Under Review with IRS - What Should I Expect After Agent Found No Issues?

When the IRS puts you under review, it's like having your house inspected before closing on a mortgage - they're just crossing t's and dotting i's. Most reviews are completed within 45 days, but it's concerning they couldn't tell you exactly what triggered it. This kind of uncertainty can really stretch your financial planning, especially if you were counting on that refund for something important.

I've been through this exact situation twice in the past five years. The first time, they said they couldn't see any issues but kept us in review for 3 months before finally releasing our refund with no explanation. The second time was faster - about 6 weeks. What I've learned is that when they say "call back at the end of March" they're basically just giving you a date far enough away that something might have happened by then. In my experience, there's rarely any actual progress when you call on the date they suggest.

When I was under review last tax season, I tried calling the IRS for updates every few days and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through. I wasted hours listening to that awful hold music only to be disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. Here's what I learned: 1. First, they confirmed my review status 2. Then they told me exactly what was being reviewed (in my case, some education credits) 3. Finally gave me a realistic timeline Saved me so much anxiety knowing exactly what was happening instead of waiting in the dark. Really appreciated getting concrete answers instead of more waiting.

Have you received any specific notices from the IRS about this review? According to Internal Revenue Manual 4.19.13, there are several different types of reviews that can be conducted. The most common for higher-income filers is what's called a "correspondence examination" under IRC §7602, which grants the IRS authority to examine books, papers, records, or other data relevant to determining tax liability. The timeline and requirements differ significantly based on which type of review you're under.

I was in a similar situation last month, but my review was for business deductions rather than personal taxes. Compared to my previous experiences with the IRS, this was actually less painful, but still frustrating. I started using https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript codes while waiting and it was eye-opening. It explained exactly what each code on my account transcript meant and predicted when my review would likely conclude based on the pattern of codes. Much better than trying to decipher the IRS website which feels like it's deliberately written to be confusing.

Have you considered calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service? They can sometimes help when you're stuck in review without clear information. Did the agent give you any specific timeframe besides "end of March"? Was there any mention of what might have triggered the review in the first place? In my experience, it's better to be proactive rather than just waiting. Keep detailed notes of every conversation including the ID number of any IRS employee you speak with. This can be incredibly helpful if you need to reference previous discussions.

Let me share a cautionary tale from 2022 that might prepare you for what could happen. I was told the same thing - "no issues, just call back in a few weeks." But when I did call back? They had no record of my previous conversation and claimed I needed to submit additional documentation that was never mentioned before. Did they provide you with a case number or confirmation of your review status? Without that, you're at the mercy of whoever answers the phone next time. The review process took 4 months in total, and I had to provide the same information three separate times to different departments. My refund was significantly delayed, and I had to adjust financial plans accordingly.