IRS Now Requires 14-Digit Control Number from Mailed Notice to Verify Tax Return - Is This Legitimate?

This verification screen is part of the IRS's enhanced identity protection system, showing a two-step verification process that requires a physical mailing component. The 14-digit control number requirement ensures that the person accessing the account has physical access to official IRS correspondence sent to the registered address. The screen displays two key timing windows: a 7-day initial waiting period after filing your return, plus an additional 14-day window for mail delivery. This means you'll need to wait approximately 3 weeks total before requesting a new notice if you don't receive the first one. The URL (sa.www4.irs.gov) confirms this is a legitimate IRS secure access portal, indicated by the "sa" prefix. The verification notice will be automatically generated and mailed to your address of record - there's no way to bypass this physical verification step or receive the code electronically. If you haven't received a notice yet, don't select the "resend notice" option until at least 21 days have passed since filing. The IRS implemented this waiting period to ensure the original notice has sufficient time to arrive through the postal system and to prevent overwhelming their verification system with duplicate requests.

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in the same boat rn... filed 2 weeks ago and still waiting for this mysterious letter 🙄

welcome to the club lol irs making us jump through hoops these days smh

This happened to me last month! Letter came in exactly 12 days. Just sit tight!

Pro tip: make sure ur mailing address is correct on the return. My letter got sent to my old address and had to request a new one 😫

I went through this exact same verification process about 6 months ago and it's definitely legitimate. The 14-digit control number comes on an official IRS letter that looks like a regular notice - it's not anything fancy, just has "CP01H" at the top and the control number is clearly labeled. The waiting period is frustrating but it's their way of making sure you actually live at the address on file. I'd recommend checking your mail daily because the envelope looks pretty plain and could easily get mixed in with junk mail. Also make sure to check if you have mail forwarding set up that might redirect it. Once you get the letter and enter the code, the whole verification process takes like 30 seconds and you're good to go. Just hang in there - the system works, it's just slow!

Just wanted to add that I've been seeing this verification step pop up more frequently this tax season. It seems like the IRS is rolling this out to more taxpayers as part of their identity theft prevention efforts. One thing to keep in mind is that if you've moved recently or have any address discrepancies between your current return and what they have on file, this verification is almost guaranteed to trigger. The good news is that once you complete it successfully, you typically won't have to do it again for future returns unless there are major changes to your account. Also, if you're using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block, they should have warned you about potential verification delays during the filing process, though I know not everyone reads those notifications carefully. The 14-digit control number is definitely the real deal - don't try to bypass it or look for workarounds online, as that could flag your account for additional scrutiny.