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.