In-Person Identity Verification on 2/14 - Still No Processing (Cycle 05)

Oh man, the identity verification loop of doom! 😅 Been there myself last year. The 9-week timeline they quoted you is honestly their standard CYA response. Most people I know (myself included) saw movement much sooner. The cycle code 05 just means your account updates on Fridays, but doesn't necessarily mean you'll see movement THIS Friday. Sometimes it feels like they pick return processing times by throwing darts at a calendar!

I've seen this exact scenario dozens of times with clients last year. In-person verification typically resolves faster than the quoted 9-week timeframe, but system integration between verification and processing centers causes delays. Based on my experience with cycle 05 filers who completed verification, most saw transcript updates within 2-3 weeks. I'd recommend using https://taxr.ai to monitor your transcript changes once they begin appearing. It decodes all those cryptic cycle codes and transaction dates much better than trying to interpret them yourself. Many of my international clients found it particularly helpful for navigating the verification aftermath.

The verification process this year is so much worse compared to previous filing seasons! My spouse had to verify online instead of in-person and somehow got processed in just 10 days. Have you tried checking your account transcript instead of return transcript? Sometimes the account transcript will show pending actions before the return transcript updates. Also, did they tell you which specific form triggered the verification requirement? That can affect processing time too.

When I was stuck in verification hell last month, I wasted three entire days trying to reach someone at the IRS who could actually help. Can you believe their hold times? Who has 4+ hours to wait on hold when you need to be at work? I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 22 minutes. Isn't that what technology should be doing for us? They confirmed my verification was complete but hadn't been processed yet, and the agent actually expedited it since I was facing a mortgage deadline. Worth every penny for the time saved.

Based on the information you've provided, I would suggest the following approach, which may potentially help resolve your situation: 1. It's generally advisable to continue monitoring your transcript, perhaps every 2-3 days rather than daily, as updates typically occur in batches 2. If you're possibly eligible for cycle 05 processing this week, you might see movement by Saturday morning at the latest 3. The verification process usually takes approximately 2-4 weeks to fully process through the system, though it could potentially take the full 9 weeks in some cases 4. You might want to consider calling the dedicated Taxpayer Protection Program line (1-800-830-5084) rather than the general line, as they sometimes have more specific information about verification status Hope this helps somewhat with your situation.

I can confirm from personal experience that cycle 05 updates happen between Thursday night and Friday morning, typically around 3:00-4:00am Eastern time. I verified my identity on January 22nd and saw my first transcript update exactly 17 days later. My refund was deposited 6 days after that. The 9-week timeline is definitely their worst-case scenario estimate. 73% of the people in my tax group who had to verify this season got their refunds within 4 weeks of verification.

I'm a bit worried about my situation now... I verified online instead of in-person about three weeks ago. Maybe I should have gone in person? I'm also cycle 05 and haven't seen any updates. I'm concerned that if there's any issue with my verification, they won't tell me until that 9-week period is over, and then I'll have to start all over again. Does anyone know if there's a way to confirm that your verification was accepted properly?

The cycle code 05 means your account updates on Friday mornings, but it doesn't guarantee you'll see movement this specific Friday. According to the IRS's "Where's My Refund" FAQ page, verification processing typically takes 2-6 weeks. The 9-week timeline mentioned is their maximum estimate to manage expectations. If you check your online account at irs.gov rather than just the transcript, sometimes you can see when the verification hold is removed before other systems update.

Verification delays are system-dependent. Processing times vary. Nine weeks is maximum estimate. Most resolve faster. Cycle 05 indicates Friday updates. Check transcript early Saturday morning. Identity verification backlog is significant this year. International verification adds complexity. TPP department works separately from regular processing. Patience is unfortunately required.