Questions about IRS identity verification letter and stimulus check processing

You're dealing with a common identity verification situation. Let me address both questions: For your stimulus check – the IRS can send your stimulus payment based on your 2019 return if your 2020 return is still processing. If you received previous stimulus payments directly to your bank account, they'll likely use that same information. If your processing delay extends too long, you might need to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 taxes next year. About the documentation deadline – the IRS is generally understanding about reasonable delays in responding to verification letters, especially given mail delays lately. The 30-day timeframe is their guideline, but they typically still process documents received after that window. The different mailing location shouldn't be an issue at all - they care about the content, not where it was mailed from. What's most important is that you've taken action by sending in the requested documents. It will take approximately 6-9 weeks for them to process this verification and release your refund, but calling the IRS in about 30 days for a status update wouldn't hurt.

I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) when I was trying to understand why the IRS needed to verify my identity. I was super confused about the whole process and worried I'd miss out on my refund AND stimulus payment. Their document analysis tool helped me understand exactly what was happening with my return and why I got flagged for verification. I uploaded my tax documents and the letter I received, and it gave me a clear breakdown of what was happening and estimated timeline. It also explained exactly what would happen with my stimulus payment while my return was on hold. Honestly saved me hours of anxiety and confusion.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried taxr.ai after my initial skepticism and I'm actually impressed. My sister took photos of my ID verification letter and I uploaded those along with my tax return. It broke down exactly why I was flagged (address change + increased income) and gave me a clear timeline. The best part was it confirmed my stimulus payment would still come since I had direct deposit info from my previous return, which is exactly what happened! Got my stimulus last week even though my refund is still processing. Definitely less stressful than waiting on hold with the IRS for an hour just to get vague answers.

If you're still having trouble getting through to the IRS after sending your verification documents, I highly recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was stuck in identity verification hell for almost 2 months with no updates. After sending in my documents, I couldn't get through to anyone to confirm they received them. I was super skeptical, but I tried Claimyr (you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and they got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. The agent confirmed they had received my documents but needed additional information they never told me about! Was able to clear everything up in one call instead of waiting for another letter.

I need to eat my words. After watching that video, I tried Claimyr yesterday after spending 3 days trying to get through to the IRS about my identity verification issue. Got connected to an agent in about 35 minutes when I'd been getting busy signals for days. Found out my documents had been received but were sitting in a queue because they needed additional verification of my address history that wasn't mentioned in the original letter. The agent was able to verify everything over the phone. My refund was released this morning! Would have been waiting weeks longer without knowing what was happening if I hadn't gotten through.

Wanted to add that the 5071C letter usually gives you a deadline of 30 days, but the IRS is actually pretty flexible right now. I sent my verification docs almost 45 days after receiving the letter (had COVID and couldn't deal with it right away) and they still processed everything fine. Just make sure to include a brief note explaining why there was a delay if you're worried.

For what it's worth, I had almost the exact same situation in 2019 (pre-COVID). My refund was on hold for identity verification, but my stimulus check (the first COVID one) still came through while my return was processing. They seem to handle those as separate systems, so you'll likely get your stimulus based on the info they have on file from previous years.

Just want to add some reassurance about your situation - you're definitely on the right track by mailing in your verification documents. The IRS Austin processing center you sent them to is one of their main identity verification hubs, so your documents are going to the right place. Regarding your concerns about timing and location - don't worry about the envelope being mailed from a different county. The IRS only cares about receiving the required documents, not where they were mailed from. As for the deadline, while they prefer responses within 30 days, they understand that mail delays and personal circumstances can cause delays. I've seen cases where documents were accepted 6-8 weeks after the original letter date. One tip for the future: if you need to update your address with the IRS, you can file Form 8822 (Change of Address) to make sure future correspondence reaches you. This won't help with the current situation, but could prevent similar issues down the road. Keep checking your refund status every few weeks, and don't hesitate to call if you don't see movement after 8-10 weeks from when you mailed your documents.

I'm going through a very similar situation right now! Filed in mid-February, got the dreaded "processing" status, and I'm pretty sure I have the same 5071C letter sitting at my old address. It's so frustrating when you can't access the mail due to circumstances beyond your control. One thing that might help while you're waiting - make sure to keep detailed records of when you sent your documents and what you included. I've been keeping a timeline of everything (when I filed, when status changed, when I called, etc.) just in case I need to reference it later. Also, about the stimulus check question - from what I've read in other threads here, the IRS typically uses your most recent successfully processed return for stimulus payments. So if your 2019 return was processed normally, they should use that info for your stimulus even while your 2020 return is still in identity verification limbo. The waiting is the hardest part, but it sounds like you've done everything right by getting those documents in the mail. Fingers crossed for both of us that this gets resolved soon!

I'm dealing with a very similar identity verification situation and wanted to share what I learned from my experience. The good news is that you've taken all the right steps by mailing your documents to the Austin processing center. Regarding your stimulus check concern - in most cases, the IRS will use your 2019 return information for stimulus payments if your 2020 return is still processing. They treat these as separate systems, so the identity verification hold on your 2020 return shouldn't prevent your stimulus from being issued based on previously processed tax information. About the timing and mailing location - don't stress about either of those issues. The IRS is more flexible with the 30-day deadline than they used to be, especially given current processing delays. I've seen people successfully resolve verification issues even when responding 6-8 weeks after the original letter date. The different county where your envelope was mailed from won't matter at all - they only care about receiving the required documentation. One thing that helped me manage the anxiety of waiting was setting up a simple tracking system. I noted the date I mailed everything and set a calendar reminder to call for a status update in about 6 weeks. The Austin center typically takes 6-9 weeks to process identity verification documents once received. You've handled this exactly right given your circumstances. The hardest part now is just waiting it out, but you should see movement on your refund status within the next month or two.

I went through identity verification last year and can offer some insights based on my experience. The Austin processing center you sent your documents to is definitely the right place - they handle most of the 5071C identity verification cases. Regarding your stimulus payment, you should still receive it even while your return is processing. The IRS uses your most recent successfully processed return (likely your 2019 return) for stimulus eligibility and payment method. I received my stimulus payments on schedule while my 2020 return was stuck in identity verification for almost 3 months. Don't worry about the timing or mailing location issues you mentioned. The IRS has been more lenient with the 30-day response window, especially given mail delays and personal circumstances. I actually responded about 6 weeks after my letter date and had no problems. The fact that your sister helped you mail it from a different county is completely irrelevant to them. One thing I'd recommend is keeping a simple log of your timeline - when you filed, when you called, when you mailed documents, etc. This helped me stay organized and provided useful reference points when I eventually called for status updates. The Austin center typically takes 6-9 weeks to process verification documents once received, so you're looking at early to mid-June for resolution if they received your documents this week. The waiting is frustrating, but you've done everything correctly. Your refund will be released once the verification is complete, and it should include any interest for the delay.

I'm currently going through the same identity verification process and wanted to share what I've learned from researching this extensively over the past few weeks. You're absolutely doing everything right by sending your documents to the Austin processing center. Regarding your stimulus payment - the IRS typically uses your most recently processed return for stimulus calculations and delivery method. Since your 2020 return is still in verification, they'll likely use your 2019 return information if it was processed successfully. The identity verification hold shouldn't delay your stimulus payment. About your concerns with timing and mailing location - don't stress about either. The IRS has been much more flexible with the 30-day deadline, especially given current circumstances. I've read multiple cases where people responded 45-60 days after the letter date without any issues. The different mailing county is completely irrelevant to them. One thing that's helped me manage the anxiety is understanding that this process, while slow, is very routine for the IRS. The Austin center processes thousands of these cases monthly. Your documents will be reviewed in the order they were received, and once approved, your refund will be released with any applicable interest for the delay. I'd suggest calling the identity verification line (800-830-5084) in about 4-5 weeks to confirm they received your documents. Don't expect immediate resolution, but at least you'll know they have everything they need. The typical processing time is 6-9 weeks from when they receive your documents. Hang in there - you've handled this exactly right given your circumstances!

I wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. You've absolutely done the right thing by sending your verification documents to the Austin processing center - that's their main hub for identity verification cases. Regarding your stimulus payment, you should definitely still receive it even while your return is processing. The IRS treats stimulus payments and tax return processing as separate systems. They'll use your 2019 return information (assuming it was processed successfully) to determine eligibility and send the payment to whatever direct deposit or address info they have on file from that return. Don't worry at all about the timing or mailing location issues. The IRS has become much more flexible with the 30-day deadline, especially given mail delays and personal circumstances people are facing. I actually responded about 7 weeks after my letter date because I was dealing with a family emergency, and they processed everything without any problems. The fact that your sister helped you mail it from a different county is completely irrelevant - they only care about receiving the required documentation. One practical tip: I'd recommend calling the identity verification hotline (800-830-5084) in about 4-6 weeks to confirm they received your documents. You won't get immediate resolution, but at least you'll have peace of mind knowing everything arrived safely. The typical timeline is 6-9 weeks from when they receive your documents to when your refund is released. The waiting is honestly the hardest part, but you've handled everything correctly given your circumstances. Your refund will include interest for the processing delay once it's finally released.

I went through a very similar situation last year and wanted to share some additional insights that might help ease your concerns. You've absolutely done everything correctly by mailing your verification documents to the Austin processing center. Regarding your stimulus payment - you should receive it based on your previously processed return information, even while your 2020 return is stuck in verification. The IRS systems are separate, so the identity verification hold won't affect your stimulus timing. One thing I learned during my experience is that the IRS has actually extended their flexibility on the 30-day deadline significantly. I know people who responded 8+ weeks after their letter date and still had their verification processed without issues. Your mailing location definitely won't matter - they process thousands of these documents daily and only care about the content, not where the envelope originated. The Austin processing center typically takes 6-9 weeks once they receive your documents, so you're probably looking at a resolution sometime in late May or early June. I'd recommend calling their identity verification line at 800-830-5084 around the 4-week mark just to confirm receipt of your documents. The hardest part is definitely the waiting and uncertainty, but this is an incredibly routine process for them. Your refund will be released with interest once the verification clears. Stay patient - you've handled this exactly right given your circumstances!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! Filed in late February, got the dreaded "processing" status after 21 days, and I'm pretty sure there's a 5071C letter sitting at my old address that I can't access. It's so frustrating when life circumstances prevent you from getting mail at your address on file. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. The consensus seems to be that you've done everything right by mailing your documents to the Austin processing center, and the IRS is much more flexible with timing than their letters suggest. One thing I'm taking away from this thread is the importance of that identity verification phone line (800-830-5084) that several people mentioned. I didn't even know there was a dedicated number for this type of issue. I'm definitely going to call in a few weeks to confirm my documents were received. The stimulus payment information is also really encouraging - it sounds like those systems are separate from the identity verification process, so we should still get our payments based on previously processed returns while this gets sorted out. Thanks for starting this thread and to everyone who shared their experiences. It's amazing how much less stressful this becomes when you realize how common and routine this process actually is for the IRS, even though it feels overwhelming from our perspective!

I'm dealing with a very similar identity verification situation and wanted to share some encouragement based on what I've learned from researching this process extensively. You've absolutely handled everything correctly by sending your documents to the Austin processing center. The good news about your stimulus payment is that it should still come through even while your return is processing. The IRS uses separate systems for stimulus payments and typically relies on your most recently processed return (likely your 2019 return) for eligibility and payment method. I've seen multiple people in this community confirm they received their stimulus payments while their 2020 returns were stuck in identity verification. Regarding your timing and mailing concerns - don't stress about either issue. The IRS has become much more flexible with their 30-day deadline, especially given current mail delays and personal circumstances. I've read several accounts of people responding 6-8 weeks after their letter date without any problems. The different mailing location where your sister helped you is completely irrelevant to them. One practical tip that others have mentioned is calling the dedicated identity verification line at 800-830-5084 in about 4-5 weeks to confirm they received your documents. You won't get immediate resolution, but you'll at least have peace of mind knowing everything arrived safely. The Austin center typically processes these cases within 6-9 weeks of receiving documents, so you're probably looking at a resolution in late May or early June. The waiting is definitely the hardest part, but you've done everything right given your circumstances. Your refund will include interest for the processing delay once it's finally released. Hang in there - this is a routine process for them, even though it feels overwhelming from our perspective!