IRS Letter (Not Verification) = 120 Day Wait? Mine Was Feb 14th

Ok, I've been through this before. Here's what's happening: 1. First, the IRS does have different waiting periods depending on what type of letter you received 2. For most standard notices (like CP12 or CP05), the waiting period is usually 60 days, not 120 3. However, for certain review letters, they can indeed ask you to wait 120 days 4. The key is knowing exactly which letter/notice number you received 5. Without knowing the specific notice number, it's hard to confirm if 120 days is correct Wow, I'm always surprised by how complicated they make these timelines!

I'm wondering, maybe, if you could possibly share what type of letter you received? I mean, if you're comfortable with that. Sometimes the specific notice number makes a big difference in how long you might have to wait. In my experience, which is limited I should add, different letters have different timeframes, and I've found that 120 days is usually for more complex situations.

Been in your exact situation last year! Got a letter mid-February and waited forever. I finally broke down and called the IRS after 70 days, but spent 3 hours on hold before giving up. Then I found Claimyr.com and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes. Turns out I only needed to wait 60 days, not 120! The agent processed my refund right away. If you're running out of time for those medical expenses, it might be worth the fee to get a definitive answer: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

The IRS waiting periods are kind of like weather forecasts - they give you the longest possible timeline so you're pleasantly surprised if things happen faster. Think of it as them saying "up to 120 days" rather than "exactly 120 days." Many of these reviews are resolved much quicker, especially if everything on your return checks out. Just like how a storm might be predicted to last all weekend but clears up by Saturday afternoon.

The 120-day timeframe is typically associated with Examination Department reviews, not standard processing delays. Based on the February 14th mailing date, your notice was likely generated during Initial Processing Review, which has shorter resolution timeframes. I'd recommend checking your tax transcript through taxr.ai to identify the specific hold codes and processing status. The platform will analyze your transcript codes to determine the exact nature of the review and provide a more accurate timeline for resolution based on current IRS processing patterns.

Last year I got one of those letters in March, and everyone told me I'd be waiting until July. I was so stressed! But then my refund actually showed up in early May. What I learned is that the 120 days is their legal cover - it's the maximum time they're giving themselves, but many cases resolve faster. For me, I just kept checking my transcript every couple days and suddenly saw it updated with a refund date. Don't lose hope - the system works faster than they claim sometimes!

I received a CP05 Review Notice in February 2023, and despite the 120-day warning, my case was resolved in 68 days. The key indicator was when my transcript updated with Transaction Code 571 (reversal of previous hold). Most taxpayers experiencing these reviews aren't actually being audited - the IRS is simply verifying information through automated systems. Keep monitoring your Account Transcript for code changes rather than relying solely on WMR status.

Important things to know about IRS review timeframes: • Different notice types have different waiting periods • CP05 notices (income verification) - typically 60-90 days • CP75 notices (EITC verification) - can take full 120 days • CP2000 notices (income discrepancy) - 30 days to respond, then 60-90 days to process • 4464C letters (income verification) - usually 60 days • If medical expenses are urgent, call IRS and request hardship processing • Hardship requests can expedite refunds when documented financial hardship exists • Keep checking your transcript weekly for status changes

Has anyone actually received their refund EXACTLY at the 120-day mark? I'm genuinely curious if these timeframes are just maximum legal limits or if they actually use the full time period. It seems like such an arbitrary number.