Unable to get through to 1-800-830-5084 for 5071C Letter verification - anyone else stuck?

So frustrated right now! I received a 5071C Letter in the mail telling me someone filed a 1040 using my name but with the wrong SSN. The letter said I need to verify my identity either through idverify.irs.gov or by calling the IRS at 1-800-830-5084. I tried the online verification first but it failed completely and just redirected me to call that 800 number. Here's the problem - I've been calling non-stop for almost a week now and CANNOT get through to anyone! There's not even a wait list or queue - just an automated message saying they can't take my call and then it hangs up. I'm really starting to panic because I don't know what to do when both verification methods have completely failed. Has anyone else dealt with this identity verification nightmare? Is there some secret time to call when you can actually get through? At this point I'm tempted to send the IRS an invoice for my tax refund plus my wasted time (kidding... sort of).

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20 comments

Chloe Anderson

•8M

This is unfortunately a common problem right now. The IRS identity verification line (5071C letter line) is experiencing massive call volumes, and they don't have a callback system in place for that specific department. Your best options are to: 1) Call right when they open at 7am Eastern Time - set an alarm if you're in a different time zone. The phone lines are typically less congested in the first 15-30 minutes. 2) Try calling on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday as these tend to be slightly less busy than Mondays or Fridays. 3) Keep attempting the online verification - sometimes the system has temporary issues that resolve after a few days. Don't ignore this letter as it will delay any legitimate refund you're expecting and could potentially create more complications. Also, make sure you have all the documents mentioned in your letter ready when you call (prior year tax returns, current year tax information, the letter itself).

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Chloe Anderson

•8M

Calling from a different phone number likely won't make a difference as they don't filter based on the incoming number. The system is simply overloaded with calls. The letter doesn't typically state a hard deadline, but you should try to resolve this within 30 days of receiving it. The longer it goes unresolved, the more likely your legitimate tax return processing will be delayed. It could potentially push your refund processing into next year if left too long, especially if you're approaching the end of the tax season.

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Diego Vargas

•8M

After spending countless hours trying to reach an IRS agent about my own 5071C letter last month, I finally discovered taxr.ai and it was a game-changer! I uploaded my 5071C letter to https://taxr.ai and they analyzed it along with my tax situation. They explained exactly what steps I needed to take and gave me specific times to call when the volume would be lower. The best part was they confirmed my identity theft situation was actually quite common and provided documentation I could use to help prove my case once I did reach an agent. It saved me so much stress trying to figure this out on my own!

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Diego Vargas

•8M

The analysis came back in about 2 hours. They reviewed my specific letter and situation and provided personalized guidance. Yes, I actually did get through! They recommended calling at 7:05am on a Wednesday, and I got through on my second attempt following their advice. What made the biggest difference was having all the right documentation ready when I finally reached an agent. They prepared me with exactly what the agent would ask for, which made the verification process go much smoother.

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StarStrider

•8M

Just wanted to update that I decided to try taxr.ai after my skepticism. I was shocked at how helpful it actually was! After uploading my 5071C letter, they provided a detailed report explaining that my case involved a specific type of identity theft pattern they'd seen before. They recommended calling at 7:10am on Thursday and prepared me with answers to the exact verification questions the IRS agent asked me. I got through on my first try at the time they suggested, and the agent commented that I was unusually well-prepared with all my documents. My verification is now complete and my refund is being processed! Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck in 5071C hell like I was.

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Sean Doyle

•8M

Have you considered using Claimyr? After getting my 5071C letter and failing to get through to that 1-800-830-5084 number for TWO WHOLE WEEKS, I was at my wit's end. Then my brother told me about https://claimyr.com - it's a service that basically waits on hold with the IRS for you and then calls you when an actual human picks up. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super desperate so I gave it a shot, and I'm not exaggerating when I say it saved my sanity. Got connected to an IRS agent who handled my identity verification within a day. Just thought I'd share since I know exactly how frustrating that endless busy signal is!

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Sean Doyle

•8M

They don't have special access to the IRS. What they do is use sophisticated dialing technology that keeps trying the IRS number repeatedly with different patterns until they get through. Once they make a connection, they hold your place in line and then call you when an agent is about to pick up. I was skeptical too, but it worked when nothing else did. They're basically just saving you from having to sit there making call after call yourself. The IRS isn't hanging up on everyone - the system is just overwhelmed so you have to hit it at exactly the right moment, which is what their system does automatically.

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Luca Romano

•8M

I need to eat my words and apologize for calling Claimyr a scam. After another week of failed attempts to reach the IRS about my 5071C letter, I broke down and tried it. To my complete shock, I got a call back about 3 hours later with an actual IRS agent on the line! I fumbled around for my documents because I wasn't expecting it to actually work. The agent verified my identity, confirmed someone had attempted to file a fraudulent return, and cleared my account so my legitimate return could be processed. I'm still stunned it worked when I couldn't get through myself after hundreds of attempts. If you're dealing with the 5071C verification nightmare, don't waste weeks of your life like I did.

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Nia Jackson

•8M

One thing that nobody's mentioned is that you should also place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus since someone has your personal info. After I went through this whole 5071C mess last year, I found out the same person who filed a fake tax return had also tried opening credit cards in my name! Call Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion to place a 1-year fraud alert. You only need to call one of them and they'll notify the others. And get your free credit reports to check for other suspicious activity.

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Nia Jackson

•8M

Yes, absolutely file a police report! It creates an official record of the identity theft which will help if more issues pop up. When I went through this, the police report ended up being crucial when disputing some fraudulent accounts that appeared months later. I'd also recommend getting an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS after you resolve this current issue. It's an extra 6-digit number you'll need for future tax filings that prevents anyone else from filing with your SSN. You can request it once your identity is verified.

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Jenna Sloan

•5M

I'm dealing with this exact same nightmare right now! Got my 5071C letter three weeks ago and have been calling that number religiously every day. The automated system just immediately says "we cannot take your call at this time" and hangs up - no hold option, no queue, nothing. What's really frustrating is that I actually need to file an amended return this year too, but I can't do anything until this identity verification mess gets sorted out. My tax preparer said this is becoming incredibly common and the IRS is just completely overwhelmed. I'm going to try some of the suggestions here - the early morning calling strategy and maybe even one of those callback services people mentioned. At this point I'm willing to try anything because I'm losing sleep over this. Thanks for posting this because at least I know I'm not the only one stuck in this bureaucratic nightmare!

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Zara Ahmed

•4M

I feel your pain! I went through this exact situation a few months ago and it was absolutely maddening. The "we cannot take your call" message with the immediate hang-up is the worst part - at least with other IRS lines you get put on hold for hours, but with the 5071C line it's just a brick wall. A few things that helped me: First, definitely try calling right at 7am EST - I mean have your phone dialing at 6:59:59. The system seems to reset overnight and those first few minutes are your best shot. Second, if you have access to multiple phone lines (landline, cell, work phone), try calling from different numbers simultaneously. And third, consider the in-person appointment route that @Mateo Hernandez mentioned - even if it takes a while to get an appointment, at least you ll'have a guaranteed resolution date. The amended return situation makes this even more stressful since everything is on hold until the identity verification is complete. Hang in there - you will get through eventually, but I know how helpless it feels when you re'in the thick of it!

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