Key Takeaways
- The WMR 'letter requesting more information' message means your refund is paused pending correspondence - most commonly identity verification (5071C) or income review (CP05) in 2026.
- Check your IRS online account immediately - most notices appear digitally before the paper letter arrives.
- The letter determines your timeline: identity verification takes up to 9 weeks after you verify; CP05-style reviews run 60+ days with no action needed.
- Respond once and completely - partial responses restart the up-to-60-day review cycle.
- Response deadlines run from the notice date printed on the letter, not from when you received it.
Plenty of filers checking Where’s My Refund (WMR) or IRS2Go this season have hit the same status: the IRS received your return, but a letter requesting more information is on its way to you. Your refund is on pause — but this message is a to-do item, not a disaster.
Here’s what triggers it, what the letter is likely to say, and how to get your refund moving again as quickly as possible.
Why the IRS Requests More Information
A handful of situations generate this message, and they’re worth knowing because they tell you what to expect before the letter even arrives.
Identity verification is the most common in 2026. The IRS has leaned hard on fraud and data-matching filters, and flagged returns get suspended until you verify — usually via a 5071C letter. If this is your situation, nothing happens until you act, so speed matters.
Income or withholding review. If the IRS wants to verify income, withholding, or credits against employer and third-party records, you’ll typically get a CP05 notice. Often no action is needed — but the letter tells you which case you’re in.
Missing or incomplete items. A missing form, an unsigned return, or a schedule that doesn’t reconcile can all trigger a request. Paper filers see this more than e-filers, since tax software catches most of it before submission.
Unusual income or deductions. Large charitable deductions, business losses, or income that doesn’t match what employers reported yet can prompt a documentation request.
What to Do When You See This Message
First, don’t wait for the mail. Log into your IRS online account and check the Notices and Letters section — most notices appear there before the paper copy arrives, and lost mail is one of the most common ways refunds stay frozen for months.
When you have the letter, read it completely before doing anything. It will state exactly what the IRS needs, the deadline (typically 30 days from the notice date), and how to respond — online, by fax, or by mail.
Then respond once, completely. Gather everything requested — W-2s, 1099s, proof of withholding, whatever the letter lists — and send it together. Partial responses restart the review cycle and add weeks.
Dana’s case: Dana’s WMR showed the letter message in late February. Her online account showed a CP05 — income verification, no action required. Her refund arrived in mid-May, about 75 days after the notice date, without her sending anything. Her coworker got the same message but a 5071C; he verified online the next day and was paid in five weeks. Same WMR message, completely different paths — the letter is what tells you which one you’re on.
How Long Will My Refund Take Now?
It depends on the letter. For no-action review notices like the CP05, the IRS asks for 60 days from the notice date before you even contact them. For identity verification, official guidance is up to 9 weeks after you verify.
For document requests, the IRS generally takes up to 60 days to review your response and close the case. I’ve laid out the full notice response and refund payment timeline here — including what happens if you disagree with the outcome.
One thing to budget for: IRS phone help remains hard to reach, with only about 21% of calls answered last filing season. Your online account and the specific number printed on your notice beat the general line every time.
Looking Ahead: 2027 Filing Season
I expect this WMR message to show up even more next season. The IRS is verifying returns against third-party data more aggressively each year — including the newer 1099-DA digital asset reporting — while its workforce remains roughly 27% below recent peaks. More flags plus fewer staff means more letters and slower reviews.
The practical takeaway for 2027: set up your IRS online account before filing season opens, and check it whenever WMR mentions correspondence. I’ll update this post as the IRS changes its notice process for next season.
Common Issues to Watch Out For
- Waiting weeks for a letter that’s already viewable online. Check your IRS online account the day you see the WMR message.
- Responding with partial documentation. Every incomplete response restarts the review clock. Send everything the letter asks for, together.
- Missing that some letters need no response. A CP05-style review notice often requires nothing — responding anyway doesn’t speed it up.
- Blowing the deadline because the letter went to an old address. File Form 8822 if you’ve moved; the response window runs from the notice date regardless.
- Falling for fake “IRS” letters. Real notices carry a notice number (top right) that matches what’s in your online account, and the IRS never demands gift cards or wire payment.
