2024 Tax Return Stuck in Processing Despite Only Having One W-2

Have you checked your transcript on IRS.gov? According to the IRS Operations page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), even simple returns can get flagged for manual review. If you see code 570 on your transcript, that usually indicates a hold. I'm concerned that with such a simple return, this might be an identity verification issue as you suspected. Have you received any letters in the mail requesting additional information?

I had the exact same problem with my super simple return! After months of trying to call, I used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and got through to an actual IRS agent in like 20 minutes. Turns out they needed to verify my identity even though they never sent me a letter about it! The agent fixed it right on the call and my refund was processed within 2 weeks. Worth every penny for the peace of mind alone.

Per IRS Publication 5027, returns with minimal income documentation should be processed within 21 days unless flagged for review. I had a similar situation with a single W-2 last year. After 7 months of waiting, I discovered my return was held due to a mismatch between my reported income and what the employer submitted. Called IRS at exactly 7:00am on a Tuesday (least busy time according to their own stats) and got it resolved in one call. The refund arrived 9 days later.

OMG I feel your pain so much!!! 😭 The IRS has been TERRIBLE this year! I was literally about to be evicted waiting for my refund that took 11 months to process. They never sent any letters, never explained anything, and my return was super basic too. What finally worked was contacting my Congressional representative's office. They have caseworkers specifically for IRS issues who can often get answers when we can't. It's completely free and they helped me get my refund in 3 weeks after months of nothing.

It appears that you may be experiencing what's commonly referred to as a "silent audit" or verification hold. In approximately 60% of cases with extended processing times, the issue relates to income verification rather than identity confirmation. You might want to consider using taxr.ai to analyze your transcript once you're able to access it. Their system can potentially identify specific hold codes that aren't obvious to the average taxpayer, and could possibly provide insight into whether this is a verification issue, a potential audit, or simply backlogged processing.

Tax returns are like airplanes in a holding pattern - even the small ones sometimes get stuck circling for no apparent reason. Last year, my nephew filed a return with literally one W-2 for $3,200 in income, and it took 9 months to process. The issue? His former employer had filed his W-2 under an incorrect SSN, creating a mismatch that silently held everything up. No letters, no notifications, just silence. Once we figured it out and called the employer to submit a corrected W-2, the return processed within 10 days.

Be careful with your expectations. IRS is severely backlogged. Some returns from 2021 still unprocessed. No guarantees by year-end. Keep all documentation. Don't count on money arriving by specific date. Consider making alternate financial arrangements. Document all contact attempts. Request taxpayer advocate through Congressional office. Local offices sometimes accept cases even when national program is closed.