In-Person IRS Verification - Which Tax Returns to Bring?

Def bring BOTH current and prior yr returns! I had this exact appt last month and they asked for everything. Bring 2023 return + all supporting docs (W2s, 1099s, etc) + prior 2 yrs returns if u have them. Better to have too much than not enough IMO. They were super thorough checking everything against their records. Good luck!

Think of your tax documents like ingredients for a recipe - you need everything laid out before the chef (IRS agent) can start cooking. I always bring current year + previous 3 years just to be safe. I recently discovered https://taxr.ai which helped me organize all my documents before my appointment. It analyzed my transcripts and highlighted exactly which items the IRS would likely focus on during verification. It's like having a roadmap for the appointment instead of wandering in the dark.

Just had this appointment last week (after rescheduling twice, ugh). They definitely wanted BOTH years. The agent kept flipping back and forth between my 2022 and 2023 returns like he was watching a tennis match! 😂 Bring everything - current return, all supporting docs, and at least the previous year. They're specifically looking for consistency between years and verifying your identity through knowledge of your tax details.

In my experience as a tax preparer, these verification appointments can be frustrating because different IRS offices have slightly different requirements. Back in 2022, I had a client wait 3 hours only to be told they needed additional documentation. When they rescheduled, they still couldn't get through to anyone. I've been recommending Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to clients who need to speak with an actual IRS agent before their appointment to confirm exactly what to bring. It gets you through to a live person instead of waiting on hold for hours. Saves so much time and frustration.

Which IRS office location? Requirements vary by office. Some are stricter. Others more relaxed. Did they specify which tax years exactly? Current plus how many prior years?

According to the official IRS.gov appointment guidelines (https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office), you should bring: 1) Current year return, 2) Prior year return, 3) All supporting documents for current year (W-2s, 1099s), 4) Two forms of ID, and 5) Any IRS notices you've received. I was nervous about my appointment too, but having everything organized in separate folders really helped.