IRS Letter 5071C: how to verify your identity and your return

What Letter 5071C means

Letter 5071C belongs to the IRS CP5071 series, which also includes CP5071 and CP5071F. The IRS sends these when a Form 1040 series return has been filed using your Social Security number or ITIN and it needs you to confirm two things: that you are who you say you are, and that you filed that return.

It isn't an accusation. It is a security check. Until you respond, the IRS generally holds the return, which can delay any refund.

There are two situations:

• You filed the return. You verify your identity and the return, and processing continues.

• You didn't file. Someone may have used your information. You tell the IRS during verification that the return isn't yours.

First, check the letter is genuine

Identity letters are a natural target for scammers, so check before entering any details. Search "5071C" on IRS.gov, which you type into the browser yourself, and compare the explainer with your letter. Start any online verification from IRS.gov rather than from a link or QR code you weren't expecting. If you're unsure, call the IRS using a number from IRS.gov.

What to have ready

The IRS lists these:

• The letter itself.

• The return for the tax year shown on the letter, original or amended. If you don't have a copy, check your tax software or ask your preparer.

• A prior-year return, if you have one.

• Supporting documents such as W-2s, 1099s, and Schedules C and F if they apply.

Having the return in front of you matters. You may be asked about amounts on it, so a guess from memory can make the check fail.

Option 1: verify online

The IRS identity and tax return verification service is the main route. The IRS says to start at irs.gov/verifyreturn if your letter offers online verification. You sign in or create an IRS account, then answer questions to verify your identity and your return.

Steps in practice:

1. Go to IRS.gov and find the identity and tax return verification service.

2. Sign in to your IRS account, or create one. You may need to sign in again after creating it.

3. Answer the questions about yourself and the return.

4. Note any confirmation shown at the end, and keep it with the letter.

The IRS says people under 18 should contact the IRS instead of using the online service.

Option 2: if you can't verify online

Follow the instructions in your letter. The IRS says to call the telephone number on your notice or letter if you can't complete it online. Have the same documents ready. You can also find a local IRS office through IRS.gov if the letter or the phone agent directs you there.

If you didn't file the return

Say so during verification. The IRS says you may be a victim of identity theft and should be prepared to tell them. It also says that once you verify through this process, you generally don't need to file Form 14039, the identity theft affidavit, unless the IRS tells you to.

Other sensible steps:

• Check your IRS Online Account for returns or activity you don't recognize.

• Keep a record of who you spoke to and when.

• Consider the identity-theft steps on IdentityTheft.gov, the FTC's site.

How long things take after you verify

The IRS says to wait 2 to 3 weeks after verifying before checking your refund, and that processing may take up to 9 weeks after you verify. The Where's My Refund tool on IRS.gov shows the status once processing restarts.

The letter itself is the place to look for any response date. The IRS verification page doesn't state one, so read your letter for the timing that applies to you, and respond promptly either way. A refund can't move until the check is done.

Read the letter in this order

1. Letter number, top right: 5071C.

2. Tax year of the return being checked.

3. How to verify: online, by phone, or both.

4. Phone number and hours for your letter.

5. What to have ready, which may list specific forms.

Sample (synthetic): We received a federal income tax return for 2025 with your name and Social Security number. To protect you from identity theft, we need to verify your identity before we process the return.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using a link from an email or text. The IRS doesn't start identity checks by email or text.

• Answering from memory instead of the actual return.

• Using the wrong tax year's return.

• Waiting for the refund to arrive on its own. It won't move until you verify.

• Filing a second return for the same year because the first seems stuck.

If you're stuck

If verification fails repeatedly, or you're facing hardship because of the delay, the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent office within the IRS, may be able to help. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics are another option for people who qualify.

Make sense of your letter

Identity letters use careful, formal language and it's easy to miss which year or which option applies. EasyToDecode, launching soon, will read your own letter, quote the tax year, the verification options and any dates it gives, and list what to gather before you start. See how it works or join the waitlist to hear when it opens.