To verify identity, the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/be-ready-to-verify-your-identity-when-calling-the-irs) will ask for personal details from your tax returns, such as your SSN, date of birth, filing status, and address. You must have your current letter (5071C or 6167C), the tax return in question, and a prior-year return handy to answer questions about specific amounts, such as income, refunds, or account numbers from financial documents.
The identity verification process from the IRS can be triggered on a random basis, or it could be due to suspicion that a tax return with your name on it is potentially the result of identity theft.
Self–Service: The fastest method to verify; usually takes 5-10 minutes. For step-by-step instructions, visit Verifying your identity with ID.me Self-Service. Video call: You will upload your document, then join a quick video call.
Bring the following identity verification documents to your appointment: A valid federal or state government-issued picture identification, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport.
The IRS will never initiate contact demanding immediate payment via gift cards, prepaid debit, or wire transfers; threaten immediate arrest or deportation; or contact you first by email, text, or social media; these tactics, especially involving urgent demands for specific payment types or threats, are key signs of a tax scam, as the IRS always mails a bill first and allows time to appeal.
The return will be rejected and investigated as identity theft/tax fraud if: verification fails to confirm your identity or that you filed the return. if the verification process is not completed, or can't be completed.
Be ready to verify your identity when calling the IRS
Common IRS audit triggers
How to Verify Your Identity
We sent you a CP5071 series notice because we need you to verify your identity and the return: If you didn't file a return: Verify with us. You may be the victim of identity theft. If you did file a return: Verify so we can continue processing your return.
The "20k rule" refers to the traditional IRS threshold for reporting income from payment apps and online marketplaces on Form 1099-K: over $20,000 in gross payments AND more than 200 transactions in a calendar year. While a law (the American Rescue Plan) temporarily lowered the threshold to $600, recent legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) (OBBBA), has reinstated the $20,000/200-transaction rule for tax years starting in 2025, providing relief for casual sellers and gig workers.
However, the IRS is unfortunately not bound by this law. This means that they can choose how much to garnish from your wages each month, depending on how much you owe and how much you earn. The limit is typically between 25-50% of your disposable earnings after deductions are made.
The Taxpayer Protection Program will identify a suspicious tax return filed with your name and SSN and will send you a letter to let you know. The letter will ask you to verify your identity and tax return information.
And annoyingly, there's no way of finding out the reason for the delay until the IRS is ready to tell you. However, there is also no need to worry. Oftentimes the delay is simply resolved and your refund is processed as expected – albeit later than you'd hoped.
If your SASSA identity verification status reads 'Unsuccessful' or 'Identity Verification failed,' it means that the information you provided when you registered does not match your information with the Department of Home Affairs.
The IRS 7-year rule primarily applies to keeping records for claiming a deduction for bad debts or losses from worthless securities, allowing a longer period to file for a credit or refund, but it's not a universal audit limit; it's often a recommended safe buffer for general record-keeping, with the standard IRS audit period usually being 3 years, extending to 6 years for substantial income omission (over 25%) or foreign income issues, and indefinitely for fraud.
You know the IRS might be investigating you through official mail (first contact), phone calls (often with automated messages to IRS.gov), or in-person visits, but signs of a criminal probe include contact with IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) agents, subpoenas to you or your bank, questions to your accountant/bank, unusual account activity (freezing/refusing transactions), or agents suddenly going silent after an audit. Key indicators are official IRS letters, contact from CI special agents, third-party inquiries, and formal summonses for records, signaling serious scrutiny beyond a simple audit.