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Check the notice number before you act
The notice number printed near the top determines what the IRS is asking you to do. A delayed refund alone is not a reason to use an identity-verification service or send documents the IRS has not requested.
| Notice | What it generally means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| CP05 | The IRS needs more time to review income, withholding, credits, and/or business income. | If you filed the return, wait 60 days from the notice date. Contact the IRS using the number on the notice if no refund or update has arrived. |
| CP05A | The IRS needs supporting documents to verify income and federal withholding. | Respond by the deadline and follow the notice’s submission instructions. |
| CP5071-series or Letter 5447C | The IRS is asking you to verify your identity and tax return. | Use the identity-verification process specified for that notice. |
For instructions specific to CP05, see the IRS CP05 notice guide. If your notice has a different number, follow that notice rather than assuming the CP05 rules apply.
What a CP05 review means—and does not mean
The IRS says it reviews some returns to check reported income, expenses, and credits. As the agency puts it, “This doesn’t mean you made an error or were dishonest.” The review can delay a refund while the IRS verifies information. Depending on what it finds, it may finish the review, ask for more documentation, or deny some or all of the refund. If it makes an adverse determination, the notice will explain the next steps, including an opportunity to appeal.
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If you did not file the return, treat the notice as a possible identity-theft issue rather than waiting for a refund. Follow the notice’s instructions, contact the IRS through the details on it, and complete Form 14039 as directed. The Taxpayer Advocate Service advises checking the return address on the notice to confirm it is from the IRS. See the Taxpayer Advocate Service CP05 guide.
What to do if you received CP05
- Confirm that you filed the return. If you did not, follow the identity-theft instructions in the notice and complete Form 14039 if directed.
- Note the notice date. If you filed, count 60 days from that date. The IRS says no immediate action is needed during that period unless it sends another request.
- Check for an update. Use the IRS refund tracker or your IRS account. If no refund or further communication arrives by the end of the 60 days, call the number printed on the notice.
- Respond to any new request as directed. If the IRS asks for documents or sends a different notice, use the deadline and submission method on that notice; do not assume the original CP05 instructions still govern.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service says that after entries have been successfully verified, receipt or application of a refund may still take up to 16 weeks. That is guidance from its CP05 notice page, not a guaranteed timeline for every case; another issue can prompt an additional information request.
If the notice is CP05A, send the requested evidence by its deadline
CP05A is a document request, not the standard CP05 wait. Read the notice carefully and provide the evidence it asks for by the stated date. The IRS says its CP05A instructions identify the Document Upload Tool as the fastest response method. Include a copy of the notice with your submission. The notice also gives a fax number or mailing address if you use those methods.
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For wage or withholding verification, the IRS lists these possible supporting records:
- At least three pay statements or check stubs, including the year-end statement.
- A letter from your employer on company letterhead, with contact details.
- A retirement-benefit statement, when applicable.
Use the evidence and submission route that match your notice and situation; this list does not replace any specific request printed on it. After submitting evidence, the IRS asks taxpayers to allow 60 days before contacting it about the review. A tax preparer can help you understand a request, but paid representation is not required.
If the notice asks you to verify your identity
A CP5071-series notice or Letter 5447C is a separate process from CP05. The IRS’s online verification service is for people who received one of those notices or letters. Have the notice and tax records ready, and follow the notice if you cannot complete verification online. After verification, the IRS says to wait two to three weeks before checking status; processing may take up to nine weeks. Those time estimates apply to identity verification, not to an ordinary CP05 review. Start at the IRS identity and tax return verification service only if your notice matches.
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Check refund status without confusing a delay with a review
The IRS’s general refund guidance says a refund typically arrives in about three weeks after e-filing, or six or more weeks after the IRS receives a mailed return. These are general timelines, not a promise that applies to a return under review. Status is generally available through Where’s My Refund 24 hours after e-filing a current-year return, three days after e-filing a prior-year return, or four weeks after mailing.
To check without signing in, have the exact refund amount, your SSN or ITIN, filing status, and tax year. The IRS also offers an IRS account, its app, and an automated hotline. Use the IRS refund status page for current access and instructions.
Other issues can delay or change a refund without being the same thing as a CP05 review. The IRS lists return errors, review of credits such as the Additional Child Tax Credit, amended returns, and injured-spouse relief among possible delay reasons. A refund may also be reduced to cover past-due tax or certain other debts; the Bureau of the Fiscal Service sends an offset notice. If the tracker says the refund was issued but a check never arrived, use the IRS’s separate refund-trace process rather than treating it as an ongoing review.
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When to seek help
If the stated waiting period has passed, the next step for a CP05 is the number on the notice. If the delay is causing financial hardship, you have tried and failed to resolve the problem, or you believe an IRS process is not working, the Taxpayer Advocate Service may be able to help. Its contact page explains how to request assistance.
Qualifying taxpayers may also be able to get help with IRS problems from a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic; clinics may charge no fee or a small fee. Find eligibility and clinic information through the Taxpayer Advocate Service clinic directory. If you choose to authorize someone to represent you before the IRS, Form 2848 is the authorization form; hiring a representative is not mandatory.
Why identity-theft statistics do not predict a CP05 wait
The National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2025 publication reported that about 54% of cases caught by an IRS identity-theft refund-fraud filter were later determined to be false positives, affecting nearly 1.3 million returns. It also reported an average of 676 days to resolve identity-theft victim assistance cases and release refunds as of fiscal year 2024. Both figures concern identity-theft systems or victim-assistance cases—not the expected wait for a routine CP05 review. They should not be used to estimate when a CP05 refund will arrive. See the National Taxpayer Advocate’s 2025 report to Congress.
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