IRS Letter 5071C: Verify Your Identity to Release Your Refund
Letter 5071C means the IRS received a tax return with your name and Social Security number and wants to confirm it was really you before processing it.
Have a CPA review my Letter 5071CLetter 5071C is an identity verification letter. The IRS has paused processing of a return filed under your Social Security number, and any refund, until you confirm whether you filed it.
You can usually verify online through the IRS's identity verification service or by calling the number on the letter. If you didn't file the return, tell the IRS. It may be identity theft.
Where this notice falls in the IRS process
- Return filed under your SSN
- Letter 5071C — return on hold — you are here
- You verify online or by phone
- Return processed (often about 9 weeks)
- Refund issued, or identity theft case opened
What the IRS can do now
- Hold your return and refund until your identity is verified.
- Treat the return as not filed by you if you don't respond.
What the IRS generally can't do yet
- Process the return, or release the refund, until you verify.
- Ask for payment to verify your identity. Verification is free.
Your options
Verify online
Use the IRS identity verification service listed in the letter. It's usually the fastest route.
Verify by phone
Call the number printed on the letter. Have your letter and tax returns ready.
Report identity theft
If you didn't file the return, say so when you verify. You may also need Form 14039.
Get help
If verification fails or your refund stays stuck, a CPA can work with the IRS for you.
What not to do
- Use a phone number or link from an email or text. Use only what's printed on the letter or IRS.gov.
- Ignore it. Your return won't be processed.
- Pay anyone who contacts you claiming they can release your refund faster.
Refund stuck behind Letter 5071C? Let's get it moving.
Tiffany V., CPA can help you verify, follow up if processing stalls, and handle any identity theft issues.
Book my CPA reviewFrequently asked questions
Is Letter 5071C a scam?
It's a real IRS letter. But verify only through the website or phone number printed on the letter or found on IRS.gov, never through a link in an email or text.
How long after verifying will I get my refund?
Often around 9 weeks after successful verification, though it can vary.
What if I didn't file the return?
Tell the IRS when you verify. It will remove the return from your record and you may need to file Form 14039, the identity theft affidavit.
What's the difference between Letter 5071C and Letter 4883C?
Both ask you to verify your identity. Letter 4883C usually requires a phone call, while Letter 5071C usually allows online verification.
Written by Tiffany V., CPA, founder of Cents Savvy LLC. Last reviewed October 2026. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation. Cents Savvy LLC is a private CPA firm and is not affiliated with the IRS. Always follow the dates printed on your own notice.