Notice code Letter 4464C
You got Letter 4464C. Your refund is on hold.
You got Letter 4464C, and your refund is on hold while the IRS checks your return.
You owe nothing because of this letter, so follow only the dates printed on your own copy.
First check that the letter is real, then send only the papers it asks for.
Briefing for Letter 4464C
IRS pageA letter saying the IRS is holding your refund while it checks your return.
Follow the instructions and any dates on your own letter.
- Wait for the review to end if no papers are requested.
- Send the papers the letter asks for.
- Call the number on the letter if you did not file.
What changed recently?
Since September 30, 2025, the IRS has stopped issuing paper refund checks to individual taxpayers, with limited exceptions. Refunds now go out electronically, mainly by direct deposit.
Source: Questions and answers about Executive Order 14247 (paper refund checks).
What is the IRS saying?
The IRS wants to confirm the income, withholding or credits before it pays. You do not owe anything because of this letter.
Why did you get it?
Returns with large refunds or numbers that do not match employer records get held. Take Tia. Her 2025 refund was held because her W-2 had not reached the IRS yet.
Is it real?
It arrives by mail with your tax year. If you did not file a return at all, someone may have used your number, and our identity verification page has the steps.
Still unsure? Search the code on the IRS notice search, or use the real or fake checklist.
When is your deadline?
Follow the instructions and any dates on your own letter. A separate identity-theft case timeline does not predict how long this refund review will take.
What if you agree?
If the letter asks for papers, send them. Otherwise wait.
What if you don't agree?
If you did not file, call the number on the letter. Do not send money to anyone who contacts you about this refund.
What happens if you ignore it?
The refund stays on hold until the review ends.
What should you read next?
Questions people ask
How long does Letter 4464C take?
The sources checked here do not establish a fixed processing time for your refund review. Use the contact instructions on the letter if its stated waiting period has passed.
Do I owe money after Letter 4464C?
No. It is a hold on a refund, not a bill.
What if I did not file the return in Letter 4464C?
Call the number on the letter. Someone may have filed with your Social Security number.
Can I speed up a 4464C hold?
Send what the letter asks for quickly. The Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778 can help if you face hardship.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Manual 25.25.5. Published by irs.gov.
- How IRS ID theft victim assistance works. Published by irs.gov.
- Questions and answers about Executive Order 14247 (paper refund checks). Published by irs.gov.
Last checked October 2026
What to do now
- Match the tax year on Letter 4464C to the return you actually filed.
- Send any papers the letter asks for, such as your W-2, by the date shown.
- Call the number printed on the letter if you did not file that return.
- Refuse anyone who asks you to pay money to release this refund.
Still not sure the letter is real? Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and use that number, not one printed on the letter you doubt.