ID Verification Letter Delay - Sent February 13th, Still Nothing

Identity verification letters typically arrive within 5-15 business days after issuance. Given that yours was sent on February 13th and it's now been over 6 weeks, this is well beyond the standard delivery timeframe. The IRS utilizes USPS First Class Mail for these notices, which shouldn't take more than 7-10 days even during peak tax season. At this point, you should contact the IRS Identity Verification department at 800-830-5084 to request a replacement letter or potentially verify your identity over the phone. When calling, have your tax return information readily available, including AGI from previous year, filing status, and dependent information.

Did you move recently or file with a different address than your previous return? On March 7th, I had a similar issue with my verification letter, and it turned out they sent it to my old address even though I updated it on my 2023 return. The USPS forwarding service doesn't always work with IRS mail.

I'm not the OP, but I had to wait almost 7 weeks for my ID verification letter earlier this year. Isn't it ridiculous that in 2024 we still have to wait for physical mail for something that could be handled securely online? The IRS does have an online verification system, but not everyone qualifies to use it. Worth checking if you can verify online instead of waiting for the letter: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification-for-irs-letter-recipients

This is exactly why I stopped waiting and used Claimyr to get through to an IRS agent. Here's what you need to do step-by-step: 1. Go to Claimyr.com (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) 2. Enter the IRS Identity Verification number (800-830-5084) 3. They'll call you when they have an agent on the line 4. Explain that your letter was sent 43+ days ago and never arrived 5. Ask them to verify you over the phone instead I waited 32 days for my letter, then used Claimyr and had everything resolved in one phone call. The agent confirmed my identity and manually released my return for processing. You NEED to do this ASAP - every day you wait is another day your return is on hold!

Has anyone tried requesting a transcript to see if there are any notes about the verification letter? Srsly wondering if you can find out online whether they're waiting for a response from you or if they know the letter wasn't delivered?

I had a somewhat similar experience last year, though I'm not entirely sure if it's exactly the same type of letter. My verification notice was supposedly sent out on January 24th, 2023, but it never arrived. I waited probably longer than I should have - almost 8 weeks - before finally calling. When I did reach someone, they told me the letter had been returned to them as undeliverable, but they never bothered to try sending it again or contacting me another way. The whole system seems rather inefficient, if you ask me.

Based on my experience last filing season, there's another factor to consider: the IRS has different types of ID verification letters. In 2023, I received a 5071C letter which required verification, but there are also 4883C, 5747C, and 6331C letters that all involve identity verification but have slightly different procedures. Looking back at my records from February-March 2023, the 5071C letter took exactly 11 days to arrive, which was faster than I expected. If you're facing a 43-day wait, something is definitely wrong.

Instead of waiting for the letter, you might want to try scheduling an appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center. I did this when my verification letter never showed up. You'll need to call 844-545-5640 to schedule the appointment, but once you're there, they can verify your identity in person. Bring multiple forms of ID (passport, driver's license, social security card) and copies of your tax returns for the current and previous year. This resolved my issue in one visit without having to wait for mail delivery.