You check the IRS "Where’s My Refund?" tool every morning. You expect to see that beautiful orange bar move to "Refund Sent." Instead, you see a message about a delay. Then, a few days later, a thin envelope arrives. Inside is IRS Letter 4464C.
Don't panic. You aren't being arrested. You aren't even necessarily being audited—at least not in the traditional "bring every receipt from 2022 to a windowless room" sense. Honestly, this letter is just the IRS’s way of saying they need to double-check your math before they send you a check. It's a pause button.
What is IRS Letter 4464C anyway?
Basically, the IRS is verifying the information on your tax return. They’ve flagged something. It could be your reported wages, your withholding, or maybe those tax credits you claimed that look a little different than they did last year.
The IRS receives millions of documents from employers (W-2s) and banks (1099s). Sometimes, you file your taxes before your employer sends their copy of your W-2 to the Social Security Administration or the IRS. When the IRS computer looks at your return and doesn't see a matching document in its database, it triggers IRS Letter 4464C. It’s an automated "hold please" while a human or a more specific algorithm tries to verify that your income and withholding are legit.
The 60-day waiting game (that often takes longer)
The letter usually says they need 60 days to review your return. Here is the frustrating truth: it rarely takes exactly 60 days. Sometimes it takes 30. Sometimes you’ll get a second letter—the 2645C or the 4464C again—asking for another 60 days.
It’s annoying. I know. You probably had that money spent in your head already. Maybe it was for a car repair or just to breathe a little easier against inflation. But once that 4464C hits your mailbox, the refund is effectively frozen.
The IRS Integrity and Verification Operations (IVO) unit is the department handling this. Their job is fraud prevention. Because identity theft is so rampant, they’d rather be slow than send a $5,000 refund to a scammer using your Social Security number. It’s cold comfort when you need the cash, but that’s the logic.
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Why did I get this?
There isn't one single reason. But there are patterns.
If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), you’re already in a high-scrutiny group. These credits are "refundable," meaning the government gives you money even if you didn't owe any tax. Naturally, they check these more closely.
Another big one? Inconsistencies. If you worked three jobs but only reported two, or if you fat-fingered a number and turned $40,000 into $4,000, the system pulls the emergency brake. Sometimes it’s just random. Seriously. A small percentage of returns are pulled for "quality assurance" just to make sure the systems are working right. You might have done everything perfectly and still got stuck with IRS Letter 4464C.
Do you actually need to do anything?
Read the letter carefully. Usually, it says "nothing for you to do at this time."
If it says that, believe it. Calling the IRS won't speed it up. The phone representative likely won't have more information than the letter itself. They’ll just tell you to wait the 60 days.
However, you should do a "self-audit." Pull out your copy of the tax return you just filed. Compare it to your actual W-2s and 1099s.
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- Did you miss a digit?
- Did you report $5,000 in withholding when your W-2 says $500?
- Did you claim a dependent that someone else (like an ex-spouse) might have also claimed?
If you find a mistake, don't file an amended return (1040-X) immediately. Doing that while a 4464C review is pending can cause a massive "logjam" in the system that takes months to clear. Wait until the IRS contacts you again or until the review period ends.
When the 60 days pass and nothing happens
This is where it gets tricky. If 60 days pass and you haven't received your refund or another letter, you have to get proactive.
The IRS is understaffed. That’s not an excuse; it’s a reality. Things fall through the cracks. If you're facing a genuine financial hardship because of this delay—like an eviction notice or a utility shut-off—you can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS).
TAS is an independent organization within the IRS. They are the "emergency room" for tax problems. They can sometimes bypass the standard 60-day cycles if you can prove that the lack of a refund is causing you significant distress. You'll need to fill out Form 911.
Real talk about the "Identity Verification" myth
A lot of people confuse IRS Letter 4464C with Letter 5071C. They aren't the same.
If you get 5071C, you have to prove you are who you say you are, usually by going to a website or calling a specific line to verify your ID. But 4464C is about the data on the return, not necessarily your identity. You can't "verify" your way out of a 4464C with a driver's license. You just have to wait for them to verify your wages with your employer or the Social Security Administration.
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The "Check Your Transcript" Trick
If you want to see what’s happening behind the scenes, get your tax transcript from the IRS website. Look for "Transaction Codes."
If you see Code 570, it means there’s a hold on your account. That’s what the 4464C triggered. If you eventually see Code 571 (Resolved) or Code 846 (Refund Issued), you’re in the clear. Checking the transcript is often faster than waiting for the "Where's My Refund" tool to update, which only happens once a day, usually overnight.
Common sense steps to take right now
First, check your mail every single day. If the IRS decides they do need something from you—like a missing W-2—they will send another letter. If you miss that letter, your 60-day clock might stop or your return might be rejected entirely.
Second, contact your employer. Ask them if they’ve filed their copies of the W-2s with the government. If they were late or made an error, that's almost certainly why you got the IRS Letter 4464C. You can't fix it on your end, but knowing the cause helps.
Third, stay calm. It’s your money. You will get it eventually, plus interest if the IRS takes longer than 45 days after the filing deadline to issue it. The current interest rate the IRS pays is actually pretty decent compared to a standard savings account.
Summary of Actionable Steps
- Verify the details. Compare your filed return against your physical tax documents. Look for any typos in income or withholding amounts.
- Pull your transcript. Look for Code 570 on your IRS account. This confirms the hold is active and gives you a "start date" for your 60-day wait.
- Wait the full 60 days. Do not call before this window closes unless you have a "hardship" situation. The agents cannot move the file faster during the initial review.
- Organize your records. In case the IRS moves from a "review" to an "audit," ensure you have every W-2, 1099, and receipt for credits (like childcare or school expenses) in one folder.
- Contact TAS if necessary. If 60 days pass with no update and you are in a financial crisis, submit Form 911 to the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
- Watch for Letter 12C. Sometimes the 4464C is followed by a 12C, which specifically asks you to mail or fax missing documents. Send these via certified mail so you have proof of delivery.
The IRS Letter 4464C is a test of patience more than anything else. Most of the time, the IRS verifies the info, realizes everything is fine, and releases the refund without you ever saying a word. It just takes a frustratingly long time for the gears of the bureaucracy to turn.