IRS Says I'll Receive a Letter with 120-Day Response Timeline - Happens Every Year

Called the IRS on April 18, 2024 to inquire about a pending letter they're sending me. The agent stated that once I receive this letter, I will have exactly 120 days until I may hear back from them regarding my case. He specifically mentioned that if I don't receive any communication within that timeframe, I need to initiate contact again by calling them back. This is the third consecutive tax year (2022, 2023, and now 2024) where we've encountered this exact same situation with our returns. Our filing status changed to Married Filing Jointly as of January 15, 2024, and I ensured all documentation was precisely submitted according to current regulations. Why does this verification process recur EVERY single year for us despite meticulous preparation?

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30 comments

Ivanna St. Pierre

Author

I've seen this pattern before with several clients. When you receive the same type of letter for consecutive years, it typically indicates a mismatch in your reported information versus what the IRS has on file. Last year, I had three clients with similar situations where their W-2 information didn't match IRS records exactly. Have you checked that all your employer identification numbers are accurately listed on your forms? Sometimes even a single digit discrepancy can trigger these verification cycles.

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Kingston Bellamy

Based on your description, you're likely receiving a CP05 Notice (Information Verification Request) or possibly a 5071C Letter (Identity Verification Request). These are standard compliance protocols that can be triggered by multiple factors including income threshold changes, filing status modifications, or algorithmic selection for verification. I recommend using https://taxr.ai to analyze your transcript once you receive the letter. The platform can identify specific transaction codes that indicate why you're being flagged repeatedly. For example, code 570 with a specific reference number might indicate a pattern recognition trigger in their compliance verification system. My clients who've used taxr.ai typically understand exactly what's happening rather than waiting in uncertainty for 120 days.

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Paloma Clark

The 120-day timeframe you mentioned is standard for CP05 notices, which are part of the Income Verification Program. These are not audits but verification checks. Key point: if you're newly married as of 1/15/2024, your name change may not have been properly updated with SSA before filing. The IRS cross-references SSA data and flags discrepancies automatically. When they say "call back after 120 days," it means they're placing your return in the manual review queue, which is significantly backlogged currently.

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Raul Neal

Have you tried getting through to an actual IRS account specialist? When I was in your situation last year with recurring verification letters, I wasted days trying to reach someone who could actually explain why this kept happening. After numerous failed attempts with the general line, I used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to connect with an actual IRS representative who had access to my full file history. They explained I had a "verification flag" on my account from a previous issue that needed to be manually removed. Have you considered trying that approach? It might save you from going through this again next year.

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Jenna Sloan

I'm not convinced this is necessarily a cause for concern. According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.6.4.35, these verification procedures are part of normal tax administration. The IRS is required by IRC Section 6001 to verify information before issuing refunds in certain circumstances. The 120-day timeframe is actually a protection for taxpayers - it prevents indefinite holds. If you've received these notices for three consecutive years but ultimately received your refunds each time, the system is working as designed, albeit frustratingly slow. I wouldn't recommend paying for services unless you've confirmed an actual problem exists.

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Noland Curtis

My husband and I went through this exact same situation after we got married last year! We got the letter saying to wait 120 days, and I was so anxious I called every week to check on it. What finally worked for us was visiting our local IRS office in person - I brought all our documents, marriage certificate, and previous years' returns. The agent there was actually super nice and found that our issue was related to my name change not being properly recorded with Social Security before we filed. Maybe try making an appointment at your local office?

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Diez Ellis

Has anyone considered that this might be related to the IRS's Questionable Refund Program (QRP) or Return Integrity Verification Operations (RIVO)? These programs flag returns that match certain criteria year after year. Did you perhaps claim similar credits each year? Have you moved frequently? Do you work in an industry with high reported fraud rates? The 120-day timeframe is interesting because it suggests manual review rather than automated verification, which typically resolves in 60 days. What exactly did the agent say the letter was regarding?

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Vanessa Figueroa

I had the EXACT same issue for 3 years straight after changing jobs. Turns out my previous employer had been reporting my income under a slightly different name format than what was on my Social Security card (they had my middle initial included). I finally fixed it by bringing my SS card to HR and having them update their records. Haven't had a single verification letter since 2022! The IRS systems are extremely sensitive to these tiny discrepancies, especially with the increased fraud detection algorithms they've implemented in the last few years.

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Grace Patel

This recurring pattern for three consecutive years definitely suggests there's a systemic issue that needs to be addressed rather than just waiting it out each time. Based on what others have shared here, I'd recommend taking a multi-pronged approach: First, verify with Social Security Administration that your name change from your marriage is properly recorded in their system - this seems to be a common culprit based on several responses here. Second, contact your employer's HR department to confirm they have your exact legal name and SSN on file (no middle initials if not on your SS card, etc.). Third, instead of just waiting the 120 days again this year, consider contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you need your refund for essential expenses. As Muhammad mentioned, they can often expedite resolution if there's financial hardship. Finally, once this year's issue is resolved, I'd suggest requesting a copy of your tax transcript to see if there are any recurring transaction codes that might explain why you're being flagged annually. Understanding the root cause could prevent this from happening for a fourth year in 2025. The fact that you're getting the exact same timeframe and process suggests it's likely the same underlying data mismatch triggering the verification each year.

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Romeo Barrett

This is incredibly frustrating, but you're definitely not alone in this situation. Three consecutive years of the same verification process suggests there's a persistent data mismatch that hasn't been properly resolved. Since you mentioned your filing status changed to Married Filing Jointly as of January 15, 2024, I'd strongly recommend checking two things immediately: 1) Verify that Social Security Administration has your updated name on file if you changed it after marriage, and 2) Confirm with your employer that they have your exact legal name and SSN recorded correctly in their payroll system. The fact that you're getting the same 120-day timeline each year indicates you're likely hitting the same automated flag in their system. Rather than just waiting it out again, consider being proactive this time - contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you need your refund for essential expenses, or try visiting your local IRS office in person with all your documentation. Once this year's issue is resolved, definitely request your tax transcript to identify any recurring transaction codes that might explain the annual flagging. Understanding the root cause could finally break this cycle for 2025.

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Amara Adeyemi

This is such a comprehensive breakdown of the situation! I'm new to dealing with IRS issues like this, but your suggestion about checking with Social Security Administration makes perfect sense. I never would have thought that a name change mismatch could cause years of verification delays. Quick question - when you mention requesting a tax transcript to identify recurring transaction codes, is that something you can do online through the IRS website, or do you need to request it by mail? I'm dealing with something similar (though only my second year) and want to be prepared with all the right information. Also, has anyone here had success with the Taxpayer Advocate Service? I'm curious about the process and how quickly they typically respond to requests.

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Maggie Martinez

Great questions! Yes, you can request your tax transcript online through the IRS website at irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript - it's usually available immediately for online viewing or you can have it mailed to your address on file. The online version is much faster and you can download it as a PDF. Regarding the Taxpayer Advocate Service, I've had mixed experiences but generally positive outcomes. You can request their help online at taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 1-877-777-4778. They typically respond within 7-10 business days for initial contact, but resolution times vary depending on complexity. The key is demonstrating that you're experiencing financial hardship or that normal IRS processes aren't working (which sounds like your situation with recurring issues). One tip: when you contact them, be specific about the financial impact - mention if you need the refund for mortgage payments, medical bills, etc. They prioritize cases where there's genuine hardship rather than just inconvenience. Also keep detailed records of all your previous calls and letters - they love documentation! @Romeo Barrett - thanks for that comprehensive response earlier, really helpful breakdown of the multi-pronged approach!

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Ethan Scott

@Amara Adeyemi You can request your tax transcript online through the IRS website at irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript - it s'actually pretty straightforward! You ll'need to verify your identity with personal information, and you can view it immediately online or have it mailed to you. The online version shows all the transaction codes Romeo mentioned. As for the Taxpayer Advocate Service, I used them last year when my refund was delayed for 6 months. You can contact them through their website or call 1-877-777-4778. In my case, they responded within a week and had my issue resolved within 30 days. They re'especially helpful if you can demonstrate financial hardship - like needing the refund for mortgage payments or other essential expenses. Just make sure you have all your documentation ready when you contact them! The key is being persistent and not just accepting the wait "120 days response" every year like Ivanna has been doing.

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Emma Taylor

I've been working as a tax preparer for over 8 years and I see this pattern frequently with newly married couples. The issue is almost certainly related to your name change not being properly synced between Social Security Administration and IRS systems. Here's what likely happened: When you got married on January 15, 2024, if you changed your name, there's often a delay between when SSA updates their records and when that information flows to the IRS. The IRS automated systems flag returns where the name on the tax return doesn't exactly match what SSA has on file. My recommendation is to call SSA first at 1-800-772-1213 to verify they have your correct married name on file. If there's a discrepancy, get that fixed immediately. Then call the IRS back and specifically ask them to note in your file that you've updated your information with SSA. For future years, I always tell my married clients to wait at least 2-4 weeks after updating their name with SSA before filing their tax return. This simple step prevents the verification cycle from starting in the first place. The good news is that once this underlying mismatch is resolved, you shouldn't see these letters again. But you need to address the root cause rather than just waiting out the 120 days each year.

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Natasha Petrov

This makes so much sense! I'm actually going through something similar right now - got married last fall and have been wondering why my tax return is taking forever to process. I had no idea there could be a delay between SSA and IRS systems syncing up. Quick question - when you say to wait 2-4 weeks after updating with SSA, is that from when you submit the name change request to SSA, or from when they actually process it? I know SSA can take a while to update their records too. Just want to make sure I time this correctly for next year's filing! Also, do you know if this same issue can happen with address changes, or is it mainly just name changes that cause problems?

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Chloe Wilson

@Natasha Petrov Great questions! From my experience, the 2-4 week wait should be from when SSA actually processes and confirms your name change, not just when you submit the request. You can verify this by checking your Social Security statement online at ssa.gov/myaccount - once your new name appears there, that s'when the clock starts ticking for the IRS systems to sync up. As for address changes, they typically don t'cause the same verification issues as name changes. The IRS is much more flexible with address discrepancies since people move frequently. However, if you move to a different state, sometimes there can be minor delays while they verify your state tax obligations, but nothing like the 120-day verification cycles that name mismatches trigger. The key thing to remember is that name changes are tied to your Social Security number, which is the primary identifier the IRS uses to match your return to their records. Address changes are secondary information that don t'usually trigger their fraud detection algorithms in the same way.

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Andre Dubois

@Natasha Petrov Great question! The 2-4 weeks is from when SSA actually processes and confirms your name change, not from when you submit the request. You re'absolutely right that SSA can take time to process - sometimes up to 10 business days just to update their systems. Here s'what I tell my clients: After you submit your name change to SSA, wait for them to send you a confirmation or new Social Security card. Then wait an additional 2-3 weeks before filing your tax return to ensure the information has propagated to IRS systems. As for address changes - yes, this can definitely cause similar issues! The IRS cross-references addresses with postal service data and previous year returns. If you move frequently or have mail forwarding set up, it can trigger verification flags. I always recommend updating your address directly with the IRS using Form 8822 if you ve'moved, rather than relying on mail forwarding to handle it. The key is being proactive about keeping all your information consistent across SSA, IRS, and employer systems. A little extra time upfront can save months of delays later!

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Paolo Ricci

@Natasha Petrov Great question! From my experience, the 2-4 weeks should be counted from when SSA actually processes and updates your record, not just when you submit the request. You can check the status online through your my Social Security account to see when the name change is officially reflected in their system. Address changes typically don t'cause the same verification issues as name changes, but they can sometimes trigger identity verification letters if the IRS thinks someone else might be filing using your information from a different location. However, address changes are much easier for their systems to handle since they don t'have to cross-reference with SSA records. The name mismatch issue is particularly problematic because it s'an automated flag that happens before any human even looks at your return. Address changes usually just result in correspondence being sent to the wrong place, but don t'typically delay processing like name discrepancies do. One tip: when you do update your name with SSA, make sure you also update it with your employer s'HR department using the exact same format. Sometimes people use Mary "Jane Smith on" one form and Mary "J. Smith on" another, and even small differences like that can cause issues!

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