Verify Your Identity and Tax Return (Notice 5071C)

Why you might get this

• A tax return (a Form 1040 income tax return) was filed using your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN — a tax ID for people who can't get an SSN).
• The IRS wants to make sure it was really you who filed it before it processes the return.
• If you did not file that return, it may be a sign that someone is trying to use your identity to file a fake return.

The deadline

You should verify your identity as soon as you can. Follow the timing shown on the notice you received — a delay can hold up your return and any refund.

This notice doesn't carry a fixed response deadline, but it still deserves attention — see what to do below.

What to do

1. Read your notice and gather your records before you start.
2. If your notice offers online verification, begin at irs.gov/verifyreturn.
3. If you filed the return, have ready: the tax return for the year listed on the notice, a prior-year return if you have one, and supporting documents like W-2s, 1099s, and any Schedule C or F.
4. If you did NOT file the return, be ready to tell the IRS that during the verification process.
5. Consider getting an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to stop someone from filing under your SSN or ITIN.
6. Only complete Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) if the IRS tells you to after you verify.

What happens if you ignore it

If you don't verify, the IRS won't finish processing your return, so any refund you're owed will be delayed. If someone else filed under your identity and you never respond, the fraud may go unresolved.

If you're stuck or the process is causing hardship, you may qualify for free help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. You can also call the phone number on your notice — but note that contact is for identity and return verification only, not for things like refund status.

The IRS sent you a 5071C notice because a tax return was filed under your Social Security number or ITIN, and the IRS wants to confirm it was really you. This is a security step — it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. It simply means your return is paused until you verify.

If you did file the return, verifying lets the IRS keep processing it (and release any refund). If your notice offers online verification, start at irs.gov/verifyreturn. Have your notice, the return for the year listed, a prior-year return if you have one, and your supporting documents (like W-2s and 1099s) nearby.

If you didn't file that return, you may be a victim of identity theft. Say so during verification, and consider requesting an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to block future fake filings. Don't fill out Form 14039 unless the IRS asks you to.

Acting promptly keeps your return moving and protects your identity. Once things are underway, Solace can keep an eye on your IRS account so you're not left guessing about what happens next.