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JacksonHarris

Just received CP63 Notice - have to call IRS Identity Verification line at 10am, what to expect?

Got my CP63 notice in the mail yesterday saying my refund is on hold because they need to verify my identity. Has anyone gone through this? The letter says I have to call this special phone number between 10am-6pm and they gave me this reference number to provide. I'm supposed to call in tomorrow and I'm nervous about what to expect. How long does this process take? Will I need to provide a bunch of documents? Anyone know if this will delay my refund by weeks or months? This is a pain because I was counting on that money for some upcoming expenses.

Tax professional here. The CP63 notice is an identity verification hold. The IRS is basically making sure you are who you say you are before releasing your refund. When you call the number, you'll need to answer a series of questions about your personal information, tax history, and details from your current and previous returns. Have your tax returns from the current and previous year ready, as well as your ID, Social Security card, and the CP63 notice itself. The call typically takes 15-30 minutes if you have everything ready. Once verified, your refund should be released within 9 weeks, though many people see it much sooner (2-3 weeks is common). Don't miss this call - if you fail to verify, they'll officially deny your refund and you'll have to go through a more complicated process. Be prepared for a potential long wait time when calling. The verification questions can be detailed, so make sure you know things like previous addresses, loan amounts, credit accounts, etc.

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Thanks for the detailed response! Do I need to actually have physical copies of the returns with me during the call? Or just know the information that's on them?

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Having the physical returns (or digital copies) handy is best because they might ask specific questions about line items. They could ask about things like your adjusted gross income from last year, exact deductions claimed, etc. Better to have it and not need it than the other way around!

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When I went through this, they asked me about a car loan I had from like 5 years ago. Be ready for random verification questions from your credit history too.

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Just wanted to share my experience - I went through the SAME exact thing last month and was super stressed about it. Instead of playing detective and trying to piece together information from forums, I used taxr.ai and it saved me so much time. It analyzed my situation, explained exactly what the CP63 meant for MY specific case (not just general info), and gave me a step-by-step plan. It even predicted the questions they'd ask me on the call which was super helpful for preparation. I was verified in one call and got my refund 11 days later. https://taxr.ai

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Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

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It does WAY more than just read the transcript. It actually analyzes your entire tax situation, looks at the specific notice, and gives personalized guidance. For my CP63, it explained what triggered the verification, the exact steps to take, and even forecasted my refund timeline. It was like having a tax pro look at my stuff without paying those crazy hourly rates.

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Just tried taxr.ai after seeing this thread and WOW. Why isn't everyone using this?? It answered questions I didn't even know I had about my tax situation. Seriously the best tool I've found for dealing with IRS issues - wish I'd known about it months ago instead of wasting hours on hold and searching through forums. 10/10 recommend!!!

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After getting the same notice and stressing about getting through to the IRS (which seemed impossible), I found claimyr.com and it was seriously a game changer. They got me a callback from an actual IRS agent without me having to sit on hold for hours. The agent walked me through the verification process and I got my refund like 2 weeks later. Honestly, talking directly to someone at the IRS was what I needed to get this resolved quickly.

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Wait is this actually real? I've been trying to get through to them for WEEKS 😩

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100% real. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying to call for 3 days straight and always getting the "call volume too high" message. The service basically navigates the IRS phone tree for you and gets you in the callback queue. Talking to an actual agent got my issue fixed in one call.

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sounds like a scam tbh. how does a third party app get you through to the IRS when nobody else can?

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It's not magic - they just handle the hold time and phone tree navigation for you. The IRS actually does offer callbacks, but you need to get through the initial queue first which is the hard part. That's what they help with. The talking to the agent part was all me - and it was the best money I've ever spent to finally get my questions answered.

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I can confirm this actually works. Used it last tax season when I was dealing with an amended return issue. Getting that direct line to an agent was what finally fixed my problem.

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I went through this last year. Make sure you're calling exactly at 10am when they open because the wait times get crazy later in the day. I called at 11:30 and was on hold for almost 2 hours. My roommate called right at 10am a few days later and only waited 20 minutes.

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I had to do this in April. Total nightmare. The questions they asked me were so specific I had to hang up and call back after I found more documents. They asked about a mortgage I had in 2017 and the exact amount! Who remembers that stuff??? Make sure you have ALL your financial info handy, not just tax returns.

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Same! They asked me about a credit card I opened in 2019 and I was like ??? who keeps track of that stuff??

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Exactly! And the worst part is they only give you 3 tries to get the answers right before they lock your case and make you verify in person 🤦‍♀️

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This happen to me and my wife in febuary. What a pain. I had to answer weird questions about my credit history from like 6 years ago. After we verified tho the refund came within 2 weeks so at least that part was quick.

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Did they ask both you and your wife questions or just the primary filer?

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Just me as the primary. My wife didnt have to get on the phone at all.

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The IRS and there BS verification process is getting out of hand. I had to do this TWICE last year because they lost my verification the first time. Document everything, record the call if you can, and get the agent's ID number. This system is broken af.

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Not to be that person, but I'd be carefull about that CP63 notice. Make sure it's legit by verifying the phone number online through the IRS website. There are a ton of scams going around and the CP63 is one they like to fake. A real IRS number for identity verification should be on irs.gov somewhere.

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That's a good point! I double checked and the number matches what's on the IRS website, and I can see the notice in my online account too. But def good advice for anyone else getting these letters.

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Good! Just making sure. So many people get scammed this way. Glad yours is legit!

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This identity verification stuf is why I ended up using taxr.ai - it actually showed me exactly what was flagging my return for manual review. Turns out my employer had entered my SSN wrong on my W-2 🤦‍♂️ The platform caught this and helped me fix it before I called in. Saved me SO much time. https://taxr.ai

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How does it know what's flagging your return? Does it have access to IRS systems or something?

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It analyzes patterns in your transcript and notices. It doesn't have special IRS access, but it can see things like mismatched income reporting, verification flags, etc. It's basically using AI to do what a tax pro would do, but faster and cheaper. In my case it spotted the SSN mismatch by comparing what was reported to the IRS vs what was on my return.

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Had to deal with CP63 in march. The questions weren't as bad as I expected. Mostly stuff about previous addresses, employers, loan amounts. Just have all ur tax docs ready. My refund was released 3 weeks after the call.

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One time I had to call that number and they asked me about a student loan I had from 2011!!! Like bruh that was 14 years ago how am I supposed to remember the exact loan amount?? They ended up accepting my answer when I was in the ballpark but it was ridiculous.

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Same! They asked me about an old car loan and I got it wrong 💀 Had to do the whole verification again a different way.

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From someone who works in tax prep - PLEASE understand the hold times can be INSANE. If you can't get through after multiple attempts, I strongly recommend Claimyr. We've had several clients use it with success. Having an actual conversation with an agent cuts through weeks of back and forth.

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I've been calling that stupid number for 3 days now and keep getting the "call back later, we're too busy" message. Is claimyr.com actually better than just trying over and over??

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Honestly yes. We've sent probably 15-20 clients there this season when they couldn't get through on their own. The feedback has been that it's worth it because they all got callbacks and actually resolved their issues. The way I see it, if your refund is being held, the cost is nothing compared to getting your money weeks or months sooner.

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Pro tip: call right at 10am, not 10:01, not 10:05. RIGHT at 10. And don't call on a Monday or Friday if possible - Tuesday-Thursday has shorter wait times generally. Good luck!

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OMG I JUST WENT THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE! Had to verify my identity for a refund from 2022 that I never received. The worst part was getting someone on the phone. Called for 2 weeks straight with no luck. Finally found claimyr.com and got a callback within 2 hours. Identity verified and refund on the way. The IRS phone system is a joke.

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Did they explain why your refund was held for so long? That's crazy it was from 2022!

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Apparently they sent a verification letter in 2022 that I never received, and when I didn't respond they just held the refund. I only found out when I checked my transcript online and saw the hold code. The agent I talked to was actually super helpful and pushed it through once I verified.

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The verification questions aren't too bad usually. But be careful because they only give you 3 attempts to get it right. If you fail verification, you'll have to verify in person at a local IRS office which is a much bigger hassle. Make sure you have your docs ready!

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I kno this sounds crazy but I literally couldn't get through at all for my identity verification. I tried for 3 weeks straight!!! Then I used this app called Claimyr and got a call back from the IRS in like an hour. It was the only way I could actually talk to someone. Without it I'd still be trying to get through probably lol.

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For real??? The IRS identity verification line has been absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to get through on. I'm on my 5th day of trying 😭

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Yep for real! It was a total game changer. The app basically waits on hold for you and then calls you when an agent is available. Talking to an agent got my refund released so fast after weeks of getting nowhere.

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Just tried it and got a callback in 40 minutes after trying for a WEEK on my own. Holy crap thank you for this recommendation!!!

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When I went through this last month i was freaking out cuz I initially failed the identity verification (they asked about a mortgage refinance amount from 2018 and I guessed wrong). Had to call back and verify a different way. If you don't have all your financial info handy, just politely ask the agent if there's another way to verify. They can usually ask different questions.

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I just went through this exact same process two weeks ago! The CP63 verification call was honestly not as scary as I thought it would be. Here's what helped me prepare: I had my last 3 years of tax returns printed out, my Social Security card, driver's license, and any loan/mortgage documents I could find. The agent asked me about my previous addresses, my employer from 2 years ago, and the exact amount of a car loan I had in 2020. The whole call took about 25 minutes including hold time. Once I was verified, they told me my refund would be released in 6-9 weeks, but I actually got it deposited 12 days later. My biggest tip: call right at 10am sharp. I called at 10:02am and only waited about 15 minutes to get through. Also, don't stress too much about getting every answer perfect - they seemed pretty reasonable when I was close on amounts but not exact. Good luck with your call tomorrow!

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I went through this exact same thing back in November and totally understand the anxiety! The CP63 verification process is actually pretty straightforward once you know what to expect. Here's what worked for me: Call exactly at 10am - not 10:01 or 10:05, but right at 10am when they open. I learned this the hard way after calling at 10:30am and being on hold for over an hour. Have these documents ready: your current tax return, last year's return, your ID, Social Security card, and the CP63 notice itself. They might also ask about credit history, so if you have access to your credit report or remember details about loans/credit cards from the past few years, have that info handy too. The questions they asked me were about previous addresses, my employer from 2022, and the approximate amount of a student loan I had. They were pretty reasonable when I was close on amounts but not exactly right. The whole process took about 30 minutes including wait time. Once verified, they told me 6-9 weeks for the refund, but mine actually showed up in just under 3 weeks. Don't stress too much - you've got this! The agents are generally helpful and understand people don't memorize every financial detail from years past. Just be honest if you're not sure about something and they'll usually try different verification questions.

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This is super helpful, thank you! I'm glad to hear the agents are understanding when you're not exactly right on amounts. I'm definitely going to set my alarm for 9:55am tomorrow to make sure I call right at 10. Quick question - did they ask you to verify your identity at the beginning of the call before getting into the detailed questions, or did they jump right into the credit history stuff?

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I went through this exact same thing about 6 months ago and I totally get the anxiety! The CP63 verification call is actually pretty routine once you know what to expect. Here's what helped me get through it smoothly: First, definitely call right at 10am - I made the mistake of calling at 10:45am my first attempt and was on hold for almost 2 hours. When I called right at 10am the next day, I got through in about 20 minutes. Have these documents ready: your current and previous year tax returns, your ID, Social Security card, and the CP63 notice. They might also ask about your credit history, so if you remember details about loans, credit cards, or mortgages from the past few years, jot those down too. The questions they asked me were about my previous addresses (going back about 3 years), my employer from last year, and the approximate amount of a car loan I had in 2021. They were pretty reasonable when I was close on the loan amount but not exactly right. The whole verification process took about 25 minutes including the brief hold time. The agent was actually really helpful and patient. Once I was verified, they said my refund would be released within 6-9 weeks, but I actually got it deposited just 2 weeks later. Don't stress too much about it - the agents understand that people don't memorize every financial detail from years past. Just be honest if you're not sure about something and they'll usually ask different questions. You've got this!

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This is really reassuring to hear! I'm definitely setting multiple alarms to make sure I call right at 10am. Did they ask you to provide the reference number from your CP63 notice right away when you got connected, or did that come later in the process? Also, when they asked about your car loan amount, were you able to give a range or did they want a specific dollar amount? Thanks for sharing your experience!

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I just went through this exact same process last month and totally understand your nerves! The CP63 verification is actually pretty straightforward once you're prepared. Here's what made it smooth for me: Call RIGHT at 10am - I mean exactly at 10:00:00 if possible. I tried calling at 10:15am once and was on hold for over an hour. When I called exactly at opening, I got through in about 18 minutes. Have these ready: your current tax return, last year's return, Social Security card, driver's license, and the CP63 notice with your reference number. They'll ask for that reference number right away when you get connected. The questions they asked me were about previous addresses (going back about 4 years), my employer from 2023, and details about a credit card I opened in 2019. When I wasn't exactly right on the credit limit amount, they were pretty understanding and moved to different questions. The whole call took about 35 minutes total. Once verified, they said 6-9 weeks for refund release, but mine actually hit my account in just over 2 weeks. Pro tip: if you're not sure about an answer, it's better to say "I'm not certain about that exact amount" rather than guess wrong. They usually have backup verification questions they can ask instead. You've got this! The agents are generally patient and helpful. Just breathe and remember they deal with this stuff all day - it's routine for them even if it feels stressful for you.

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This is exactly what I needed to hear! Thank you so much for the detailed breakdown. I'm definitely going to have everything organized and ready to go. Quick question - when you said they asked about a credit card from 2019, do you remember if they asked about the opening date, credit limit, or something else? I'm trying to think through what credit info I might need to remember. Also really good tip about saying you're not certain rather than guessing wrong - I would have probably just guessed! 🙏

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I actually went through the CP63 verification process just last week and can confirm it's not as scary as it seems! The key things that helped me: 1. Called exactly at 10:00am and got through in about 22 minutes 2. Had all my documents spread out on my desk - tax returns from current and previous year, Social Security card, driver's license, and the CP63 notice 3. They asked me about my previous address from 2022, my employer from last year, and the approximate balance on a student loan from 2020 The agent was really patient when I couldn't remember the exact loan amount and let me give a range. The whole verification took about 20 minutes once I got connected. They told me 6-9 weeks for the refund but I'm hoping it comes sooner like others have mentioned. One thing that really helped my anxiety was writing down all the addresses I've lived at in the past 5 years and employers I've had before the call. Having that info ready made me feel more confident. Good luck with your call tomorrow - you'll do great!

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Thanks for sharing your recent experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who just went through this. I like your tip about writing down addresses and employers beforehand - that's smart preparation I hadn't thought of. Did they ask you to verify your identity with basic info (name, SSN, etc.) first before getting into the more detailed questions about loans and addresses? I'm trying to mentally prepare for the flow of the call so I'm not caught off guard tomorrow morning!

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I went through this exact same thing about 3 months ago and I know how stressful it can be! Here's what really helped me get through the CP63 verification smoothly: **Timing is everything** - Call RIGHT at 10:00am, not even 10:01. I tried calling later in the day my first attempt and couldn't get through at all. When I called exactly at opening time, I waited about 25 minutes. **Documents to have ready**: Current and previous year tax returns, your Social Security card, driver's license, and definitely the CP63 notice with your reference number. They'll ask for that reference number almost immediately when you connect. **Types of questions they asked me**: Previous addresses going back about 3-4 years, my employer from 2022, and details about a mortgage refinance I did in 2019. When I wasn't exactly right on the refinance amount, the agent was understanding and asked different verification questions instead. The whole process took about 30 minutes once connected. They initially said 6-9 weeks for refund release, but I actually got my money in just under 3 weeks. **Pro tip**: If you're unsure about an answer, say "I'm not completely certain about that exact amount" rather than guessing. They have backup questions they can ask. The agents deal with this all day and are generally pretty patient. You've got this! It's way more routine than it feels when you're going through it. Just breathe and remember thousands of people do this verification every day. Good luck tomorrow!

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