Letter 4883C

A 4883C letter says a return was filed under your number and the IRS needs identity verification by phone before processing continues. Notably, the IRS's own page says not to file an identity theft affidavit for this letter — the phone call is the process.

“Call the Taxpayer Protection Program hotline in this letter, with the letter, the tax return in question, a prior-year return, and supporting documents in front of you. If you didn't file the return, say so immediately — someone may have used your number. Until we hear from you, no processing, no refund.”

The return is parked until verification happens; after a successful call, refunds can still take up to nine weeks. Having every listed document at hand before dialing is the difference between one call and several.

• The 4883C letter itself
• The tax return referenced (W-2s and 1099s don't count as returns)
• A prior-year tax return, if one exists
• Supporting documents for each return

• Joining or making the call as your authorized representative (Form 2848 on file)
• Preparing the documents so verification succeeds in one pass
• The fraud path when the return wasn't yours
• Chasing the refund through the post-verification processing weeks