Received second letter after CP05 notice - 570/971 codes on transcript - What to expect?

I had almost the exact same situation last month. Got my CP05 on February 8th, then a second letter came on February 22nd. My transcript had the same codes - 570 on 01/29/2024 and 971 on 02/08/2024. The second letter was just a follow-up CP05A asking for more verification of my income and withholding. They wanted me to send in my W-2s and a copy of my final paystub from 2023. I sent everything on February 25th and I'm still waiting. My "as of" date hasn't moved since January 15th which has me slightly concerned.

The second letter is most likely a CP05A which requests documentation to verify income, withholding, or credits claimed on your return. This is standard procedure after an initial CP05. Your transcript codes tell the story: 570 means refund hold placed, 971 indicates a notice was sent. The fact that you contacted TAS won't trigger a new letter - they work independently from the verification department. I recommend using https://taxr.ai to analyze your transcript. It can decode exactly what stage of review you're in based on those codes and dates. It's particularly useful for military families dealing with verification reviews because it explains the specific timeframes and next steps in plain language.

I've been through the CP05/CP05A process three times in the past five years. The sequence you're describing follows the standard Refund Integrity Verification Operation (RIVO) protocol. The initial CP05 informs you of the review, then the CP05A requests specific documentation. Be prepared to provide wage verification documents, including all W-2s, 1099s, and potentially final paystubs showing YTD totals that match your return.

After receiving my second letter (CP05A) last tax season, I tried calling the IRS verification department directly for weeks with no success. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 30 minutes. • The agent confirmed exactly what documents they needed • They provided a specific fax number for faster processing • They noted my account to expedite due to hardship • My refund was processed within 2 weeks after speaking with them I'm so grateful I found this service instead of continuing to waste time on hold. With your spouse deployed and home repairs needed, explaining your situation directly to an agent could help prioritize your case.

Just a heads up - don't ignore that second letter if it's a CP05A! My brother thought it was just a duplicate of his first notice and didn't respond. His refund got completely frozen for 6 months and he had to go thru a whole appeal process. The IRS is super strict abt deadlines for sending docs. They usually give u like 30 days max to respond. And def don't call the regular IRS # on the letter - total waste of time, they just put u on hold forever and then disconnect.

You might find it helpful to know that the IRS typically sends the CP05A approximately 15-20 days after the initial CP05 in most cases. The verification process is generally focusing on one of three areas: income verification, withholding verification, or credit verification (particularly for refundable credits). The static "as of" date on your transcript actually suggests that your case hasn't been assigned to a reviewer yet, which is fairly common given the current backlog. Once a reviewer picks up your case, that date will likely update. The fact that you've received a second notice probably means your return has been flagged for the next stage of verification rather than being related to your TAS contact attempt.

URGENT: When you receive the CP05A, respond within 15 CALENDAR DAYS (not business days) to prevent further delays! Use Form 911 (Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order) with your response if you're experiencing financial hardship due to the delay. Military families with deployed spouses qualify for expedited handling under IRM 21.5.6.4.7. Include a copy of deployment orders with your response. The RIVO department (who handles these verifications) is currently processing February responses, so if you reply promptly to the CP05A, you could see resolution within 30-45 days based on current timelines.

I'm going through a similar situation right now - filed in February, got my CP05 three weeks ago, and just received what I assume is the CP05A yesterday. The anxiety is real, especially when you're counting on that refund! One thing I learned from calling the Practitioner Priority Line (my CPA gave me access) is that the verification department is completely separate from regular customer service. They told me the CP05A will specify exactly which documents to send - usually W-2s, final paystubs, and sometimes 1099s if you have them. Since your spouse is deployed, definitely mention that in any correspondence you send back. Military families often get expedited processing, especially if you can demonstrate financial hardship. Include a brief cover letter explaining the deployment situation and timeline for needed repairs. Also, when you send the documents, use certified mail with return receipt. It costs a few extra dollars but gives you proof of delivery and a tracking number you can reference if they claim they never received it (which unfortunately happens more often than it should). Hang in there - the waiting is the worst part, but most people do get their refunds eventually once they provide the requested documentation.

I'm in a very similar situation right now! Filed in early February, got my CP05 notice about 3 weeks ago, and just received another letter yesterday (haven't opened it yet but sounds like it's probably the CP05A based on everyone's experiences here). The timing stress is real - we're also dealing with some urgent home repairs that we were counting on our refund to cover. Reading through all these responses is both helpful and nerve-wracking! It sounds like the key things are: 1) respond quickly to whatever they're asking for, 2) use certified mail, and 3) include a cover letter explaining any hardship situation. @Isabella Oliveira - thank you for mentioning the 15 calendar days deadline! I had no idea it was that tight. And @Simon White, your advice about including deployment documentation is really valuable for military families going through this. One question for those who've been through this - when you sent your documents via certified mail, did you also fax them? I've seen some people mention faxing as potentially faster, but I'm worried about sending sensitive tax documents that way. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this process, even though it's incredibly stressful when you need that refund for legitimate expenses.

I'm currently going through this exact same process - filed in early February, received my CP05 notice in mid-March, and just got a second letter yesterday. The stress is incredibly real when you're counting on that refund for essential expenses! From what I'm learning here, it sounds like the second letter is most likely a CP05A requesting specific documentation. The timeline everyone's describing (CP05 followed by CP05A 15-20 days later) matches exactly what I'm experiencing. A few things I'm planning to do based on the advice here: • Respond within 15 calendar days as soon as I open the letter • Use certified mail with return receipt for proof of delivery • Include a cover letter explaining any hardship circumstances • Consider both faxing and mailing for faster processing The waiting game is brutal, especially when you have legitimate financial needs for that refund. But it's reassuring to see from multiple experiences here that most people do eventually get their refunds once they provide the requested documentation. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and strategies - it really helps to know what to expect and how to respond effectively!

I'm currently dealing with a very similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned from my tax preparer and some research. The second letter you're receiving is almost certainly a CP05A, which will request specific documentation to verify your return. Given that your spouse is deployed, I'd strongly recommend including Form 911 (Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order) with your response if this is causing financial hardship. Military families with deployed spouses get priority handling under IRS procedures. Make sure to include: • Copy of deployment orders • Brief explanation of your situation and timeline for home repairs • All requested documents (likely W-2s, final paystubs showing YTD totals) For submission, I'd recommend the dual approach others mentioned - fax for speed, then certified mail for proof. The IRS verification fax numbers are typically more reliable than calling their phone lines. One important note: if your transcript "as of" date hasn't updated since February 12th, it likely means your case hasn't been assigned to a reviewer yet. This is actually common due to backlogs, but once you respond to the CP05A, it should move your case into the active review queue. The 15 calendar day response deadline is critical - don't let it slide even a day or two past that. Military hardship cases that respond promptly are typically resolved within 30-45 days based on current processing times. Hang in there - the verification process is stressful but most cases resolve successfully once the documentation is provided!

I'm going through this exact same process right now and the timing couldn't be worse! Filed in late January, got my CP05 in early March, and just received what I'm assuming is the CP05A yesterday. Like many of you, I was counting on this refund for some urgent expenses. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and anxiety-inducing. The consistent timeline everyone's describing (CP05 followed by CP05A about 15-20 days later) matches what I'm seeing, which at least helps me understand this is a normal progression. Based on all the advice here, my game plan is: • Open that second letter immediately and respond within the 15 calendar day deadline • Send documents via both fax and certified mail for redundancy • Include a detailed cover letter explaining my financial hardship situation • Keep meticulous records of everything I send and when The part that's most frustrating is how the "as of" date on my transcript hasn't budged since February - it feels like my case is just sitting in limbo somewhere. But seeing that others eventually got their refunds after providing the requested docs gives me hope. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully completed this process, how long after sending your CP05A response did your transcript actually update with new activity? I know the refunds took 30-45 days, but did you see any movement on the transcript before the refund was issued? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community support makes dealing with the IRS bureaucracy so much more manageable!

I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation and wanted to share some additional insights that might help. Filed in early February, received CP05 in mid-March, and just got my second letter (CP05A) yesterday. After reading through everyone's experiences here, I called my local VITA office and they confirmed that the second letter is indeed requesting wage verification documents. What they told me that wasn't mentioned yet - if you're using direct deposit, make sure your bank account information hasn't changed since filing. Apparently some refunds get delayed even after verification is complete if there are banking issues. Also, for military families - I learned that you can request "Combat Zone" priority processing if your spouse's deployment qualifies. This can cut the processing time significantly. You'll need to include a copy of Form 1040 showing the combat pay exclusion or deployment orders showing service in a qualified zone. One more tip from my tax preparer: when you fax documents, call the fax number about an hour later to confirm receipt. They can usually tell you if the transmission was successful and how many pages they received. It's saved me from document processing delays before. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you need that refund for urgent expenses, but seeing everyone's success stories here gives me confidence we'll all get through this process eventually. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and strategies!

I'm going through almost the identical situation right now! Filed January 30th, received my CP05 on March 6th, and just got notification of a second letter yesterday. My transcript shows the same codes - 570 on 02/28/2024 and 971 on 03/06/2024, with an "as of" date stuck on February 14th. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful but also nerve-wracking. It sounds like this second letter is almost certainly a CP05A requesting wage verification documents. The 15 calendar day response deadline that several people mentioned is definitely making me anxious! My situation is similar to yours with urgent home repairs needed - we have a roof leak that's getting worse and were counting on our refund to cover the repairs before spring storms hit. I'm planning to follow the advice here about dual submission (fax and certified mail) and including a hardship explanation. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone had success with the IRS's online account system for checking verification status, or is the transcript really the only reliable way to track progress? I keep hoping there might be some additional information available through their online portal, but so far it just shows the same "still processing" message it's shown for weeks. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and strategies. It's reassuring to know this is a standard process even though the waiting is absolutely brutal when you need that refund for legitimate expenses!

I'm currently going through this exact verification process and wanted to share what I've learned from my experience so far. Filed in early February, received my CP05 about 3 weeks ago, and just got my CP05A yesterday requesting wage verification documents. A few key things I discovered that might help: • The CP05A gave me exactly 15 calendar days to respond (not business days) - this deadline is firm • They requested my W-2s, final paystub from 2023 showing YTD totals, and any 1099s • I included a brief cover letter explaining my financial hardship situation • Used both fax and certified mail as everyone recommended - faxed first for speed, then mailed originals with return receipt One thing that really helped was calling my local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center before responding. They confirmed exactly which documents were needed and gave me the direct fax number for the verification department, which is different from the general IRS fax numbers. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, especially when you need that refund for urgent expenses. But seeing everyone's success stories here gives me hope that if we respond promptly and completely, most cases do resolve within 30-45 days. For military families dealing with this - definitely include your deployment documentation and mention any hardship circumstances. From what I've learned, they do prioritize these cases once you provide that information. Hang in there everyone! The verification process is stressful but it sounds like most people get their refunds eventually once they jump through all the hoops.

I'm dealing with an almost identical situation right now and your post really resonates with me! Filed in late January, received my CP05 notice in early March, and just got notification of a second letter arriving today. My transcript shows the same pattern - 570 code, 971 code, and that frustrating static "as of" date that hasn't moved in weeks. The timing stress is incredibly real when you're counting on that refund for urgent expenses. Like you, I have some critical home maintenance that can't wait much longer, and the uncertainty around IRS timelines makes everything so much more stressful. Based on all the experiences shared here, it sounds like your second letter is most likely a CP05A requesting wage verification documents. The consistent advice seems to be: respond within 15 calendar days, use both fax and certified mail for submission, and include a cover letter explaining any hardship circumstances - especially with your spouse's deployment situation. For military families, several people mentioned that you can get expedited processing by including deployment documentation and referencing financial hardship. Form 911 (Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order) was also mentioned as potentially helpful for your situation. The waiting game is absolutely brutal, but seeing so many success stories here where people eventually got their refunds after providing the requested documentation gives me hope. Hang in there - it sounds like we're all going through very similar timelines and should hopefully see resolution in the coming weeks if we respond promptly to whatever that second letter requests!

I'm currently going through this exact same verification process and wanted to share some insights that might help ease your anxiety while you wait for that second letter to arrive. Based on the timeline and codes you've described, your second letter is almost certainly a CP05A requesting wage verification documents. The sequence you're experiencing - filed in January, CP05 in March, followed by a second notice - matches the standard RIVO (Refund Integrity Verification Operation) process that many of us are dealing with right now. A few things that have helped me manage this process: • The 15 calendar day response deadline is firm once you receive the CP05A, but don't panic - most people here have successfully met it with proper planning • Your static "as of" date actually indicates your case hasn't been assigned to a reviewer yet, which is normal due to current backlogs • Military families with deployed spouses do get priority processing when you include deployment documentation Given your spouse's deployment and the urgent home repairs needed, definitely include Form 911 (Application for Taxpayer Assistance Order) with your response. This formally documents your financial hardship and can expedite processing under military family provisions. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you need that refund for legitimate expenses, but I've found it reassuring to see how many people here eventually got their refunds within 30-45 days after providing the requested documentation. Your situation with deployment orders should actually help prioritize your case once you respond. Hang in there - this community has been incredibly helpful for navigating the stress and uncertainty of this process!