The LTR 488C is one of the IRS's most common identity verification letters. It means the IRS flagged your return for identity verification and needs you to confirm you're the person who filed it before they'll process it or release your refund.
This is not an accusation of fraud. The IRS uses automated filters to flag returns with characteristics that match known fraud patterns. Legitimate returns get flagged every day. The verification process exists to protect you from someone filing a fraudulent return in your name.
How to Verify
The LTR 488C typically provides multiple verification options. Online verification through the IRS's Identity Verification portal is usually the fastest. You'll answer questions about your financial history drawn from commercial databases: previous addresses, loan amounts, bank accounts. These questions are designed to be answerable only by the real taxpayer.
Phone verification is the alternative. Call the number on the letter and an IRS employee will walk you through similar questions. Have your letter, your tax return, and a prior year return available when you call.
What You'll Need
For either verification method, have the following ready: the LTR 488C letter, the tax return you filed for the year in question, a prior year tax return for comparison, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your current address.
After Verification
Once you successfully verify your identity, the IRS processes your return. Refunds typically arrive within 6 to 9 weeks after verification. If the IRS assigned you an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), use it on every future return. The PIN is an additional layer of security that prevents someone else from filing in your name.
Don't Delay
Your refund is frozen until you verify. The IRS won't process your return without it. Every day you wait is another day without your refund. The verification process itself takes 15 to 30 minutes. The payoff is your refund released and your account protected.
If you're having trouble with the verification process, call us at (813) 229-7100. We can help navigate the process.