IRS Letter 5071C: What It Means and What to Do
The IRS received a tax return using your Social Security number or ITIN and wants to make sure it was really you before processing it. You verify your identity and the return, usually online. If you didn't file that return, you tell the IRS so it can treat it as possible identity theft.
Letter 5071C key facts
| Official name | Letter 5071C, Potential Identity Theft with Online Option: a federal income tax return (Form 1040 series) was filed under your Social Security number or ITIN, and the IRS needs you to verify your identity and the return. |
|---|---|
| Who gets it | Individuals |
| Severity | 3 of 5: Moderate: respond by the deadline Your return and any refund are on hold until you verify your identity. |
| Response window | The IRS page doesn't state a fixed number of days. It says to follow the instructions on your notice to verify your identity and the tax return. Processing continues only after you verify. |
| Deadline basis | No fixed deadline. |
Severity is RAHA Financials' own 1 to 5 rating of how urgent the notice usually is. It is not an IRS classification.
How long do I have to respond to Letter 5071C?
No fixed response deadline. The IRS doesn't set a fixed response window for Letter 5071C. Read the notice to see whether it asks you to do anything.
The date printed on your notice always controls. Open Letter 5071C in the IRS Notice Decoder.
Why did I get Letter 5071C?
Common reasons include:
- IRS identity theft filters flagged your return for extra verification
- A return was filed with your SSN or ITIN by someone else (identity theft)
- Changes on your return compared with prior years, such as a new address or bank account
- Your return claims a refund that the IRS wants to protect before releasing
What should I do?
- Read the letter and follow its instructions to verify your identity and the tax return.
- Gather the return for the tax year on the letter, a prior-year return if you have one, and supporting documents such as W-2s, 1099s, and Schedules C or F.
- Verify online at irs.gov/verifyreturn (the IRS 'Verify your return' service) if your letter offers online verification. You sign in or create an account and answer a few questions.
- If you didn't file the return, use the same service to tell the IRS.
- If you can't find what you need online, call the telephone number on your letter.
- After verifying, wait 2-3 weeks before checking your refund status.
- Consider getting an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to help prevent future fraudulent filings.
What documents do I need?
- The Letter 5071C
- Your original or amended Form 1040-series return for the year shown on the letter
- Your prior-year tax return, if available
- Supporting documents such as Forms W-2 and 1099 and Schedules C or F
What should I avoid?
- Don't file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, after verifying unless the IRS tells you to.
- Don't expect refund status from the verification phone line; the IRS says that contact is for identity and return verification only.
- Don't ignore the letter; the IRS can't finish processing the return until it's verified.
- Don't use a verification link from an email or text; type irs.gov/verifyreturn yourself.
What if I disagree with Letter 5071C?
There's nothing to dispute; the letter is a verification request. If you didn't file the return, tell the IRS through the online verification service or the phone number on your letter, since you may be the victim of identity theft.
What happens if I ignore Letter 5071C?
The IRS generally won't continue processing the return until identity and return verification is complete, so any refund may stay on hold.
What else should I know about Letter 5071C?
Letter 5071C is the online-option letter in the IRS identity verification family. Letter 4883C, by contrast, asks you to call. The IRS now covers Letter 5071C on its 'CP5071 series' notice page, and the online service at irs.gov/verifyreturn is for CP5071-series notices and Letter 5447C. If you're under 18, the IRS says to contact it rather than use the online service. Verifying doesn't release your refund right away. The IRS says to wait 2-3 weeks before checking and that processing may take up to 9 weeks. Many people wonder whether they also need an identity theft affidavit. The IRS says Form 14039 isn't needed after you verify unless it asks for one.
Want a professional to handle your Letter 5071C response?
IRS Notice Response Plan
Fixed price, quoted before any work startsFixed fee.
- Review of your notice and account transcript
- A written plan: agree, partly agree, or dispute
- Draft response and list of supporting documents
- Deadline tracking so nothing lapses
Letter 5071C: frequently asked questions
How do I verify?
The IRS says to follow the instructions on your notice. If your notice offers online verification, start at irs.gov/verifyreturn, where you sign in or create an account and answer a few questions. If you can't find what you need online, call the telephone number on your notice or letter.
How long until I get my refund after verifying?
The IRS says to wait 2-3 weeks after verifying before checking your refund, and that it may take up to 9 weeks to process your return after you verify it.
What if I didn't file this return?
Use the verification service to tell the IRS. The IRS says someone may have tried to file a return with your information, and you may be the victim of identity theft.
Do I need to file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit?
The IRS says that if you verify your return, you don't need to complete Form 14039 unless it tells you to.
Can I check my refund status on the verification phone line?
Probably not. The IRS says the contact information on your notice is for identity and return verification only, and other account information such as refund status may not be available that way.
