In its efforts to combat identity theft, the IRS is stopping suspicious tax returns that have indications of being identity theft, but contain a real taxpayer’s name and/or social security number and sending out (by US Postal Service) Letter 5071C to request that the taxpayer verify his or her identity.

(The IRS will not email or telephone the taxpayer directly to request this information.)

Taxpayers may use the idverify.irs.gov site or call a toll-free number on the letter to confirm their identity, but the IRS is encouraging the use of idverify.irs.gov as the safest, fastest option. Once their identity is verified, the taxpayers can confirm whether or not they filed the return in question. If so, it will take approximately six weeks to process it and issue a refund. If not, the IRS can take steps at that time to assist them. 

September 4, 2015 10:00 am