Letter 5747C asks you to visit an IRS office in person to prove you are the person who filed a tax return under your Social Security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The letter is about protecting you from identity theft, not about an audit or a bill. Your return stays on hold until you act, so book the visit soon.
Why you got a Letter 5747C
The IRS received a Form 1040-series return using your SSN or ITIN and flagged it for identity verification. This letter tells you that you may need to visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC), the IRS's walk-in offices that work by appointment, so an employee can check your identity documents and confirm the return.
You may also end up here after another identity letter. For example, the IRS says that if it cannot verify you by phone after a Letter 4883C, it will ask you to schedule an in-person appointment.
What the Letter 5747C says
Look for:
- The tax year of the return the IRS is holding.
- Two phone numbers. One is the Taxpayer Assistance Center toll-free number for scheduling an appointment. The other is the Taxpayer Protection Program hotline for telling the IRS you did not file.
- A list of documents to bring.
The IRS notes that these phone numbers are for identity and return verification only. You cannot get refund status or other tax information through them. The IRS's public page does not list a fixed reply deadline.
What to do
If you did not file a return
Call the Taxpayer Protection Program hotline on your letter and tell the IRS you did not file. Someone may have filed using your identity. Then read our tax identity theft guide for next steps.
If you did file the return
- Call the Taxpayer Assistance Center number on your letter to schedule an in-person appointment.
- Collect your tax documents. The IRS asks you to bring:
- the 5747C letter;
- the Form 1040-series return named in the letter (a W-2 or 1099 is not a tax return);
- if more verification is needed, a return for a different prior year, if you have it;
- supporting documents for each return, such as Forms W-2 and 1099, Schedule C or Schedule F.
- Collect your identity documents. Bring one valid federal or state government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID or passport, plus at least one more item from the IRS list below.
- Go to the appointment yourself. You must be there in person to prove your identity.
- Keep notes of the appointment date, office and anything the employee tells you about next steps.
The second form of ID. The IRS accepts at least one of these in addition to your photo ID:
| Accepted second document | Notes from the IRS list |
|---|---|
| A different current federal or state government ID | Must be different from the first ID |
| U.S. Social Security card | |
| Mortgage statement or lease | Must show your current address |
| Car title | |
| Voter registration card | Not the voter registration application |
| Utility bill | Must match the address on your ID |
| Birth certificate | The IRS no longer accepts Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 |
| Current school records |
If a representative is helping you. An authorized third party can represent you, but you still must attend the appointment to authenticate your identity. Representatives use Form 2848; see our power of attorney guide.
If you are a fiduciary. If you are acting for an individual, a deceased person's estate or a trust, send Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship.
Don't file Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, because of this letter. The IRS says to follow the letter's instructions instead. Bring originals of your ID documents to the appointment.
An optional identity verification response kit is available if you want a document checklist, but this page lists everything the IRS asks for.
After you verify
Once the IRS confirms your identity and that you submitted the return, it continues processing. The IRS says this may take up to 9 weeks. Check progress with Where's My Refund or your IRS Online Account.
To make future filing smoother and safer, consider an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), a six-digit number that prevents others from filing with your SSN or ITIN. Our CP01A page explains how it works.
What happens if you ignore it
The IRS says that if it doesn't hear from you, it won't be able to process your return, issue a refund or credit any overpayment to your account. If someone else filed the return, staying silent leaves the fraud unreported.
Is this notice real?
- The IRS normally makes first contact by U.S. mail. It does not start contact by email, text or social media.
- Compare your letter with the IRS's Letter 5747C page on irs.gov, and if you are unsure, look up IRS phone numbers on irs.gov yourself rather than using numbers from an email or text.
- The IRS never demands payment by gift card or wire transfer and will never ask for your IP PIN.
See our IRS scams guide for more red flags, and our how to contact the IRS guide for official channels.
Frequently asked questions
Can I verify online or by phone instead?
Letter 5747C asks for an in-person visit if you filed the return. If you did not file, a phone call to the Taxpayer Protection Program hotline is enough to report it. Online verification is for the CP5071 series of letters.
Can my tax preparer go to the appointment for me?
No. A representative can come with you and help, but the IRS says you must be present to authenticate your identity.
What if I can't find my copy of the return?
Check your tax software or ask your preparer. The IRS identity theft guide says you can also get a copy through your Online Account or by calling 800-908-9946.
Will I get my refund right after the appointment?
Not immediately. The IRS says processing may take up to 9 weeks after it verifies you. If it finds other problems, it may contact you again.
Who can help if my case is stuck?
The Taxpayer Advocate Service may help if you have tried normal channels and the delay is causing hardship. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics also help eligible taxpayers for free or a small fee.
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.