Trust Your Gut: Online ID Verification Didn't Register, Had to Call IRS
Just wanted to share my experience with ID verification. I completed the online verification process about a week ago, but something just didn't feel right about it - similar to when I submitted my first quarterly estimated payments and the confirmation page had that weird glitch. My gut feeling was correct. When I called the IRS today to confirm, they had no record of my online verification going through. Had to complete the entire process again over the phone. As someone who drives for multiple delivery apps and values efficiency, this was frustrating but I'm glad I followed up. If you've done online verification and haven't seen any movement, might be worth calling to confirm rather than waiting. The system isn't as seamless as other financial verification processes I've used.
14 comments
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Adrian Connor
The IRS verification system is notoriously... how shall I put this... temperamental? š I've seen this happen quite frequently during this filing season. The online system accepts your information, shows a confirmation screen, but somehow fails to register the verification in their main database. It's like ordering food through an app, getting the confirmation, and then the restaurant never receives your order. Good call on following up instead of just waiting - you probably saved yourself weeks of delay.
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Aisha Jackson
How long after verification should we expect to see movement on our returns? I completed mine two weeks ago according to the IRS.gov instructions, but WMR still shows processing. IRS website says 9 weeks but some people online report faster timelines.
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15d
Ryder Everingham
According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.5.6.4.35, identity verification resolution timeframes vary based on the specific hold code applied to your account. While the IRM states processing can take up to 9 weeks post-verification, current processing patterns indicate a 2-3 week resolution for straightforward cases. The key determining factor is whether your verification triggered a manual review or cleared automatic protocols.
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13d
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Lilly Curtis
What method did you use for the online verification? The ID.me process or the IRS's direct verification system? It's like two different doors to the same building, but one of them is actually painted on the wall and doesn't open at all.
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Leo Simmons
Not OP but I had the exact same issue on March 24th. Used ID.me verification, got confirmation, but when I called on April 1st, they had no record. Agent told me there's been a system-wide issue with verification confirmations not being properly logged in their main database. Said I needed to complete verification by phone immediately to avoid further delays.
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Lindsey Fry
Thanks for asking this! I was wondering the same thing. Just called and found out my ID.me verification from last week didn't go through either. Got it done over the phone in about 20 minutes. So relieved I saw this post!
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11d
Saleem Vaziri
Oh my goodness, this is so concerning! I did my verification through ID.me two weeks ago and just assumed everything was fine! I'm going to call tomorrow to check - I really need my refund for some emergency car repairs. š Thank you all for sharing your experiences!
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Kayla Morgan
I had EXACTLY the same issue! Verified online on March 28th, waited exactly 14 days with no updates, called and they had zero record of my verification. Spent 3 hours and 42 minutes trying to reach an IRS agent using the regular number. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected in exactly 17 minutes! The agent verified me over the phone and said my refund should process within 9 days. The $20 I spent was totally worth not wasting another day trying to get through.
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James Maki
Has anyone actually confirmed why this happens? I'm curious about the technical breakdown: ā¢ Is it an issue with the ID.me verification not properly connecting to IRS systems? ā¢ Is it a database synchronization problem within IRS systems? ā¢ Are there specific taxpayer situations that trigger this issue more frequently? ā¢ Does the method of filing (software used, paper vs electronic) impact likelihood of verification issues?
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Jasmine Hancock
This is such a helpful question! I wonder about this too. My brother and I both filed the same week with the same tax software, both needed verification, but only his went through properly online. I ended up having to call. Wish the IRS would be more transparent about these technical issues.
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Cole Roush
Have you received any answers to these questions? I'm experiencing something similar to what the original poster described, but my situation involves amending a return rather than initial verification. In my previous experience with amended returns, there was never a verification disconnect like this.
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Scarlett Forster
When you completed the phone verification, did the agent provide an estimated timeframe for processing? I'm curious about the Post-Verification Processing Timeline (PVPT) they're currently quoting. The Internal Revenue Manual states 9 weeks maximum, but anecdotal evidence suggests faster resolution for non-complex returns without Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit claims.
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Arnav Bengali
This verification issue has been happening a lot this year. Last filing season I had a similar gut feeling about my transcript access not working properly. Called and discovered my identity verification hadn't been processed despite the confirmation screen. The agent told me they were seeing this with about 30% of online verifications during peak periods. The system gets overwhelmed and fails to transmit the final confirmation to the master database. I'm slightly worried this is happening again this year on an even larger scale.
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Sayid Hassan
Had this exact issue. Verified online February 28th. Waited patiently. Called April 5th. No record of verification. Verified by phone. Refund deposited April 12th. Seven weeks wasted. System is broken. Trust your instincts.
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