Letter 4883C is a request to call the IRS and prove that you are the person who filed a tax return under your Social Security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The IRS uses it to stop identity thieves who file fake returns to steal refunds. Getting this letter does not mean you are in trouble or being audited. It does mean your return is on hold until you call, so plan to make the call soon.
Why you got a Letter 4883C
The IRS received a Form 1040-series return using your SSN or ITIN, and its fraud screening flagged it for a check. Rather than letting you verify online, this letter asks you to verify by phone through the Taxpayer Protection Program, the IRS unit that handles suspected identity theft on returns.
There are two possibilities:
- You filed the return. The IRS just needs to confirm it is you. The IRS does not publish its screening rules, and honest filers receive these letters.
- You did not file a return for that year. Someone may have filed using your name and number. The IRS wants to hear from you immediately.
What the Letter 4883C says
Look for:
- The tax year of the return the IRS is holding.
- The Taxpayer Protection Program hotline number. This is the number to call. The IRS says this line handles identity and return verification only. You cannot get refund status or other tax account help on it.
- Instructions about what to have ready when you call.
The IRS page for this letter does not list a fixed number of days to respond. The return stays frozen until you verify, so do not wait.
What to do
- Check that the letter is genuine. Compare it with the IRS's page for Letter 4883C on irs.gov. If anything feels off, find the IRS's contact numbers yourself on irs.gov.
- Gather everything before you dial. The IRS asks you to have all of these ready:
- the 4883C letter;
- the Form 1040-series return named in the letter (a W-2 or 1099 alone is not a tax return);
- a return for a different prior year, if you filed one and have it;
- supporting documents for each return, such as Forms W-2 and 1099, Schedule C or Schedule F.
- Call the hotline on your letter. Expect questions about you and about specific lines on the return.
- If you did not file, tell the representative clearly. You may be a victim of identity theft.
- Take notes. Write down the date, time and the employee's name or ID number, and what they told you.
If you cannot find your copy of the return. Check your tax software account or ask your preparer. The IRS identity theft guide also says you can get a copy of your return through your Online Account or by calling 800-908-9946.
If someone else will help on the call. A representative such as a CPA or enrolled agent can call for you if a completed Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, is on file. The IRS encourages you to be available during that call. If you just want a relative or friend to help and there is no Form 2848, you must call together and you must take part. Our power of attorney guide explains the forms.
If you are acting for someone else. A fiduciary for an individual, a deceased person's estate or a trust should send Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship.
If you are incarcerated. The IRS says to coordinate with your prison official.
The IRS specifically says not to file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, if you received Letter 4883C. Follow the letter's instructions. Filing the affidavit as well does not speed things up.
If you would like a checklist and a call log, an optional identity verification response kit is available, but this page covers what the call requires.
What happens if the phone call doesn't work
If the IRS cannot verify you by phone, it will ask you to make an appointment and bring the same documents to a local IRS office to verify in person. That process is described on our Letter 5747C page.
After you verify
The IRS says it will process your return and that it may take up to 9 weeks to receive your refund or have an overpayment credited to your account. If the IRS finds other issues, it will contact you again, which can delay the refund. Track progress with Where's My Refund.
Consider getting an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). It is a six-digit number, known only to you and the IRS, that blocks others from filing with your SSN or ITIN. See our CP01A page.
What happens if you ignore it
Until the IRS hears from you, it will not process your return, issue a refund or credit any overpayment to your account. If the return was filed by an identity thief and you stay silent, the fraud is not flagged on your account. Either way, ignoring the letter leaves your money and your record in limbo.
Is this notice real?
- The IRS normally contacts you first by U.S. mail. It does not start contact through email, text or social media direct messages.
- Find the IRS's page for Letter 4883C on irs.gov and compare. Be wary of letters that pressure you to act within hours or ask for payment.
- The IRS never asks for payment by gift card, prepaid card or wire transfer as a first contact, and it will never ask for your IP PIN.
If you think a letter or call is fake, see our IRS scams guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I verify Letter 4883C online instead of by phone?
The IRS page for this letter tells you to call the hotline on the letter. The online verification service is for the CP5071 series and Letter 5447C. If you got a 5071C instead, see our Letter 5071C page.
What if I don't have a prior-year tax return?
The IRS asks for a prior-year return only if you filed one and have it available. Call with what you have, including the return for the year in the letter and its W-2s and 1099s.
Can I ask about my refund on the same call?
No. The IRS says the Taxpayer Protection Program hotline handles identity and return verification only. Use Where's My Refund after you verify.
Should I file Form 14039 if I didn't file the return?
Not for this letter. Call the hotline and tell them you did not file. Then read our tax identity theft guide for other recovery steps, such as IdentityTheft.gov and getting an IP PIN.
Where can I get free help?
The Taxpayer Advocate Service may help if your case is stuck or causing hardship. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics offer free or low-cost help to eligible taxpayers.
Sources
IRSV.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the IRS. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change; confirm details on IRS.gov or with a tax professional. Found an error? Tell us.