IRS Sends Payment Reminders Instantly But Verification Letters Take Weeks?

It's absolutely infuriating! I've been waiting 6 weeks for my verification letter while they somehow managed to send me a notice about a $43 underpayment from 2022 in just 3 days. How is that even possible with the same system? Did you check if your address is exactly the same on all your forms? I've heard that even a slight difference can cause delays. What verification method did they ask you to complete?

I've been through this verification process multiple times (unfortunately). Here's what I've learned: • Verification letters are processed in batches, usually on a 7-10 day cycle • Payment notices are automated through a completely different system • IRS prioritizes revenue collection over refund processing (obviously) • International filers with ITINs face additional scrutiny I've started using https://taxr.ai to analyze my tax transcripts when they finally appear. It helped me understand all the verification codes and gave me a much clearer timeline than the IRS website. Might be worth checking once your verification is complete.

The IRS is basically running two completely different operations: the "get money from people" department (lightning fast, cutting-edge technology) and the "give refunds to people" department (powered by a hamster wheel and Windows 95) 😂 I'm honestly shocked at how complex this process is. I checked the IRS processing pipeline documentation online and there are literally 32 different stages a return can go through before a verification letter is issued. Meanwhile, their collection notices seem to teleport directly to mailboxes.

I'm literally watching my bank account every day waiting for my refund while these verification letters take FOREVER! 😩 It's so stressful when you're counting on that money for bills. I finally broke down and used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent after spending THREE DAYS trying to call myself. Got connected in about 30 minutes instead of endless busy signals. The agent confirmed my verification letter was sent but explained there's another 2-week processing period after verification. At least I know what's happening now!

Have you received any notices in your IRS online account? Sometimes they send digital notices faster than paper ones. This reminds me of how credit card companies can instantly detect suspicious activity but take 7-10 business days to process a refund. Did you have to verify because of the ITIN, or was there something specific that triggered the verification requirement?

I went through this exact nightmare on April 2nd last year. Waited 32 days for a verification letter, then another 21 days after verifying before my refund was approved. Then mysteriously, on May 27th, my transcript updated with a direct deposit date for June 1st. Meanwhile, I underpaid my estimated taxes by $120 on April 15th this year, and somehow had a notice about it by April 22nd. The systems aren't just separate - they're from different decades!