The TRUTH About IRS Reviews - My 120 Day Nightmare Finally Ended

Your timeline is pretty standard, unfortunately. The IRS review process is like a marathon compared to the sprint of normal processing. Reviews for wage verification typically take 90-120 days, while identity verification reviews can take 60-90 days. Reviews for EITC or CTC claims often push to the full 120 days. Your case was particularly complex since it involved employer reporting errors, which is worse than simple document mismatches. At least you finally got your money, which is better than some cases I've seen where people gave up entirely.

You need documentation. Keep everything. Print all notices. Save all letters. I was under review last year. Took 97 days total. What helped me was using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It showed exactly what codes meant. Highlighted the review indicators. Explained next steps clearly. Gave me real timeline expectations. Better than generic IRS explanations.

This reminds me so much of my situation from 2022. I was also under review because my previous employer closed down and didn't properly report my final quarter wages. I sent in my last three pay stubs, W-2, and a letter explaining the business closure on March 10th. Heard nothing until June 22nd when they asked for more documentation. Finally got my refund on August 15th after calling repeatedly. The congressman approach is exactly what worked for me too - I wish I had done that sooner instead of waiting so long!

Dealing with the IRS is like trying to drain an ocean with a teaspoon - painfully slow and seemingly impossible. I was stuck in review limbo for 103 days last year. Calling the regular IRS number is useless, like trying to win the lottery with one ticket. I finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an actual human being. It's like having a fast pass at an amusement park - skipped the 2+ hour wait time and got connected in about 15 minutes. The agent I spoke with was able to see notes on my account that explained exactly what was happening and gave me specific next steps.

I was shocked when my "simple" review turned into a 4-month ordeal. Started on January 23, 2024 with a letter saying 60 days. Then on March 25, 2024, got the second 60-day letter. Called on May 10, 2024 and they said "still processing" with no details. Called again on June 15, 2024 and they finally told me they were missing a 1099 from one of my gigs. Nobody told me this for FIVE MONTHS! I had to fax it in and wait another 30 days. The system is broken.

Your timeline appears to be somewhat typical, albeit on the longer end of the spectrum. I had a colleague who experienced a similar issue, possibly due to wage verification discrepancies. In his case, the employer had inadvertently reported quarterly wages under an incorrect EIN. The resolution process took approximately 97 days, which included multiple document submissions and several calls to the IRS. He eventually received his refund, though it was perhaps 2-3 weeks faster than your timeline. The congressman approach seems to have been particularly effective in your situation, which is valuable information for others facing similar delays.

I'm wondering if we could save some time by responding proactively. Maybe send wage verification documents before they ask? I'm thinking about doing this. My return is only on day 40 of review. Don't want to wait 120 days. Might cost a bit extra to mail everything certified. But could be worth it to get money sooner. Has anyone tried this approach?

Looking at your timeline, I'm curious about the specific 971/570 transcript codes you received during this process. Did you monitor your account transcript throughout the review? The 570 code (Additional Account Action Pending) typically appears first, followed by 971 (Notice Issued). But in wage verification cases, you might also see code 922 (Verification of Wages W-2) or 920 (Unreported Income). Were you tracking these codes, and if so, did they give you any early indicators of the specific issue?

Have you considered filing Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service Application)? While you're right that they typically won't accept cases until after the 120-day review period, there are exceptions for documented financial hardship. What constitutes hardship? Potential eviction, utility disconnection, inability to purchase medication, or similar circumstances. You'll need documentation proving the hardship. Another effective approach is requesting a manager when calling the IRS. Ask specifically for a manager review of your case, citing the extended timeframe. They can sometimes expedite reviews that have exceeded normal processing times. What documentation did you submit with your congressman inquiry?

This is incredibly helpful information - thank you for sharing your detailed timeline! I'm currently on day 78 of my review and was starting to panic that something was seriously wrong. Your experience with the employer reporting error is particularly relevant since I suspect that might be my issue too. My previous employer went through a payroll system change mid-year and I'm wondering if that caused reporting discrepancies. A few questions for you: When you contacted your congressman's office, did you need to provide specific forms or just explain your situation? Also, did the Tax Advocate actually help resolve your case faster, or was it more about getting information about what was happening? I'm trying to decide if I should start the congressman process now at day 78 or wait until I hit the full 120 days. Given that you didn't get your refund until November even after involving your congressman in September, I'm wondering if there's any real advantage to starting earlier. Thanks again for taking the time to document this whole process - it's exactly what people like me need to hear when we're stuck in IRS limbo!

Thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience! I'm currently on day 67 of my review and this gives me hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Your timeline is really helpful - I had no idea that the Tax Advocate couldn't help until the full 120 days were up. That's crucial information that the IRS doesn't make clear in their notices. I'm particularly interested in your experience with the congressman's office. What specific documentation did you need to provide when you filed for financial hardship? I'm starting to feel the financial pressure and wondering if I should begin that process now or wait until I'm closer to the 120-day mark. Also, when you mention that your employer didn't report correct wages, was this something you suspected beforehand or did you only find out during the review process? I'm trying to figure out if there's anything I can do proactively to speed things up, but it sounds like the system is just inherently slow. Your advice about not just waiting passively is spot on. I've been checking my transcript weekly and calling every couple weeks, but I'm going to start documenting everything more carefully based on your experience. Thanks again for taking the time to help others navigate this frustrating process!

This is exactly the kind of detailed, real-world information that people going through IRS reviews desperately need! I'm currently on day 95 of my review and was starting to lose hope, but your timeline shows that even the longest cases eventually get resolved. Your point about the Tax Advocate not being available until after 120 days is crucial - I wish the IRS made this clearer in their notices. I've been trying to contact them for weeks thinking they could help earlier. The congressman approach is something I hadn't considered, but given that you got results even though it took time, I'm going to start preparing that paperwork now. The employer reporting error aspect is particularly relevant to my situation. I worked for a company that went through a merger last year, and I suspect there might have been some confusion in their reporting. Did you have any warning signs that this might be the issue, or did you only find out when the Tax Advocate finally explained what was happening? One thing I'm curious about - when you say "don't just wait for the IRS," what specific actions would you recommend taking during those first 90 days while we're waiting to qualify for the Tax Advocate? Besides the congressman route, are there other proactive steps that might help move things along? Thanks for sharing your experience and giving the rest of us hope that this nightmare does eventually end!

Thank you for sharing such a detailed timeline - this is incredibly valuable for those of us going through similar situations! I'm currently on day 72 of my review and was feeling pretty discouraged, but your experience gives me a realistic expectation of what's ahead. The part about employer reporting errors really caught my attention. I worked for a startup last year that had some payroll processing issues, and I'm wondering if that might be affecting my case. When you finally discovered the issue through the Tax Advocate, was it something you could have identified earlier by comparing your W-2 to your final paystub, or was it more complex than that? I'm definitely going to start preparing for the congressman route now rather than waiting until I hit 120 days. Based on your timeline, it seems like getting that process started earlier might help, even if the resolution still takes time. Did you need to provide specific forms to your congressman's office, or was it more about explaining your situation and providing documentation of the hardship? One thing I'm curious about - you mentioned calling "repeatedly" after getting your Tax Advocate. About how often were you calling, and did you feel like the calls actually helped move things along or was it more about staying informed? I've been calling every couple weeks but don't want to overdo it if it's not actually helpful. Thanks again for taking the time to document this whole process - it's exactly what people stuck in IRS review limbo need to hear!

Thank you so much for sharing this incredibly detailed timeline! As someone who's currently on day 43 of my review, this gives me both hope and realistic expectations about what's ahead. Your experience is particularly valuable because you documented the specific dates and actions throughout the entire process. I'm especially interested in your employer wage reporting issue since I suspect I might be dealing with something similar. I had two jobs last year and one of them switched payroll companies mid-year, which I'm worried might have caused reporting discrepancies. When the Tax Advocate finally identified the employer reporting problem in September, was this something you could have caught earlier by reviewing your documents, or was it only visible to the IRS on their end? The information about not being able to get a Tax Advocate until after 120 days is crucial - I had no idea about that restriction! I've been planning to contact them soon, but now I know I need to wait. However, your success with the congressman approach is encouraging. When you contacted their office in September, did you need to fill out specific forms or provide particular documentation to prove financial hardship, or was it more about explaining your situation? One practical question - you mentioned calling "repeatedly" after getting your Tax Advocate assigned. How often were you calling, and did you feel like those calls actually helped move your case along or were they more for getting updates? I've been calling every 2-3 weeks but don't want to overdo it if it's not productive. Your advice about taking action rather than just waiting passively is spot on. I'm going to start preparing documentation for the congressman route now so I'm ready to file if needed. Thanks for helping the rest of us navigate this frustrating but apparently normal process!

This is such a comprehensive and helpful timeline - thank you for sharing every detail of your 9-month journey! I'm currently on day 31 of my review and was starting to panic that something was seriously wrong, but your experience shows this is unfortunately just how the system works. The employer wage reporting issue you dealt with is exactly what I'm worried about. I had a job last year where the company was acquired mid-year and went through a complete payroll system change. I'm now wondering if I should proactively compare my final paystubs to my W-2 to see if there are any discrepancies, or if that's something I can only identify once the IRS tells me what's wrong. Your point about the Tax Advocate not being available until after 120 days is crucial information that I wish was clearer in the IRS notices. I was planning to contact them next week, but now I know I need to wait. However, the congressman approach is definitely something I'm going to start preparing for now rather than waiting until I'm in crisis mode. One question about your experience - when you sent in those six months of pay stubs and the employment verification letter, did you send them via certified mail or regular mail? I'm trying to figure out the best way to ensure they actually receive and process any documentation I might need to send. Thanks again for taking the time to document this entire process. It's exactly what those of us stuck in review limbo need to hear - that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even if it takes way longer than it should!