If you received IRS Letter 4883C, the IRS needs to verify your identity and confirm information from your tax return before it can continue processing it. This letter helps protect taxpayers from identity theft and fraudulent tax returns.
Receiving Letter 4883C does not mean you did anything wrong. It means the IRS needs additional verification before it can process the return filed under your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
What is IRS Letter 4883C?
Letter 4883C is an identity verification letter sent by the IRS.
The IRS identified a return submitted using your Social Security number or ITIN and needs to confirm that the return belongs to you before processing can continue.
- Your identity
- That you filed the tax return
- Information reported on the tax return
Your return will remain on hold until the IRS finishes verifying your identity and return information.
What do I need to do?
Call the Taxpayer Protection Program (TPP) hotline number listed in your Letter 4883C. Follow the instructions provided in the letter.
Have all of the following available when you call:
- The Letter 4883C.
- The tax return referenced in the letter.
- A prior-year tax return, if available.
- Supporting tax documents used to prepare the return.
What are supporting tax documents?
Supporting tax documents are records used to prepare your tax return.
Examples include:
- Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement
- Form 1099 income statements
- Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business
- Schedule F, Profit or Loss From Farming
These documents help the IRS verify information reported on your return.
What if I did not file the tax return?
If the return mentioned in the letter is not yours, contact the IRS as soon as possible using the phone number included in the notice. This may be a sign that someone attempted to file a return using your information. Someone may have used your identity to file a fraudulent return.
Do not file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, solely because you received Letter 4883C. Instead, follow the instructions in the letter and report that you did not file the return.
What happens if I do not respond?
The IRS will not process your tax return until your identity is verified.
This means the IRS generally cannot:
- Process the return
- Issue a refund
- Apply any overpayment to your account
Until the verification is completed, your return may remain on hold.
What if I cannot verify my identity by phone?
If the IRS cannot complete the verification process over the phone, you may be asked to schedule an appointment at a local IRS office and verify your identity in person. Bring the documents requested by the IRS.
What happens after I verify my identity?
Once the IRS successfully verifies your identity and tax return information, it will continue processing your return.
According to the IRS, it may take up to 9 weeks to receive your refund or have an overpayment applied to your account after verification is completed.
What should I do next?
If you filed the return:
- Gather the documents listed in Letter 4883C.
- Call the IRS phone number listed in the letter.
- Complete the identity verification process.
- Monitor your refund status after verification.
If you did not file the return:
- Contact the IRS immediately using the phone number shown in the letter.
- Inform the IRS that you did not file the return.
- Follow the IRS instructions regarding potential identity theft