Key Takeaways
- A 'we need an additional 60 days' letter (usually Letter 2645C) means your return was pulled for manual review - often for income verification, credit verification, or information the IRS systems couldn't automatically match
- The IRS can and does send multiple 60-day letters in a row; each one restarts the clock
- Check your free IRS tax transcript for codes 570 (hold) and 971 (notice issued) to see where your return actually stands
- If a follow-up letter (CP05 or 4464C) asks for documents, respond quickly - the review clock doesn't really start until the IRS has what it needs
- If it's been more than 60 days past the letter's timeframe, call the IRS at 800-829-1040, then escalate to the Taxpayer Advocate Service (877-777-4778) if you're facing financial hardship
- Contacting your local Congressional representative has produced real movement for many readers within 1-2 weeks
If the IRS sent you a letter saying it needs “an additional 60 days” to review your tax return, you’re not alone — and unfortunately, that letter often isn’t the last one. Many filers get two or three of these notices back to back, each one extending the wait for their refund with no real explanation.
In this article I’ll go through what’s behind the 60-day notice, how to find out what’s actually holding up your return, and the escalation paths that have worked for readers when the standard “just wait” answer isn’t good enough.
With IRS staffing down again in 2026 and only about 21% of filing-season calls reaching a live agent (per the National Taxpayer Advocate’s June 2026 report), knowing the right path matters more than it used to.
Why the Delay?
While the delay could simply reflect IRS processing backlogs — which have worsened as staffing cuts continue through 2026 — the more likely reason is that your return got flagged for additional processing due to missing or incorrect information the IRS systems cannot automatically reconcile.
This pushes your return to the IRS “error resolution” department for manual review, which is then subject to the limited availability of their examiners. With fewer examiners on staff this year, these queues are moving slower than in 2025. I cover the other common causes in my post on why tax refunds are taking so long.
Common triggers I see over and over in reader comments: wage or withholding amounts that don’t match employer W-2/1099 filings, Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit claims that need verification, identity verification flags, and amended or late-filed returns, which the IRS is legally allowed to take extra review time on.
You will get an initial IRS notice stating the additional delay (e.g. a Letter 2645C) and extra time for the IRS to review and respond — normally 60 days.
If they need something from you, they will send a follow-up letter (e.g. CP05 or 4464C) that will provide more details and actions to take. So it’s important you closely monitor and action any correspondence from the IRS.
You may then get yet another 2645C letter, saying another 60 days is needed. The cycle repeats until the IRS completes processing or requests more information. Frustrating, but knowing the pattern helps you plan.
Here’s what readers have said over the years, which you can probably relate to:
(Joanne) The first [IRS] letter stated my refund was under review with absolutely no other explanation. Then 2 months later I received a letter stating they needed an additional 60 days. Now the other day I received another letter saying they needed another additional 60 days.
(Tom) I think I’ve received 3 different IRS letters in the mail saying that they need 60 more days to process it. I am so upset and defeated. I need my money.
How to Find Out What’s Actually Going On
You should always be on the lookout for formal IRS letters and notices explaining why your tax return is facing delays. Also review your return for mistakes, and if you have an accountant or tax preparer, talk to them.
But the single most useful free tool is your IRS account transcript. Your tax transcript and processing cycle codes can show where the IRS is with your return.
The two codes to look for with a 60-day review are 570 (additional account action pending) and 971 (notice issued). When the hold releases, you’ll see code 846 (refund issued) with a payment date.
While the transcript won’t give you a guaranteed refund date, it updates faster than the letters arrive — many readers see the 846 code days before any final letter shows up. Note that Where’s My Refund will often just show “Return Processing Has Been Delayed Beyond The Normal Timeframe” during this whole stretch, which tells you nothing new.
Things can shift during the year as IRS staffing and backlogs evolve.
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Who Can I Contact at the IRS for Help?
You can try calling the IRS, but getting a live agent is a challenge — during the 2026 filing season the average hold was 14 minutes and fewer than 1 in 4 calls got through at all.
Even when you do reach someone, the most likely response is that your return is processing and to wait for a formal update.
That said, there’s one situation where calling is clearly worth it: if it’s been more than 60 days since the date on your letter with no updated notice or refund, call 800-829-1040 and ask the agent to check for any hold codes or requests you may have missed.
A few tips that improve your odds: call right at 7am local time, avoid Mondays and Tuesdays, and take the callback option if offered.
Escalation Path 1: The Taxpayer Advocate Service
If the IRS has blown past its own timeline, or the delay is causing genuine financial hardship (rent, utilities, medical bills), contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) at 877-777-4778.
TAS is free and independent of the IRS. An advocate can pull your return, identify the specific hold, and often move a stuck return in 1–2 weeks when the standard answer would be another 60-day wait. You can also ask any IRS phone agent to submit Form 911 (TAS assistance request) on your behalf.
Escalation Path 2: Your Congressional Representative
This method has helped many readers see real movement on their refund within 1 to 2 weeks of making contact.
Find your local Congressional contact by searching “[your zip code] Congress Representative taxes help.” You’ll be taken to a webpage with contact details or a submission form. Don’t submit sensitive documents through the initial web form — just explain your issue and ask for a secure portal if documents are needed.
Once they have your information, a staff liaison will be assigned and will likely have you sign a privacy release (with your spouse if you filed jointly) so they can inquire with the IRS on your behalf. Congressional inquiries get routed to dedicated IRS liaison units, which is why they tend to get answered faster than taxpayer calls.
Even if they can’t get your money faster, they can usually confirm what is holding up your return — which for most readers is half the battle.
Mistakes That Drag Out a 60-Day Review
I get questions about these constantly, so a few gotchas worth flagging:
- Ignoring the follow-up letter. If a CP05 or 4464C asks for pay stubs or W-2 verification and you don’t respond, the review effectively stalls indefinitely. Respond fast, and use the IRS Document Upload Tool rather than mail if the letter allows it.
- Assuming the 60 days is a promise. It’s not a deadline the IRS holds itself to — it’s a legal buffer. Track the date yourself and act the day it passes.
- Filing a duplicate return out of frustration. Don’t. A second return almost always makes the delay worse by triggering duplicate-filing checks.
- Paying someone to “release” your refund. Nobody — no tax pro, no service — can force the IRS to release a refund under review. TAS is free; anyone charging for advocate services is a red flag.
- Missing the interest silver lining. If the IRS takes more than 45 days past the filing deadline to pay your refund, it owes you interest (taxable, but still yours).
Looking Ahead: 2027 Filing Season
I’m watching two things that will shape how common these letters are next year. First, IRS staffing: the National Taxpayer Advocate has warned that if current levels hold, 2027 filing season service could be worse than 2026’s, which likely means more manual-review queues, not fewer.
Second, verification automation: the IRS continues expanding document upload and online verification tools, which should shorten some review cycles for filers who respond digitally.
I’ll update this page as the 2027 season approaches and new data lands.
Just got my second 60 day notice! Haven’t been paid for 2021 or 2022! They owe me $9,000! I have credit cards just piling up on late charges! Why can’t we hold them responsible as we are held responsible?????
I empathize with all of you with this insidious problem. I have been preparing tax returns professionally for 40 years and have never seen it this bad. My own daughter is in the same boat as the rest of you. She has a simple return with one W-2. I electronically filed her return the end of January and as of today, the 4th of July 2023, no refund, no call back, no letter (except to extend her refund an additional 60 days), nothing. This is absolutely not acceptable.
My only solution is to request that all of you, all of my fabulous clients that the only way to prevent this ridiculous problem from occurring again is to change your tax withholding to zero. Nothing. No estimated payments, no pre-payments of any kind. Nothing, period. You will probably owe interest but so be it. This is a problem that they created and cannot solve and trust me will not get better any time soon. At least you will have YOUR money. Also, you can write our crummy worthless so-called legislators. Even the “Taxpayer Advocate” is a total joke and a waste of time. Let me know your thoughts.
Efiled 01/28/2023, accepted and still 570 and date 03/06/23, 2 60day letter and still no refund! 06/19/23
Yep, this is frustrating. I got the notice to send additional documents late March and submitted them via online through their link on April 1st. Called 2 weeks later to verify if they received the documents and said they didn’t. Uploaded them again, and called again 2 weeks later to try and verify, again, nothing. This time I faxed them via online and got a confirmation e-mail saying that it was sent successfully to the department of treasury. Called today and spoke to a live representative and they couldn’t tell me where my refund was at or even the status of it. All I wanted to know is if they received the documentation and they couldn’t even tell me that. So now I have to probably wait another 60 days for them just to tell me they didn’t receive it. This is super frustrating.
Has anybody tried going through the local congressional representative?
Same situation for so frustrating
if anyone get the refund after so many letter? or what happen next please thanks.
thats ridiculos.. i filled mine february 10 2023.. have 3 letter need 60 days ..thas very frustanting.. i have 2 kids. i need my money.
I’m in the same boat, filed February 25 2023 have received 2 letters stating they may need an additional 60 days verify husbands identity or income it doesn’t say which one and says they don’t need anything from us. I’ve reached out to the tax advocate people March they are supposed to help Speed the process along but they said it hasn’t been long enough I had to wait until June 18th which was Saturday so trust me I’ll be calling Monday. If they would tell me what they needed we could get this cleared up right away, it’s more frustrating not knowing what the issue is and out of all years this is the year that we really really need the $. Any other year would have been better. I don’t care if we are reviewed we have nothing to hide it’s just not the most ideal year for this to happen. It seemed like they were faster during the pandemic. Sadly when you call the live IRS agents their attitudes make it seem like you’re inconveniencing them and you can automatically tell you are not going to get any help from them, they just try to get you off the phone as fast as possible, all that long wait holding for absolutely nothing. The whole situation sucks. Please if anyone finally gets their taxes let me know
What number do you call, they don’t answer me
Me either, I don’t see how some people are actually speaking to IRS
Call tax advocate line and asked to be transferred to account management
Have you received your money yet?
We have been getting the same “we need another 60 days to get your information from our computers” SUCH BULLSHIT!!! I BET THEY ALL GOT THIER REFUNDS…I am more than totally pissed!!!
Hey did u receive yours yet
We just got our second notice and we filed Feb 21st, what’s the purpose of filing early when you have to wait longer than the ones that filed late?? We’re looking to get our refund in June now, beyond frustrating !!
I did mines a day before you and I haven’t gotten a date. How did you find out you was getting yours in June?
By the letter you received mine is up on the 15th haven’t received a letter yet so hopefully I will get mine Monday or I will get a letter explaining what they did
I’m in the same boat, just got my second letter in the mail this morning, and I’m beyond frustrated. Summitted mine on march 14, waiting on all my documents and never have had to wait this long.
Did you get a ddd for June?
yes that crazy im very dissapointed
Same situation for me accepted tax return late February
Anyone get their taxes yet
Nope! And when the IRS wants their $$$$,We HAVE to pay or get sent to collections. Tired of the one sided consequences
Get person from call back in 30 mins to an hour!!
I Finally found a few options and ways through the system to get someone on the phone. I have 3 that I wrote down but one of them doesn’t tell you they can’t handle you call but instead lets you put in your phone number to receive a call back instead of a really long wait time. It took about 45 minutes and I did finally get to speak with someone, she stated that my “120” business days would be up on Sept. 23. Not sure where the 120 instead of the 60 days came from but I also asked about the hardship option and she stated that she could put it in but that it takes 4 weeks for an agent to even call you to put you in the program so she was basically useless but I’ll put all 3 ways I found through the system, sorry I can’t remember which one gave me the call back option but I hope it may help some of you guys.
All 3 ways start by calling 800-829-1040
1st way – option 1 for english, the option 2 and just wait, do not press anything else and after a little bit it transfers you
2nd way – option 1 for english, option 2, option 1, option 3, option 2, enter ssn and confirm ssn but then do not press anymore keys after and wait, it will transfer you
3rd way – Option 1 for english, option 2, option 1, option 3, option 2, wait (do not enter ssn) after a bit it will have more options, option 2, option 4 and you will be transferred
I really hope this helps, if not let me know because I’ve been trying to reach them since March when I got my letter so I have about 15 options to get through to someone someway.
Did you get your taxes Today? They told me sept 30th so I’m wondering
Hi,
So I received cp05 letter than a couple of months later a CP05a letter w/60 days bs. Wel it’s been 79 days and nothing. Effective date 6/26/23. Only good thing I see that my transcripts all completely filled out and they even adjusted my AGI. Does anybody else have their trans updated and still not being paid?? It was updated 3 weeks ago.
Man! I got right through to someone! Genius! Thanks so much Brian!!!!! Good new or Bad it’s great to finally reach a live person!
I filed March 23, 2022. I got a letter in may that I had to identify myself. I did the whole process and identified myself may 26 online & through zoom with an agent. They told me it could take up to 9 weeks to receive my income tax money. (Which till this date I have no gotten yet 8.13.22) June 30 I randomly logged back in to the ID me website. I see they have to keep identifying more. So I add all the info. Just barely heard back from them august 10 with a letter from august 8. Stating they are holding my income to keep verifying for 60 days. Bro. I need my money. I don’t understand what is taking them so long. My mom and I filed the same day 5 mins apart. She received hers. No problem. I never did. Can NEVER get in contact with a damn agent through the phone. And when I did they kept hanging up on me to not answer my questions and then I never was able to get through ever again. But if we were the ones who owed the IRS , oh, they’d be calling our phone every 5 minutes. And harassing us for the money. Smfh.
I filed January 30th and got the same letters too. I’m still waiting.. I’m freaking upset..
Hey have anyone got there money back yet
September 29 & still nothing. Haven’t even heard back from them again. SMH.
Check out the post I just did, I finally found a way to get someone to give you a call back instead of getting hung up on everytime. Didn’t help me much but hopefully you may have better luck
60 days to correct one error. Some types of criminals trials?