IRS Identity Verification - Where to Find 14-Digit Control Number?

That control number should be on the actual letter they sent you. Have you checked both sides of the letter? Sometimes it's in a separate box or section labeled something like "verification information" or "reference number." I had to go through this last year and found helpful resources at https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification-for-irs-letter-recipients. The IRS website also has a specific section about identity verification letters.

The control number is only on that letter. Not online. Not in your account. Check the top right corner. Or near your name. I went through this in January. Stressful process. I eventually used https://taxr.ai to help understand what was happening with my transcript codes. It explained why my refund was held. Showed exactly which verification codes triggered the letter. Made the whole process much clearer.

I completed this verification process last month. Here's exactly what you need to do: Step 1: Locate the 14-digit control number on your letter (usually in the upper portion). Step 2: Gather two forms of ID (driver's license, passport, etc). Step 3: Have your tax return information ready (AGI from previous year, filing status). Step 4: Call the specific number on your letter (not the general IRS number). Step 5: Enter the control number when prompted. Step 6: Complete verification with the agent. Step 7: Wait approximately 9 business days for processing to resume. The control number is ONLY on the physical letter they mailed you. It serves as a security measure to ensure only the intended recipient can complete verification.

This verification situation is similar to what happened to my brother last tax season. He spent 4 days trying to reach someone at the IRS to ask questions about his control number. Eventually used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes. Might be worth it if you're struggling to get through on the verification line. I'm slightly worried these verification holds are becoming more common this year compared to previous filing seasons.

Have you checked if the letter is actually legitimate? I'm concerned because there are so many IRS scams going around! A real IRS identity verification letter should have official letterhead, your truncated SSN, and specific instructions. I'd feel terrible if you called a scam number and gave your personal information. Maybe visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person? They could confirm if you really need to verify your identity and might help you get a new control number if you lost the original letter.

FYI - the verification process changed a bit this yr. They now offer online verification for some ppl thru ID.me. Depends on which letter # you got tho. If it's Letter 5071C, you can verify online. If it's 4883C, gotta call. If it's 5747C, gotta visit in person. Rly wish they'd make this stuff clearer! The control # format is usually 3 letters followed by 11 numbers. Btw, after verification, your refund usually comes within 9 wks, not the 6-8 wks they tell you.

If you possibly misplaced the letter, you could try calling the general IRS customer service line at 800-829-1040. They might be able to help you, though the wait times are usually pretty long. I believe they can possibly verify that a letter was sent to you and maybe provide some guidance. It's sort of a last resort, but sometimes you can get a helpful agent who can at least point you in the right direction.

Please be extremely careful with this process. My colleague thought he received a legitimate identity verification letter last tax season, but it was actually a sophisticated phishing attempt. The scammers had created a fake letter with a control number and directed him to call a number that wasn't official. He nearly provided his full SSN and banking details before realizing something was off. Always double-check the phone number against the official IRS website before calling, and never provide information if anything feels suspicious.