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Abigail Spencer

IRS Identity Verification Help: Destroyed Letter, What Now?

Hey everyone, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I need to verify my identity with the IRS for my refund, but I accidentally destroyed the verification letter they sent me. Has anyone gone through this process before? What should I expect when I call them? Any tips on how to handle this situation would be really appreciated!

Logan Chiang

Oof, been there done that. Here's what you need to do: 1. Gather all your important docs: Social Security card, last year's tax return, and any other IRS letters you might have. 2. When you call, be super clear that you're calling about identity verification. 3. Ask them what specific documents they need and how long the whole process is gonna take. 4. Be patient, the IRS can be slow AF sometimes. Good luck, hope this helps!

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Isla Fischer

This is solid advice! I'd add that you should also have your driver's license or state ID handy. They asked for mine when I went through this.

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Miles Hammonds

Ugh, the waiting game with the IRS is the worst. I swear they operate on a different timeline than the rest of us 🐌

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Abigail Spencer

Thanks so much for this! I'll definitely gather all those documents. Any idea how long the call might take?

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Logan Chiang

No prob! And honestly, it can vary. I was on hold for like an hour, but the actual convo was only about 15 mins. Just make sure you've got plenty of time set aside.

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Ruby Blake

Pro tip: I found a way to skip the hold times when calling the IRS. I used this site called claimyr.com - it's a calling tool that dials through the phone menu, stays on hold, and then connects you when a live agent picks up. It costs $20, but it saved me hours of waiting. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Jc9x-gysK0

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Micah Franklin

Sounds too good to be true. Is this legit? Anyone else tried it?

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Ella Harper

Idk man, paying to talk to the IRS? That's some capitalist nightmare fuel right there 😂

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Ruby Blake

I get the skepticism, but it's 100% legit. Used it twice now. Yeah, it sucks to pay, but time is money, ya know? Beats sitting on hold for hours.

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PrinceJoe

How does it work exactly? Do they just call and then transfer you or what?

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Ruby Blake

Basically, yeah. You tell them which IRS line to call, they dial in and navigate the menu, wait on hold, and when an agent picks up, they call your phone and connect you. It's pretty slick.

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Brooklyn Knight

lol welcome to the club. the irs identity verification process is a special kind of hell 🔥 took me 3 months to get it sorted. hang in there!

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Owen Devar

Have you tried checking your online account on the IRS website? Sometimes they post copies of notices there. Might save you a call if you're lucky!

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Abigail Spencer

I didn't even think of that! I'll definitely check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

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Daniel Rivera

This! 👆 The online portal has saved my butt more than once. Def worth a look before you go through the hassle of calling.

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Sophie Footman

Ugh, the IRS and their stupid verification process. It's like they WANT to make our lives difficult. Why can't they just use facial recognition or something? 🙄

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Connor Rupert

Careful what you wish for... imagine the gov't having a database of everyone's faces. No thanks! 😱

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Sophie Footman

Fair point. I guess I'll take the annoying paperwork over Big Brother watching me 24/7 lol

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Molly Hansen

Quick question - did you file your taxes electronically or by mail? If you e-filed, you might be able to get the info from your tax prep software. Worth a shot!

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Abigail Spencer

I e-filed! That's a great idea, I'll check my TurboTax account. Thanks!

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Brady Clean

Just went through this last month. Here's a pro tip: if you can't get through on the main IRS line, try calling your local Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can sometimes help with identity verification issues and the wait times are usually shorter.

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Skylar Neal

This is gold! 💯 The Taxpayer Advocate Service is like the IRS's secret weapon. They've helped me out of more than one jam.

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