour. The agent verified my identity over the phone and told me exactly what was happening with my refund. My $7240 refund was deposited just 8 days later. When you've got a baby and bills piling up, getting that refund quickly is absolutely worth it.

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Sarah Jones

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another recommendation for this service? is it actually legit? seems too good to be true honestly

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Drake

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I get the skepticism, I felt the same way! But yes, it actually works. They essentially navigate the IRS phone system and wait on hold for you, then call you when they get a human. Talking to an actual IRS agent was what finally got my refund released after weeks of frustration. When you're desperate for your refund, spending a bit to actually get real help is 100% worth it.

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I used Claimyr too. Got through to an agent in about 45 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own with no luck. The IRS phone system is deliberately obtuse - this service just knows how to navigate it efficiently.

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Emily Sanjay

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The identity verification stuff is annoying but actually goes pretty quick once you complete it. I had to do it for 2022 taxes and got my money about 2.5 weeks after verifying. Don't wait for the letter - just do the online verification through ID.me on the IRS site. I never received my letter either lol

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Jordan Walker

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I've been going thru this EXACT identity verification nightmare for months!! I ended up breaking down and using taxr.ai after seeing it recommended here, and it was incredibly helpful. It showed me exactly what was happening with my refund (there was an identity verification hold AND an income verification issue I didn't know about). It gave me super clear steps to resolve both issues. The tool basically translated all the cryptic IRS codes and timelines into actual English. Found out my letter was sent to my old address even though I updated it everywhere! https://taxr.ai

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Natalie Adams

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Did you have to provide personal info to use that site? Always nervous about giving tax info to random websites

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Jordan Walker

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You upload your transcript but it's encrypted and secure. They don't store your personal data. I was hesitant too but at that point I was desperate for answers. The site is legit - they explain exactly what's happening with your specific refund situation.

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CONGRATS ON THE BABY!! 🥰👶 Sorry you're dealing with IRS headaches on top of newborn stress. If you're really in a pinch waiting for your refund, consider calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They can sometimes help if you're experiencing financial hardship (like not being able to pay for essentials). Explain your situation with the new baby and income issues - they might be able to expedite things.

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