What the IRS says: “A tax return was filed using your name and SSN, and the IRS needs you to verify your identity before processing it.” Here’s what it actually means, your deadline, and exactly how to respond.
The IRS's identity filter caught something about the return — sometimes fraud, often just an unusual pattern. Nothing (including your refund) moves until you verify online or by phone. If you DIDN'T file the return in question, this letter is how you find out someone else did.
Notice family: Identity Verification — The IRS suspects a return filed under your SSN might not be yours and won't process anything until you verify. Fast to fix when you follow the exact channel the letter names — and your refund waits until you do.
30 days — verify promptly — the return (and refund) is frozen until you do.
Counted in calendar days from the notice date. The exact respond-by date printed on your notice always controls — check page 1.
Use the online verification service listed in the letter first — it's the fast lane
Have the letter, the tax return copy, and prior-year return ready before starting
Phone route: expect long holds; call early in the day
Didn't file that return? Say so during verification — the IRS pulls the fraudulent filing and opens an IDT case
No letter to write — verification IS the response. If fraud is confirmed, follow with Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) and consider an IP PIN going forward.
A tax return was filed using your name and SSN, and the IRS needs you to verify your identity before processing it. In practice: The IRS's identity filter caught something about the return — sometimes fraud, often just an unusual pattern. Nothing (including your refund) moves until you verify online or by phone. If you DIDN'T file the return in question, this letter is how you find out someone else did.
You generally have 30 days — verify promptly — the return (and refund) is frozen until you do. The respond-by date printed on your own notice always controls.
No letter to write — verification IS the response. If fraud is confirmed, follow with Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) and consider an IP PIN going forward.