How Identity Verification Delays Can Stall Your Tax Refund for Weeks — Or Months

One of the most common refund-blocking issues today isn’t a math error, missing form, or income mismatch — it’s identity verification. The IRS relies heavily on the third-party system ID.me to verify taxpayer identity, and when the verification process fails or stalls, refunds get frozen in place.

This creates what many refer to as the ID.me bottleneck — a delay that begins the moment the system cannot confirm your identity online, and ends only when the taxpayer successfully verifies either online or in person.

The IRS Still Relies on ID.me for Identity Checks

Despite debate and criticism, ID.me remains a critical piece of IRS fraud-prevention infrastructure.

It is used to confirm:

• Personal identity
• SSN ownership
• Address history
• Bank and financial identity
• Prior tax identity
• Facial recognition comparison

If the online process fails, the IRS will not move the return forward — period.

What Happens When ID.me Verification Fails

If you attempt online verification but:

• Facial recognition fails
• The system cannot match your identity
• Your credit-history-based questions do not match
• Your government-issued ID cannot be validated
• Your camera capture cannot confirm identity

Then what follows is immediate:

A refund hold is triggered.

Often identified on the transcript as:

• TC 570 — Refund Hold
  sometimes followed by
• TC 971 — Notice Issued

The return pauses entirely until verification is completed.

Why ID.me Verification Fails for Many Taxpayers

Common causes include:

1. Address mismatches

Your IRS record vs current ID vs credit file may not align.

2. Name changes

Especially after marriage or divorce.

3. Non-traditional credit history

People without loans, credit cards, or mortgages often fail automated identity checks.

4. Poor webcam or photo quality

Low-resolution images may not match ID photos.

5. Facial recognition mismatches

Lighting, aging, background, or camera quality can block recognition.

6. Lost access to prior ID.me account

If you cannot log in with your old credentials, verification restarts from scratch.

The Real Problem: Human Appointment Backlog

When online verification fails, ID.me requires:

A live video interview with a human verifier.

At peak tax season, interview wait times can be:

• 2–5 days
• sometimes 10–20 days
• and in extreme cases more than a month

During this time:

• Your return remains frozen
• No refund movement occurs
• No TC 846 is posted
• WMR shows no updates

You are in identity-verification limbo.

The Refund Remains Locked Until Verification Completes

Even if you filed early.

Even if your return is perfect.

Even if no audit flags exist.

The IRS will not:

• release funds
• process credits
• approve refund
• complete cycle code movement

until ID.me validation is successful.

What To Do If You Are Stuck at the ID.me Stage

1. Try another device

Many taxpayers pass verification on:

• iPhone instead of PC
• Android instead of iPad
• or a newer device with better camera

2. Use passport instead of driver’s license

Passports often scan and verify more reliably.

3. Choose “video call with agent” early

Do not waste days retrying the automated process.

4. Gather documents for manual verification

Typically required:

• driver’s license or passport
• SSN card
• utility bill or bank statement
• work badge or government documentation (sometimes)

5. If locked out — reset ID.me account

Better to restart than wait forever on a system loop.

Transcript Clues: How To Know This Is Your Issue

Look for:

• TC 570 — Refund Hold
• TC 971 — Notice Sent
  and usually
• A reference to Letter 5071C or 5747C
  (though not always explicitly mentioned)

If these appear soon after TC 150, it is highly likely you are in identity-verification delay.

The ID.me system is designed to stop fraud — but it often stops legitimate refunds as well. When it cannot confirm identity online, the return enters a queue dependent on human scheduling and manual review.

Until identity is verified:

• Your refund is frozen
• TC 846 will not post
• WMR will not update
• IRS agents cannot override the hold

The fastest path to resolution is completing verification successfully — ideally by scheduling a live ID.me verification with a human reviewer as soon as possible.