Ask Maxi · IRS letters
I got Letter 4883C from the IRS. What does it mean?
Letter 4883C means the IRS received a return under your Social Security number or ITIN and needs you to verify your identity by phone before it will process that return.
Until you verify, the IRS will not process the return, issue a refund, or apply an overpayment.
How to answer:
- Call the Taxpayer Protection Program number printed on your letter. Use only that number.
- Have ready: the letter, the return for the year on the letter, a prior-year return if you filed one, and the W-2s, 1099s and schedules that support both.
- If the IRS cannot verify you by phone, it will ask you to make an appointment at a local IRS office and bring documents in person.
Do not file Form 14039 because of this letter. Follow the letter's instructions instead.
After you verify, it can take up to nine weeks for a refund to arrive or an overpayment to be applied.
If someone else is helping you, such as your tax preparer, they need a Form 2848 on file, or you need to be on the call with them.
Send us a photo of the first page of the notice. We will tell you what it means for you and what to do next.
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