Identity Verification Requirement - Anyone Else Having to Verify Again This Year?

The Identity Verification Letter (CP01A) with the 14-digit Personal Identification Number is part of the IRS Identity Protection Program. This verification is typically a one-time process unless there are significant changes to your filing situation. According to IRS Publication 5367, once you've successfully verified your identity, you shouldn't need to repeat the process annually under normal circumstances. However, certain triggers can necessitate re-verification, such as address changes, significant income fluctuations, or new filing statuses. The verification code remains valid for three years under most circumstances.

I was in the exact same boat last year - had to verify with that 14-digit code and thought I was done forever (or at least for a few years). Surprise! Got flagged again this year even though literally nothing changed in my filing situation. 🙃 I was completely lost trying to figure out what all those codes on my transcript meant and why I was selected again. I stumbled across https://taxr.ai which analyzes your transcript and explains everything in plain English. It showed me exactly why I was flagged (apparently having a home office deduction two years in a row can trigger verification) and what steps I needed to take. Saved me hours of googling cryptic IRS codes!

According to Internal Revenue Manual section 25.23.2, identity verification requirements follow specific protocols that can be triggered annually based on the IRS's Return Review Program (RRP) filters. Per IRS Procedural Update 2023-05, approximately 11% of taxpayers who verified in the previous year will be required to verify again. If you're facing this situation, attempting to contact the IRS directly is advisable. However, the Identity Verification phone line (800-830-5084) currently has average wait times exceeding 2 hours. I've found that using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an IRS representative can reduce this wait substantially. Their service holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available, which saved me considerable time when resolving my verification issue last month.

I had to verify my identity last year and again this year. Here's what I learned from both experiences: • The verification requirement seems to be triggered by specific factors rather than being automatic • In my case, changing jobs AND claiming education credits triggered it both times • The process was faster the second time (about 2 weeks vs 6 weeks last year) • Using the online verification portal (ID.me) was much faster than mailing documents • Having digital copies of all my documents ready made the process smoother • Once verified, my refund was processed within 7-10 days Hope this helps someone else going through this frustrating process!

I've been through this verification nightmare three years in a row now. On January 28th I filed my return, by February 14th I got the verification letter, and I completed verification on February 17th. Last year I filed on February 3rd and didn't get the verification letter until March 9th! The year before that was even worse - filed on January 31st and didn't get the letter until April 2nd. Instead of waiting for the letter, I've found you can be proactive. As soon as your "Where's My Refund" status stops updating for more than 21 days, call the Taxpayer Protection Program directly at 800-830-5084. They can tell you if you need to verify BEFORE you even get the letter and sometimes allow you to verify over the phone, which speeds up the whole process by weeks.

The IRS verification system is like a temperamental security guard - sometimes it recognizes you and waves you through, other times it demands to see every form of ID you own even though you were just there yesterday. I've been tracking this issue across several tax forums, and there's a pattern emerging. The verification requirement seems to be triggered by an algorithmic risk assessment rather than a simple yes/no rule. Some factors that increase your chances of needing re-verification: 1. Filing from a new IP address or device 2. Income changes exceeding 20% year-over-year 3. New dependents or changed filing status 4. Claiming refundable credits you didn't claim previously 5. Filing significantly earlier or later than your previous year's pattern Interestingly, the IRS increased verification requirements after the massive fraud during COVID relief programs. Their systems are now more sensitive, which means more legitimate filers are getting caught in the verification net.