Quick answer
Letters 5071C (also CP5071), 4883C, 5747C, 5447C and 6331C mean the IRS is holding your return until you confirm you filed it. Your return won't be processed and your refund won't be sent until you respond.
Verify online at IRS.gov/verifyreturn (5071C and 6331C), by calling the number printed on your letter (4883C), or in person at an IRS office (5747C). Have the letter, the tax return it asks about and last year's return in front of you. After you verify, the refund usually arrives within 9 weeks.
Why the IRS sent the letter
The IRS's Taxpayer Protection Program holds returns that its fraud filters flag as possible identity theft. The letter asks you to prove the return is really yours before the IRS processes it and sends a refund.
- It isn't an audit, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong with your return.
- Answer quickly. The Taxpayer Advocate Service recommends responding within 30 days of the letter's date. Nothing moves until you do.
- Real letters come by mail. The IRS doesn't email or text these requests.
Which letter do you have?
| Letter | How to verify |
|---|---|
| 5071C, CP5071, CP5071F | Online at IRS.gov/verifyreturn (sign in with ID.me), or by phone at the number on the letter |
| 6331C | Online at IRS.gov/verifyreturn, like the 5071C |
| 4883C (Spanish: 4883SP) | By phone, at the number on the letter |
| 5747C | In person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center; make the appointment using the number on the letter |
| 5447C | For a foreign address: online or by phone (267-941-1000 from outside the U.S.) |
Only use IRS.gov. The old address idverify.irs.gov no longer exists. Any other website asking you to "verify your return" is a scam.
What to have ready
- The letter itself
- The tax return the letter asks about: your Form 1040, not just a W-2 or 1099
- Last year's tax return
- The documents behind the return: W-2s, 1099s, and Schedule C or F if you have them
- For an in-person visit: a photo ID plus one more ID
Don't have a copy of your return? Ask your tax preparer or check your tax software. For last year's return, you can also get a free transcript (see our prior-year AGI guide).
Verify online, step by step
- Go to IRS.gov/verifyreturn. Type the address yourself.
- Sign in with ID.me, or create an account (see our IRS online account guide).
- Answer the questions about the return, using the return and documents you gathered.
- Confirm whether you filed the return. If you did, the IRS releases it for processing.
After you verify
- Your refund usually arrives within 9 weeks; returns the IRS handles by hand can take 10 to 12 weeks.
- Check Where's My Refund about 2 to 3 weeks after you verify.
- If you can't verify online, call the number on the letter. If you have a tax pro, they can only speak for you with a power of attorney (Form 2848) on file, or with you on the call.
If you didn't file that return
- Say so in the online verification or on the phone. That stops the fake return.
- Don't file Form 14039 unless the IRS tells you to; your answer already reports it.
- Get an IP PIN so it's much harder for anyone to file with your SSN again.
- File your real return if you haven't, following the IRS's instructions.
Common questions
Is a 5071C letter a scam?
Real 5071C letters come by mail and send you to IRS.gov/verifyreturn or the phone number printed on the letter. If you're unsure, go to IRS.gov yourself, never through a link in an email or text.
How long do I have to respond?
Respond as soon as possible. The Taxpayer Advocate Service recommends within 30 days of the letter's date. Your return stays on hold until you do.
Can my tax preparer verify for me?
Only with a power of attorney (Form 2848) on file, or with you on the phone. You're the one who signs in online.
I don't have a copy of last year's return. What can I do?
Ask your preparer, check your tax software, or get a free transcript from your IRS online account or by mail.
Will my refund come right after I verify?
No. Processing restarts after you verify, and the refund usually takes up to 9 weeks.
What if I can't pass the ID.me verification?
Call the number on your letter and verify by phone. If the IRS sends you a 5747C, you verify in person at an IRS office instead.
Official sources
We checked this guide against these official pages:
- Verify your return irs.gov
- Understanding your 5071C / CP5071 notice irs.gov
- Understanding your 4883C letter irs.gov
- Understanding your 5747C letter irs.gov
- Taxpayer Advocate Service: Letter 5071C taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov
- Taxpayer Advocate Service: Letter 5747C taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov
This guide is general information, not tax advice for your situation. Tax rules change, so check the official sources or ask a tax pro. Nationwide Tax Pro is a private tax preparation company and an authorized IRS e-file provider. We are not affiliated with the IRS, HealthCare.gov or any government agency.