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IRS Verification Letter Processing Time - What's the Typical Timeline?

I submitted my return on January 31st and my status has been 'In Verification' since approximately February 4th. Today I contacted the IRS and the representative informed me that my verification letter was dispatched yesterday. Shouldn't this process be more streamlined in 2024? Has anyone else experienced these verification delays this filing season? For those who have received verification letters: how long did it actually take for the letter to arrive after being told it was sent? I understand everyone's situation varies, but I'm trying to establish reasonable expectations. Also, has anyone been told a letter was sent when in reality it hadn't been dispatched yet? I've documented all my interactions meticulously, but wonder if there are additional variables I should be accounting for. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

Amun-Ra Azra

I went through this exact verification nightmare last year. The agent told me my letter was mailed on March 8th, but it didn't show up until March 23rd - a full 15 days later. And when it finally arrived? It was dated March 12th, not the 8th like they claimed. Makes you wonder if they're just telling people whatever to get them off the phone. The whole system seems designed to keep us in the dark about what's really happening with our money.

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Summer Green

Thank you for sharing this timeline! This is extremely helpful as I'm tracking everything closely. Per IRM 21.5.3, verification letters should be processed within 5-7 business days after issuance, but clearly that's not happening in practice. I need this resolved ASAP as I have time-sensitive financial obligations.

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17d

Gael Robinson

Was your letter a 4883C or a different verification form? I was told specifically on April 9th that my letter was sent, but I'm wondering if different letter types have different processing times through USPS. Did you notice if it was sent from a regional center or from the main processing facility?

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15d

Edward McBride

I was in verification limbo for nearly 3 weeks last month. The IRS website was completely unhelpful, just showing "Your tax return is still being processed" with zero details. I finally found https://taxr.ai which helped me decode my transcript. It showed my verification was actually related to a mismatch between my reported W-2 income and what my employer submitted. According to the analysis, this type of verification typically takes 30-45 days to resolve. The site also showed me which transcript codes to watch for that would indicate my verification was complete - saved me so much confusion!

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Darcy Moore

After being stuck in Identity Verification status for 37 days, I utilized Claimyr (https://claimyr.com/?ref=rc) to connect with an IRS agent. Got through in approximately 18 minutes when I had previously spent hours on hold. The agent confirmed my verification letter had indeed been dispatched and provided the Transaction Code that would appear on my transcript once verification was complete. This expedited my understanding of the situation considerably. Would you consider this approach to obtain definitive information about your case status?

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Dana Doyle

Paying to talk to the IRS? Seems like throwing good money after bad if you ask me. I mean, it's kinda funny that we have to pay a third party just to talk to the people who already take our money! šŸ˜‚ But I guess if you're desperate enough...

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16d

Liam Duke

I understand the hesitation, but when I was waiting on a $4,000 refund last year, spending a small amount to get actual answers brought me so much peace of mind. The IRS phone system is absolutely overwhelmed right now - I tried calling 14 times before using Claimyr. Sometimes your time and mental health are worth more than the service cost.

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15d

Manny Lark

I'm considering using this service, but I'm not entirely sure what to ask once I get an agent on the line. Did you have specific questions prepared? Was the agent able to tell you exactly what was causing the verification delay in your case?

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13d

Rita Jacobs

My letter came exactly 9 days after they said it was sent out. Tbh the verification process was way faster than I expected after that. Did the ID verify thing online right away, then boom - transcript updated 5 days later and DDD showed up the next day. Def check ur mail every single day and open everything from the IRS asap!

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Khalid Howes

I had almost the exact same experience from the 2022 tax season. The verification letter took about 8 days to arrive, but once I completed the verification online, my refund was processed within a week. Such a relief after stressing about it for so long! Makes me wonder why they can't just email these verification requests instead of using snail mail in 2024.

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14d

Ben Cooper

Don't trust what they tell you. Letters often delayed. System shows one date. Reality is another. Had three letters last year. None arrived when promised. One never came at all. Had to request duplicate. Waste of time.

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Naila Gordon

I think we need to give the IRS some grace here. Their mail system is like a massive cargo ship trying to navigate a narrow canal - it's going to move slowly by nature. My verification letter last month took 12 days to arrive, but the process itself was straightforward once I had it. The agents are like sailors on that ship - they can tell you when it left port, but they can't control all the factors affecting delivery.

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Cynthia Love

I might be able to provide some insight, though my experience is from earlier this filing season. I was told on February 12th that my verification letter had been sent, but it didn't arrive until February 28th - approximately 16 days later. And to make matters worse, when I called again during that waiting period, another agent told me no letter had actually been sent yet! It seems like there might possibly be some disconnect between what agents see on their screens and what's actually happening in the processing centers.

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Darren Brooks

This is exactly what happens. I worked as a tax professional for 12 years. The truth is that when an agent tells you a letter was sent on a specific date, they're reading what the system shows. But in reality, there's a 3-5 day processing period before letters actually get printed and mailed. So if they say it went out April 15th, it likely was printed around April 18-20 and mailed shortly after.

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13d

Rosie Harper

Wow, this explains so much! I had no idea there was this big gap between what they see in the system and what actually happens. I always thought the IRS would be like Amazon with super precise tracking, but it's more like ordering from that sketchy website where shipping updates are more like suggestions than facts. Thanks for explaining this!

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13d

Elliott luviBorBatman

My verification experience this tax season: ā€¢ Letter sent date (according to IRS): March 2 ā€¢ Actual arrival date: March 13 (11 days later) ā€¢ Verification completed online: March 13 ā€¢ Transcript updated: March 20 ā€¢ Refund deposited: March 25 Don't waste time calling repeatedly. Set up Informed Delivery with USPS to know exactly when it arrives. Watch your transcript for code 971 followed by 290 - that's when you know you're cleared.

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