You filed your return and expected your refund within a few weeks. Instead, a letter arrived from the IRS asking you to verify your identity before they process anything.
That’s what a 5071C is — and it’s more common than most people realize.
Julia filed her return in early February. Three weeks later, instead of a refund notification, she received a 5071C. Her first thought was that something was wrong with her return. Her second was that she might be a victim of identity theft. Neither turned out to be true. The IRS’s fraud detection system had flagged her return for identity verification — a routine protective measure that affects millions of filers each year.
Her refund arrived 11 days after she completed the online verification. Total disruption: about 20 minutes of her time.
What the 5071C means
The 5071C is an identity verification notice. It means the IRS received a tax return filed under your Social Security number and wants to confirm that you — and not someone else — actually filed it before releasing any refund or processing the return further.
This is a fraud prevention measure. Tax-related identity theft is one of the most common forms of identity theft in the United States, and the IRS uses risk-based filters to flag returns that match patterns associated with fraudulent filings. When your return triggers one of those filters, a 5071C goes out automatically — regardless of whether your return is accurate or not.
Receiving a 5071C does not mean you did anything wrong. It does not mean you are being audited. It means the IRS wants to confirm your identity before proceeding.
How to respond
The fastest way to complete verification is online at idverify.irs.gov. You’ll need your prior year return, your current year return, and your Social Security number. The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes and typically results in the fastest resolution.
If you can’t complete it online, the notice includes a phone number you can call to verify by phone. In-person verification at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center is also an option, though it requires an appointment.
Once verification is complete, allow up to 9 weeks for your return to finish processing. The delay is the result of the additional review triggered by the hold — not a sign that anything is wrong with your return.
If you didn’t file the return
If you receive a 5071C and did not file a return for that tax year, that’s a different situation entirely. Someone may have used your Social Security number to file a fraudulent return, likely to claim a refund in your name.
In that case, do not complete the identity verification as if the return were yours. Instead, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490 and file Form 14039 — the Identity Theft Affidavit. This flags your account for additional protection and triggers an investigation into the fraudulent filing.
Also consider placing a fraud alert on your credit report and requesting an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS for future years. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that must appear on your return each year, making it significantly harder for anyone else to file using your Social Security number.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 5071C mean I’m being audited? No. It’s an identity verification request, not an audit notification. Most 5071C cases resolve without any examination of your return.
How long will my refund be delayed? After completing verification, allow up to 9 weeks. In practice many refunds arrive sooner, but the IRS uses that window as its standard estimate.
What if I already responded but still haven’t received my refund? Check your IRS online account for your current refund status. If more than 9 weeks have passed since you completed verification, you can call the IRS to follow up.
Can I ignore the 5071C if I know my return is correct? No. Ignoring it leaves your return on hold indefinitely. The IRS will not process your return or release your refund until verification is complete.