Who sends it: The IRS, by mail, after a tax return is filed with your Social Security number.
What this letter is
The IRS sends Letter 5071C when it has a tax return filed under your name and Social Security number and wants to confirm who sent it. It is a check against tax identity theft. The IRS holds the return, and any refund, until you verify.
Getting this letter does not mean you did anything wrong. It is a safety step.
What to have ready
- The letter itself
- The tax return for the year named in the letter, if you filed one
- Last year's tax return, if you have it
- The forms behind the return, such as W-2s, 1099s, an SSA-1099 or a 1099-R
What to do: verify it was you
Once you verify, the IRS goes on processing the return. A refund can still take several weeks after that.
- Online: use the IRS Identity Verification Service. Type the irs.gov web address printed on your letter into your browser yourself. You may need to sign in or create an account.
- By phone: call the number printed on the letter.
- Answer the questions about the return. If you filed it, confirm it. If you did not, say so.
- Write down the date and any confirmation number.
If you did not file the return
- Tell the IRS during verification that the return is not yours.
- Ask about an Identity Protection PIN, a 6-digit number that stops anyone else from filing with your Social Security number. You can get one at irs.gov.
- Follow the recovery steps at identitytheft.gov.
- Think about freezing your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- You may still need to file your own real return. A tax preparer can help.
How to tell a real one from a fake
A real 5071C arrives by mail, never by email, text or social media, and shows the number 5071C on it. Before you call, check that the phone number matches one listed on irs.gov, or call 1-800-829-1040.
Verifying never costs money, and the IRS never asks for your bank password or card number to do it. If an email or text says you must verify your identity to get your refund, do not tap the link.
Have one in front of you?
Take a clear photo and text it to Uncle at +1 208 214 0093. He tells you in plain words what it says, what it wants from you, and anything that looks wrong. How to take a clear photo.
This page explains what this kind of letter usually means. Your letter is the final word on your dates and amounts. For a decision about taxes, health coverage or a legal matter, call the office that sent it, using the number on its official website, or ask a professional you trust.
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Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
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