Got a CP5071? How identity and return verification works

What the notice is

The CP5071 series has three variants on the IRS page: CP5071, CP5071C and CP5071F. The IRS page does not explain how they differ, so rely on your own copy. In every case the message is the same. A federal income tax return was filed using your Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number, and before the IRS goes further it wants you to confirm that you are who the return says you are, and that the return is yours.

It is a verification request, not an accusation. The IRS uses it to protect taxpayers from someone else filing in their name.

Two very different situations

The right next step depends on one simple question: did you file the return the notice describes?

• You filed it. Verifying confirms that the return is genuine so processing can continue.
• You did not file it. The IRS says that in this case you may be a victim of identity theft, and the same verification process lets you say so.

Ways to verify

The IRS points to its online Verify Your Return service when your notice offers it. Signing in requires an IRS online account. People who did not file can use it to report that someone may have filed with their information. Keep your notice and your tax records beside you while you work, because you will be asked for details that match the notice.

If your letter is a Taxpayer Protection Program letter such as 5071C, 4883C or 5747C, the IRS says you can verify online, by the phone number printed on the letter, or at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. Use the method on your letter. The IRS also says it will not process the return in question or issue a refund until you respond.

A note on phone numbers

The contact information on a CP5071 notice is for identity and return verification, not for refund status. If your real question is where a refund is, calling that number will not answer it. After you verify, the IRS suggests waiting before checking refund status and says processing times are estimates that change, so check the IRS page for the current figure.

Do you also need Form 14039?

Most people do not. The IRS guide says that if you verify your return you generally do not need the Identity Theft Affidavit unless told otherwise. It also says not to file the form if the IRS has already sent you a letter or notice about the issue, and to follow that letter instead. Filing a form that was not requested can add confusion rather than speed.

A scenario to picture

Say a retiree opens a CP5071 and knows he has not filed a return because he has no income that requires one. He puts the notice on his desk, signs in to his IRS online account and uses the verification service to say the return is not his. He saves a note of the date he did this and keeps the notice in a folder. If he later receives more letters, he reads each one for its own instructions instead of assuming they repeat the first. IRS Audit Defense Pro is software that helps you organize your facts and draft a response letter you review and send yourself; it is not a law firm, CPA or enrolled agent. If a written response is ever needed, it can help you gather those dates into a clear draft.

If you cannot verify online

Some people cannot complete the online sign-in. In that case use the phone number or other method printed on your notice or letter. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is available if you run into a problem the normal process is not solving.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• IRS: Understanding your CP5071 series notice
• IRS: Identity and Tax Return Verification Service
• IRS: How IRS identity theft victim assistance works
• IRS: Identity theft guide for individuals

Related guides

• An IRS notice about possible tax identity theftIf an IRS notice says a return was filed under your Social Security number or ITIN and you did not file it, follow the instructions printed on that notice.
• CP05 notice: why the IRS is holding your return for reviewA CP05 means the IRS needs more time to review your return, and the IRS page says it is not an indication of error or dishonesty.
• Is This IRS Notice Real? How to Tell Before You RespondThe IRS usually makes first contact by U.S.
• The Taxpayer Advocate Service: Help When an IRS Problem StallsThe Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent office within the IRS that can help when an IRS problem is causing financial hardship, has gone unresolved for more than 30 days, or the IRS missed a promised date.
• How to respond to an IRS notice, step by stepRead the whole notice, note the notice number and the response date, confirm the letter is genuinely from the IRS, gather your records, decide whether you agree or disagree, then reply in writing by the date on the notice.