- What it means
- The IRS wants you to confirm you filed the return it received, and offers online, phone, and in-person verification.
- Respond within
- 30 days from the date on the notice
- What to send
- Nothing by mail. Verify through the option in the letter.
- Write it
- Document cover letter
- When to get help
- If you did not file the return, say so during verification.
What the letter says
The most flexible of the verification letters: online through the IRS identity verification service, by phone, or at a Taxpayer Assistance Center.
What to do
Online is fastest. Have the letter, the return, and a prior return ready. Processing resumes after verification.
What to gather
- The letter
- The return it references
- A prior year return
- Photo ID
Write back
The Document cover letter tool builds the response in the order the IRS reads it. Fill it in, review it, print it, and send it with copies of the documents above and the notice stub on top.
Before you send anything
This is general information, not tax advice. Situations differ. Check with your tax advisor before you send anything. Nothing on this page creates a client relationship.