Sudden identity verification request for Wisconsin tax return - how long will this delay my refund?

Tax professional here. What you're experiencing is part of increased identity theft prevention measures many states have implemented recently. Wisconsin, like several other states, has stepped up verification requirements to combat fraudulent returns. Here's what you need to know: • This is legitimate and becoming more common across many states • The process typically takes 2-3 weeks after you submit all required documentation • Make sure you submit EXACTLY what they request - even minor discrepancies can cause delays • Check that your uploads are clear and legible - blurry documents will be rejected • Keep checking your status through the Wisconsin tax portal I recommend submitting everything as soon as possible. Some of my clients who delayed responding ended up waiting 8+ weeks for their refunds. The good news is that once verified, your future filings should go smoother.

Just went through this recently! I was pulling my hair out trying to understand what was going on with my return. Finally found this amazing tool called taxr.ai that actually explained everything about my situation in normal english. It showed me exactly what was happening with my return, why they were asking for identity verification, and what I needed to do next. Not gonna lie, saved me hours of research and lots of frustration trying to decipher all the govt jargon. https://taxr.ai

I found a way to actually get someone on the phone about this verification issue. Used this calling service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at the Wisconsin tax dept within an hour! The agent confirmed that my docs were received and being processed. Totally worth it instead of waiting on hold for 3+ hours or getting disconnected. My refund was processed just a few days after talking to someone.

This happened to me too! Got the letter in April after filing in February. I submitted my stuff right away and my refund was processed about 18 days later. Just make sure all the documents are super clear when you upload them. I had to resubmit my driver's license pic because it was too blurry the first time.

Seems like this is happening to a lot of people in multiple states...I'm in Illinois and got the same verification request. The IRS and state tax systems are such a joke! Why do they suddenly need to verify our identity after years of filing with no issues? Just more bureaucratic BS to delay giving us our own money back.

It took me 5 weeks start to finish in Wisconsin. The verification itself was approved after about 3 weeks, then another 2 weeks for the refund to be released. Just keep checking the portal every couple days.

Yup, happened to me. And guess what? Even after verifying my identity and getting approved, they STILL delayed my refund for another "random review" 🤡 Been 9 weeks total now. The system is broken.

OMG THIS LITERALLY HAPPENED TO ME IN WISCONSIN TOO!! I got the letter in early April. I submitted all my docs the next day. Radio silence for like 3 weeks, then suddenly my refund appeared in my account. No notification, no update on the portal, nothing. The whole thing took about 26 days from start to finish.

My wife and I both got these letters about identity verification, but I got my refund after just 10 days and she's still waiting after 6 weeks. Same address, same documents submitted. Makes absolutely no sense. 🤷‍♂️

I'm in Wisconsin too! Got the same letter in February. I had to verify for both state and federal. Used taxr.ai to help me understand exactly what was happening with both returns and what I needed to do. That tool is seriously a game changer for dealing with the IRS and state tax mess. https://taxr.ai

From what I understand, this is happening because of the massive increase in unemployment fraud during covid. My friend works for the state revenue dept and said they're verifying way more returns now. Just part of the new normal unfortunately.

Pro tip: While waiting for verification, I kept getting disconnected trying to call WI tax dept directly. Used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a live agent who could actually check my status. Talking to the agent directly got my verification fast-tracked. Such a lifesaver when you're waiting on thousands of dollars.

Wisconsin resident here - husband and I both had to verify our identities this year. Weirdly, his took 8 days and mine took 32 days. Same documents, submitted same day, using same portal. The whole system seems completely random.

what documents did they ask for? just got a letter yesterday and I'm freaking out because I don't have a utility bill in my name (living with roommates).

anyone else think its suuuuper suspicious they're asking for all this personal info? How do we know its really the state sending these letters and not a scam?? 👀

Mine took 23 days exactly in Wisconsin. The worst part was not knowing what was happening during that time. No updates, no communication, nothing. Just radio silence until suddenly money appeared in my account.

Honestly, I was struggling with the exact same identity verification mess... was ready to Throw my computer out the window. I used taxr.ai and it literally mapped out everything that was happening with my return, explained why I was selected for verification, and gave me a timeline to expect. Saved me so much stress. Ended up getting my refund right around when they predicted too! https://taxr.ai

My experience with WI verification was horrible until I finally got someone on the phone using Claimyr (claimyr.com). Found out my verification was actually approved 2 weeks earlier but got stuck in the system! The agent manually released my refund while I was on the call. Talking to an actual human was the only thing that worked after weeks of frustration.

i work for a tax prep company (not saying which one lol) and we're seeing TONS of these identity verification requests this year, way more than normal. average time is about 3-4 weeks for processing after documents are submitted. just be patient, it'll come through eventually

Wisconsin here too! Just went through this exact same thing last month. Got the verification letter in mid-March, submitted everything within 2 days, and my refund hit my account exactly 21 days later. The waiting was torture but it did come through. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts through the Wisconsin tax portal - at least then I got notifications when the status changed instead of obsessively checking every day. Also make sure your bank info is correct in their system because apparently some people had delays because of outdated banking details. The whole process definitely sucks but you're not alone in this. Seems like half of Wisconsin got these letters this year!

I went through this exact same thing in Wisconsin last year! Got the identity verification letter out of nowhere after filing for years without issues. The whole process took about 25 days from when I submitted my documents to when my refund finally hit my account. Here's what I learned that might help: • Upload documents during business hours if possible - I heard from someone that uploads during off-hours sometimes get stuck in their system • Take photos of your documents with good lighting and make sure text is crystal clear • Don't resubmit unless they specifically ask you to - apparently multiple submissions can actually slow things down • The portal status updates are basically useless - mine never changed from "under review" even after my refund was deposited The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you're counting on that money. But hang in there - based on what I've seen, most people are getting their refunds processed within 3-4 weeks once documents are submitted. Wisconsin's system is just overwhelmed right now with all these verification requests.

I'm going through the EXACT same thing right now! Filed in early February and got that identity verification letter from Wisconsin DOR about 3 weeks ago. Like you, I've been filing in Wisconsin for years without any issues, so this totally caught me off guard. I submitted all my documents (ID, utility bill, last year's return) through their portal about 2 weeks ago and it's still showing "under review." Based on what everyone's saying here, sounds like I'm probably looking at another week or two before it gets processed. The timing couldn't be worse - I was planning to use my refund for some home repairs that can't wait much longer. It's so frustrating that they can't give us better communication about what's happening or realistic timelines. At least seeing all these responses makes me feel like I'm not alone in this mess! Has your portal status changed at all since you submitted your docs? I'm trying to figure out if "under review" actually means anything or if it just stays that way until the refund magically appears like some people mentioned.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now in Wisconsin! Got my verification letter about 10 days ago and submitted everything immediately. It's so frustrating because like you, I've been filing here for years without any issues. Reading through all these responses is actually really helpful - sounds like 2-4 weeks is pretty typical once you submit your documents. The hardest part is definitely the waiting and not knowing what's happening. My portal also just says "under review" with no other updates. I'm also waiting on my refund for car repairs, so I completely understand the stress. At least it seems like most people are eventually getting their refunds processed, even if the communication from the state is terrible. Hang in there - hopefully both of us will see our refunds soon!