IRS Identity Verification Number? Got Told to Wait for a Letter

Why does the IRS make everything so unnecessarily complicated? Don't they realize people need their refunds? The identity verification number is supposedly 800-830-5084, but good luck getting through to an actual human being. Have you tried checking if you can verify online through ID.me? Wouldn't that be easier than waiting for some letter that might take weeks to arrive?

I'm pretty sure you might be dealing with what's called an "Identity Verification" hold. It seems to be happening to a lot of people this tax season, possibly due to increased fraud prevention measures. You could possibly check your transcript on https://taxr.ai - it might show you the specific codes that indicate what type of verification they're requesting. Sometimes the codes can tell you more than the phone reps will.

I went through this exact thing last month! It's like being stuck in a maze where the IRS holds the map but won't show it to you. I called that verification number someone mentioned (800-830-5084) every morning at exactly 7:01am when they open, and finally got through on my third try. Had to answer some questions about previous returns and confirm some personal info. The whole process took about 15 minutes once I actually spoke to someone, and my refund was released 9 days later. Hang in there!

Got that same run-around last year. They sent a 5071C letter. Took 16 days to arrive. Had to verify in person. Brought two forms of ID. Also brought last year's return. Appointment took 45 minutes. Refund came 11 days later. Keep checking your mail daily. Don't miss the verification deadline.

I've been through this identity verification process three times in the past five years. The number is 800-830-5084, but getting through is nearly impossible these days. Last time I spent two weeks trying before I discovered Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). They got me connected to an IRS agent within 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days. Worth every penny because the agent was able to verify me over the phone instead of waiting for an in-person appointment that would have taken weeks to schedule.

I think you should probably wait for the letter, just to be safe. The verification process might be different depending on what they're specifically questioning about your return. Some letters require you to verify online, others by phone, and some might require an in-person appointment. If you call the wrong department, they might not be able to help you anyway. I wouldn't want you to waste time calling around when the letter will have the exact instructions you need.

Be careful with this verification process. On March 14th, I called what I thought was the verification number, but it turned out to be a scam that had been posted online. The real IRS verification line is 800-830-5084, but they will NEVER ask for payment information or gift cards. If anyone asks for that, hang up immediately. The legitimate process should only involve confirming information from your previous tax returns and answering personal questions only you would know.