When identity verification stalls online, and ID.me fails repeatedly, many taxpayers don’t realize there’s a direct, in-person solution: verifying face-to-face at a local IRS office. This is the gold-standard verification method — fast, highly accurate, and virtually guaranteed to clear your refund hold.
Here’s exactly how to do it.
When In-Person Verification Is the Best Option
Face-to-face identity verification at a Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) is recommended when:
- ID.me failed multiple times
- your ID has changed since last filing
- you lack traditional credit history
- your transcript shows TC 570 and/or 5071C or 4883C letters
- the online verification portal rejects documents
- you want the verification done once and done correctly
In-person verification clears identity doubts much faster than mailing documents or repeating online attempts.
Step 1: Get the Correct Appointment Number
You cannot just walk into an IRS office and wait in line. TAC appointments require scheduling.
The official IRS TAC appointment line is:
1-844-545-5640
When prompted:
- Press 1 for TAC appointments
- Provide your ZIP code
- Choose your nearest IRS office
- Select “identity verification” as your appointment purpose
You’ll receive the earliest available appointment — typically 3–14 days out.
Step 2: Bring These Documents With You
To verify successfully, bring:
Mandatory:
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
- Social Security card or SSA-issued statement
Highly recommended:
- Current year tax return copy
- Prior-year tax return
- W-2s or 1099s
- Utility bills showing your current name/address
- Birth certificate (optional but helpful)
- Residency or lease documents (if address recently changed)
Bring more rather than less. The more documentation you provide, the faster they clear the verification.
Step 3: What Happens During the Appointment
At the TAC office, a live IRS verifier will:
- confirm your identity
- confirm Social Security number
- cross-check prior filing history
- verify employer-reported income
- review linked federal wage data
- confirm residential history
Once finished, the identity hold is manually lifted in the system.
On your transcript, you will soon see:
- TC 571 — Reversal of TC 570 (hold removed)
followed by - TC 846 — Refund Issued
This is the best possible outcome.
Step 4: How Fast Does the Refund Move After Verification?
Typical post-verification timeline:
- 2–5 days — transcript updates
- 5–10 days — refund release
- 7–14 days — funds arrive via direct deposit
In many cases, the refund releases faster than any other verification method.
The Advantage of Human Verification
Online verification relies on:
- credit history
- digital databases
- AI verification
- pixel-based image scans of ID documents
Face-to-face verification relies on:
- real IDs
- real documents
- real IRS employees
There is no substitute for that.
Pro Tips for a Successful TAC Verification
✔ Arrive 15–20 minutes early
✔ Bring physical documents, not screenshots
✔ Bring original IDs — not copies
✔ Bring multiple forms of ID if possible
✔ If you changed your name recently, bring legal documentation
If your current address does not match your ID — bring proof of residency:
- lease agreement
- utility bill
- bank statement
- employee payroll stub
Common Questions
Q: Do I need the actual IRS letter (5071C, 4883C, etc.) to verify?
No. It is helpful, but not required.
Q: Can I bring someone with me?
Yes, but only the taxpayer may speak to the IRS agent.
Q: What if I filed jointly?
Both spouses may be required to verify identity separately.
Q: Can TAC solve other tax issues at the same appointment?
Yes — once there, you can request certain forms, transcripts, and account explanations.
Final Recommendation
If your refund is held because of identity issues, or ID.me keeps blocking you, in-person TAC verification is the fastest and most reliable method of clearing the hold and releasing your refund.
