I’m wondering if anyone has experience with the IRS concerning their perception of potential identity theft and their labyrinth to certify that you are who you are?
Seven weeks ago I checked on the status of, for us, a significant refund and found a statement about their identity concerns and how to alleviate them. After multiple links I came to a page that asked for a reference number in a letter that I hadn’t received.
I then was able to request a copy of the letter, which was to take 3-5 weeks to arrive. So I waited for the letter which arrived 3-weeks later and tried my luck by submitting the reference number within the letter. No joy. The site would not let me get to the page requesting the reference number.
So I called their Taxpayer Protection Program hotline, which noted the high volume of calls, the wait time, and “did I want them to call me when it was my turn.” Yes, I wanted them to call me, and call me they did. Unfortunately, each time they called there was no one on the line - it disconnected within 5-seconds. This happened 3 times. So I thought, I’d try again the next day.
During that call to the hotline, the recording stated that they could not handle the volume of inquiries and to call back later. This has now happened for the last 7-days. I’ve tried the irs.gov/verifyrefund site, but it gets into a loop, not allowing me to provide the reference number. I can understand the high volume of calls since tax time is here, but for the website’s inability to accept my info is very concerning.
Is this normal operating procedure for IRS identity protection and the volume of problems the IRS is facing?
Comments
Have you tried calling the main number?
Since the budget increases they have been fairly prompt ( within 20 minutes) in answering the main line
I just tied the 800 829 1040 number but now it appears limited to 2023 reunds
800 829 0922 starts with option for economic stimulus questions then has options for letters you received and check refund status, so try that number
The most knowledgeable guy said in processing paper returns ( required wit deceased tax payer) they have to do them by hand and they are overwhelmed. Newspaper articles have said this is in fact the case with millions of returns sitting in piles
The 2020 refund arrived last fall. We are still waiting on 2021
They can't keep their website up to date with new rules and filing options, and the auto-letter-writers and the CSRs are on completely different pages -- from two recent snafus with the exempt organization arm.
Nope.
I was offered the opportunity to schedule a walk-in appointment at a local IRS Center, and was told to bring the info that I just relayed on the phone. Frankly, I don’t get it, but will show-up at my appointment.