NY State Tax Refund on Hold - Requesting Documentation Within 2 Weeks - What Documents Might They Need?

The NY tax department's refund status page shows you're in the verification stage of your refund processing. The message indicates they've initiated a standard information request, with the letter being sent through regular mail. You should expect this letter within 2 weeks from when this status first appeared. The system offers three key features worth noting: 1. An online response option - Once you receive the physical letter, you can submit requested documents electronically through their portal 2. Help section checklists - These provide detailed guidance for common document requests 3. Email alert signup - This will notify you of your refund approval, amount, and expected payment date Common requests during this verification process typically include: - Copies of W-2 forms - 1099 documentation - Identity verification documents - Proof of claimed deductions - Supporting documentation for credits Important: While this verification request has paused your NY state refund processing, it won't affect your federal refund status since state and federal tax systems operate independently. It's best to wait for the physical letter before taking action, as it will contain specific instructions and a reference number needed for your response.

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Got the same letter last month. They just wanted my w2s and proof of address. Sent it in and got my refund 2 weeks later no prob

Word of advice - respond ASAP when u get the letter. I waited like a month and my refund got delayed forever 🤦‍♂️

its probably identity verification. NYS been crazy with fraud prevention this year smh

upload everything online when u can instead of mailing. way faster turnaround time trust

I went through this exact same situation last year! The waiting for the letter is definitely the worst part. In my case, they requested copies of my W-2s and a form to verify my identity (had to provide SSN, DOB, and prior year AGI). One thing that helped me was calling their customer service line after I got the letter - they were able to confirm what specific documents they needed over the phone, which saved me from having to guess or send extra stuff. The number should be on the letter when you get it. Also, definitely use the online upload option like others mentioned. I submitted everything digitally and got my refund about 3 weeks later. Way faster than mailing paper copies. The online portal also lets you track the status of your document submission, so you'll know when they've received and reviewed everything. Try not to stress too much - from what I've seen, most of these requests are routine verification stuff, not because there's actually a problem with your return. Good luck!

Just want to add that if you're really anxious about what they might need, you can also check if your tax preparer (if you used one) has any insights. Sometimes they've seen similar requests from NY and can give you a heads up on what to gather while you wait for the letter. Also, make sure you keep checking that refund status page every few days - sometimes it updates with more specific info or the status changes before the letter even arrives. I've seen people get their refunds processed faster than expected when they stayed on top of it. The good news is that NY generally processes these verification requests pretty efficiently once they have what they need. Most people I know who've gone through this got their refunds within a month of sending in the docs. Hang in there!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got that message on the NY tax site about 5 days ago and have been checking my mailbox obsessively ever since. It's so frustrating not knowing what they want. From reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like it's usually pretty routine stuff - W-2s, identity verification, maybe some supporting docs for deductions. I'm trying to stay optimistic that it's just their standard fraud prevention measures kicking in. One thing I'm wondering about - has anyone here had experience with the email alerts feature they mention? I signed up for it hoping it might give me updates when they receive my documents (whenever I finally get that letter and can respond). Curious if those alerts actually work or if they're just for the final refund approval. Also appreciate everyone mentioning the online upload option. I was planning to mail everything but sounds like digital is definitely the way to go for faster processing. Fingers crossed we both get our letters soon and can get this resolved quickly!