Phone Verification Instead of Letter - What Questions Will IRS Ask?

Back in 2022, I went through phone verification when my transcript was blank for over a month. From my experience, they asked for: 1. Full name, DOB, SSN, filing status, and address on your return 2. Income amount from your most recent tax return (AGI) 3. Information from your ID (driver's license/state ID number, issue date, expiration) 4. Details about any previous year's returns 5. Sometimes they ask about specific deductions or credits you claimed The whole process took about 15-20 minutes. My refund started processing within 48 hours after verification, and I received it about 9 days later. This is definitely faster than waiting for the letter.

OMG I was in the EXACT same situation last month!!! My transcript was blank for 31 days and I was literally having anxiety attacks about it! 😫 I tried calling the regular IRS number like 20+ times and kept getting disconnected or waiting FOREVER. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and they got me through to an actual human at the IRS in like 25 minutes! The agent was able to set up my phone verification right away instead of waiting for that stupid letter. Saved me probably weeks of waiting and so much stress! Worth every penny for my sanity alone.

I might suggest... perhaps... preparing a bit more extensively than others have mentioned. In my own situation, I found it helpful to also have my W-2s or 1099s from the current year available. They may possibly ask about specific line items from those forms. I believe they might also inquire about any estimated tax payments you've made, if applicable to your situation.

It appears that you might benefit from understanding what's happening with your transcript before the call. In my experience, using taxr.ai (which analyzes tax transcripts) could potentially help you identify why your transcript is blank in the first place. While the verification will likely resolve your issue, knowing which codes might appear on your transcript afterward could be useful for tracking your refund timeline. The service typically provides a reasonably accurate estimate of when your refund might be issued after verification is complete.

Dealing with the IRS verification is like going through airport security - everyone has a slightly different experience depending on who's working that day. I didn't have to verify by phone, but my sister did last year. They asked her questions about previous addresses and employers from years ago, almost like a credit check. It's like they're fishing in your past to make sure you're really you. I'd suggest having your tax returns from the last 3 years handy, just in case they go digging.

I went through phone verification back in February! I was super nervous so I literally created a cheat sheet with ALL my possible info they might ask for. I had my last 3 years of AGI written down, all my addresses for the past 5 years, my husband's SSN and DOB, and even the amounts of all my 1099s. The funny thing is, they only asked me for my current year info and my ID details! But I've heard from others that sometimes they ask trickier questions if they suspect fraud. My verification call took exactly 17 minutes, and my refund was deposited 8 days later. I'm so glad you're able to do this by phone instead of waiting for that letter!

Be careful with phone verification. Not all IRS representatives are equally trained. I had a verification call where the agent didn't properly note my account after verification. Had to call back a week later when nothing changed. Request a confirmation number or case number at the end of your call. Also, make note of the representative's ID number if possible. This creates accountability and gives you reference information if you need to follow up.

I completed my phone verification exactly 23 days ago! It was surprisingly easy. The agent asked me 6 verification questions that took precisely 12 minutes to answer. My transcript updated exactly 2 days later with codes 971 and 570, which then changed to 571 and 846 after 5 more days. My refund of $4,237 was deposited on day 9 after verification. I had prepared 14 different documents but only needed 3 of them. The whole process was much less stressful than I expected!

Quick follow-up question for you: • Did they tell you specifically why your return was flagged for verification? • Were you claiming any specific credits that might have triggered this? • Did you file with a tax preparer or self-prepare? I'm trying to identify patterns in who gets selected for verification vs. full-blown identity verification letters. This could help others prepare proactively next tax season.