Only one spouse received identity verification letter - is this normal?

This happens more often than you'd think. Last year, I filed jointly with my wife and only she received the verification letter. The state only verifies one taxpayer on a joint return in many cases - usually the primary filer. I remember feeling just as confused as you are now! The verification is typically just a security measure, not an indication of problems with your return. From my experience, as long as your spouse completes the verification, your joint return will continue processing normally.

Here's what's likely happening with your state verification: Step 1: Your state has a risk-based verification system that flags certain returns Step 2: For joint returns, they often only verify the primary taxpayer (first person listed) Step 3: The verification PIN is sent to this primary taxpayer Step 4: Once verified, the entire return (including both spouses) is released for processing Step 5: Your refund would then be issued based on the normal processing timeline Did you list your spouse first on the tax return? That would explain why they received the verification and not you. Is this your first time filing jointly in this state?

Based on various state tax department websites I've reviewed, sending a verification letter to only one spouse on a joint return is standard procedure in most states. The primary taxpayer (usually listed first on the return) receives the verification request, and once completed, it validates the entire return. If you're concerned about this delay affecting your refund timeline, you might consider using Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to your state tax department directly. I've seen several people in this community mention using it to reach an actual person at their state tax office within 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They can confirm whether your situation is normal or if additional verification is needed.

Went thru this exact thing last month. Only my husband got the letter w/ the PIN, not me. Called the state tax dept (took FOREVER to get thru btw) and they confirmed it's totally normal. They said they only send to the primary taxpayer on joint returns. After he verified, our refund processed in abt 2 weeks. NBD in the end, just annoying and confusing at first!

Your state isn't sending both verification letters to save money. Plain and simple. I was surprised too when this happened to us! The state tax department told me directly they only need to verify one taxpayer on a joint return. Just have your spouse complete the verification with the PIN they received. If there were issues with your portion of the return, they would have sent you a separate notice.

I work with tax returns professionally, and this is comparable to how banks handle joint accounts - they often only verify one account holder's identity during certain security processes. In the tax world, most states have moved to a system where they only verify the primary taxpayer (first listed) on joint returns. I've seen this with clients in California, New York, Illinois, and several other states. It's more efficient for their processing systems and still provides the security they need. In comparison, federal verification from the IRS is more likely to require both spouses to verify separately when there are questions.

I had this happen. Only received one letter. My spouse got it. I panicked. Called state tax office. Waited two hours. They confirmed it's normal. Only primary taxpayer gets verified. Other spouse doesn't need to. Completed the verification. Got our refund three weeks later. No issues at all. Don't worry about it.

You might want to double-check that the letter is actually from your state tax authority and not a scam. While it's probably legitimate and normal for only one spouse to receive verification (usually the primary taxpayer), there are unfortunately many tax scams this time of year. I would suggest possibly calling your state tax department directly using the number from their official website (not from the letter) to confirm the verification request is genuine before proceeding. If it is legitimate, then your spouse should complete the verification promptly, as there are typically deadlines that could delay your refund if missed.