IRS office guide
How to verify your identity with the IRS
The IRS sent a letter asking you to verify your identity. Learn what your 5071C, 5747C, or 4883C letter means and the exact way to respond online, by phone, or in person.
Why the IRS asked you to verify
A tax return came in with your name or Social Security number, and something about it made the IRS pause before processing it. Verifying tells the IRS the return is really from you. This is a fraud check that protects your refund, not an audit and not a sign you did anything wrong. Until you respond, the return sits on hold and any refund is frozen, so it pays to act quickly.
The IRS only starts this by mailing you a letter. It will not email, text, or call to demand that you verify or to ask for card or bank details. If someone contacts you that way, it is a scam. Work only from the paper letter you received.
Which letter did you get?
The letter number is in the top or bottom corner of the page. Pick yours to see the exact way to respond.
Verify online (Letter 5071C or 6331C)
Online is the fastest route, and it is the one most people are asked to use. You will need to set up or sign in to an ID.me account, which checks your identity with a photo of your ID and a selfie.
- Go to irs.gov/verify and choose to verify for the letter you received.
- Sign in with ID.me, or create an account with your email, a photo of a government ID, and a phone selfie.
- Have your letter, the tax return named on it, and a prior-year return handy to answer the questions.
- Confirm whether the return is yours. If it is not, say so, and the IRS will not process it.
If the online tool cannot confirm you, it will tell you to finish by phone or in person instead.
Verify by phone (Letter 4883C or 6330C)
Some letters ask you to call. Use the number printed on your own letter first. If you cannot find it, the IRS Taxpayer Protection Program line is 800-830-5084. Expect a wait, and set aside time so you do not have to hang up.
Have all of this in front of you before you dial, because the representative will ask questions from it:
- The verification letter itself.
- The tax return for the year on the letter, plus a prior-year return if you filed one.
- Supporting income forms such as W-2s and 1099s.
Verify in person (Letter 5747C)
A 5747C letter is the one that sends you to an office. You cannot finish this letter online or by phone, so you need an appointment at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. This is where a local IRS office is genuinely the answer.
- Call 844-545-5640 to book an appointment, and say you are responding to a 5747C identity verification letter.
- Bring two forms of ID, including one current government-issued photo ID.
- Bring the 5747C letter, the tax return for the year it names, and a prior-year return if you filed one.
- Bring supporting income documents, such as W-2s, 1099s, or a Schedule C or Schedule F.
Find the office you will visit
Look up your Taxpayer Assistance Center, then check its hours and notes before you call to book.
What to bring, at a glance
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Your verification letter | It has the control number and tells the IRS which return to release. |
| Two forms of ID | One must be a current government-issued photo ID. Needed for in-person visits. |
| The return in question | The Form 1040 for the year on the letter, so you can confirm the details. |
| Last year's return | A prior-year return helps answer identity questions if you have one. |
| Income documents | W-2s, 1099s, and schedules that back up the return. |
What happens after you verify
Once the IRS confirms your identity, it takes your return off hold and keeps processing it. The IRS says this can take up to 9 weeks. Wait about 2 to 3 weeks after you verify before you check refund status, since it takes time for the system to update.
If you tell the IRS the return is not yours, it will not process that return, and it can start protecting your account from further fraud. Ask about an Identity Protection PIN, which is a six-digit code that blocks anyone else from filing under your Social Security number.
Watch out for verification scams
The IRS starts identity verification by mail only. It will not email or text you a verification link, and it will not call to threaten arrest or demand payment by gift card or wire. If you are unsure a letter is real, do not use any phone number or link from a message you did not expect. Instead, look up the number yourself at irs.gov/verify or call 800-830-5084.
Find your local IRS office first
Closure notes, limited hours, and the exact services differ from one office to the next. Look up your Taxpayer Assistance Center on the list of IRS offices by state before you call, so you confirm the details for the location you actually plan to visit. The directory covers 329 active offices.
Official IRS sources
Common questions
- Why did the IRS ask me to verify my identity?
- The IRS flagged a tax return filed with your name or Social Security number and wants to confirm you filed it before it processes the return or releases a refund. It is a fraud check, not an audit.
- Can I verify my identity for the IRS online?
- If you got a 5071C or 6331C letter, yes, at irs.gov/verify using an ID.me account. A 4883C letter means verify by phone, and a 5747C letter means verify in person at a Taxpayer Assistance Center.
- What is the IRS identity verification phone number?
- The Taxpayer Protection Program line is 800-830-5084. Use the specific number printed on your letter first, because not every letter uses the same line.
- How long after I verify does my refund take?
- The IRS says it can take up to 9 weeks to finish processing your return after you verify. Check refund status about 2 to 3 weeks after you verify.
- What if I did not file the return the IRS is asking about?
- Tell the IRS you did not file it when you respond. Verifying still matters because it stops the fraudulent return and protects your account.