60-Day Review Notice - Countdown from Issue Date or Refund by Tax Day?

The 60-day review period typically begins from the date of the CP05 notice (March 18th in your case). This is an Income Verification review, where the IRS is cross-checking income data reported on your return against information received from employers, financial institutions, etc. The April 15th tax deadline has no bearing on refund processing timelines for returns under review. Be aware that while they estimate 60 days, some reviews can extend beyond this timeframe, especially if the IRS requests additional documentation from you. I've seen these reviews conclude in as little as 3 weeks, but they can sometimes extend to the full 60 days or beyond.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year. Filed early February, got the 60-day review notice mid-March. I was checking my transcript daily and driving myself crazy trying to decode all those cycle codes and freeze indicators. Eventually I found https://taxr.ai and it made a huge difference - it analyzed my transcript and explained that my student loan interest deduction had triggered a verification review (pretty common for recent grads). The system predicted my refund would be released around day 52 of the review, and it was spot on - got my DD exactly 53 days after the notice date. Might be worth checking if you're as detail-oriented as I am and want to understand exactly what's happening with your return.

The 60 days starts from the notice date, not the filing deadline. So you're looking at mid-May, not April 15th. I'm in the same boat - got my notice March 10th, so I'm counting down to May 9th. It sucks but there's literally nothing you can do to speed it up.

Have you tried calling the IRS to get more specific details about your review? I was in a similar situation and tried calling for weeks with no luck - always disconnected due to "high call volume." Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through to an agent in about 25 minutes. They confirmed my review was just routine verification of my student loan interest deduction (similar to your situation) and that everything looked fine on their end. The agent couldn't speed up the process but at least I knew exactly what was happening. Worth the fee just for peace of mind rather than waiting and wondering for another month?

I've heard about these services that supposedly get you through to the IRS faster, but isn't this just something the IRS offers for free? I checked their website and you can schedule a callback. Why pay for something when the government provides it at no cost? Seems like these companies are just taking advantage of people's frustration with the system.

Have you ever actually tried scheduling a callback during tax season? Or calling the IRS directly? The callback system is great in theory, but what happens when call volume is so high they don't even offer callbacks? What about when you need to speak to someone before the next available appointment three weeks from now? These services exist because there's a genuine gap between what the IRS claims to provide and what taxpayers actually experience. Sometimes paying a reasonable fee to solve an urgent problem makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

I'm curious about something - is this 60-day review something new the IRS is doing more frequently? It's like getting your baggage randomly selected for additional screening at the airport - is there any pattern to who gets selected? Are certain types of returns or deductions more likely to trigger these reviews?

I had the exact same situation last March - 60 day review notice that mentioned student loan interest verification. I decided to just wait it out instead of calling, and exactly 47 days after the notice date, my transcript updated and the refund was deposited 3 days later. The system works, it's just painfully slow. One tip: set up transcript alerts with the IRS so you get an email when your transcript updates - that way you don't need to check manually every day. It helped preserve my sanity during the waiting period!

Just to clarify something important that others haven't mentioned: the 60-day period is just an estimate, not a guarantee. The IRS uses this timeframe as a general guideline, but they're not legally bound to it. If they need more time, they can (and often do) take it without sending you another notice. In my experience working with clients, about 70% of these reviews are completed within the 60-day window, 25% take up to 90 days, and 5% can extend beyond that. Just wanted to set realistic expectations so you're not counting down to exactly 60 days thinking that's a hard deadline.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This is super helpful. I'm definitely feeling more prepared now knowing the 60 days starts from March 18th, so I'm looking at mid-May. The student loan interest deduction triggering reviews makes total sense - I wish they'd just say that upfront instead of the generic "review" language. I've set up transcript monitoring like Isabella suggested, and I'm trying to resist the urge to check it every single day (though let's be honest, I probably still will 😅). At least now I know this is pretty routine and not something to panic about. Will update this thread when my refund finally comes through for anyone else in the same boat!

Ashley, you're handling this so well! I love your organized approach - the color-coded folders and spreadsheet tracking are totally something I would do too 😂 Your attitude about this whole situation is really refreshing. I went through something similar last year and the waiting was brutal, but like everyone else has said, these reviews almost always resolve without issues. The fact that you're staying positive and sharing updates for others shows what a great community member you are. Fingers crossed your refund comes through on the earlier side of that timeline - maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones who gets processed in 45-50 days instead of the full 60+!

I went through this exact same situation two years ago! Got my 60-day review notice in March, and like you, I was super organized with tracking everything (spreadsheets are life 📊). The waiting was honestly the hardest part, but I wanted to share something that might help with your peace of mind. When I called the IRS around day 45 (after getting through with one of those callback services), the agent told me that student loan interest deductions are one of the most common triggers for these reviews, especially for recent grads. They're just verifying that the loan servicer reported the same interest amount that you claimed. Since you e-filed through major tax software, your numbers are almost certainly correct, so this really is just a routine verification. My refund was released on day 52, and I got the direct deposit 3 days later. The one thing I wish I'd known earlier was that once your transcript shows the 846 refund code, you're basically done - the deposit usually hits within 3-5 business days after that. Stay patient and keep us posted!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - filed early February and got my 60-day review notice on March 15th. Like several others here, I'm a recent grad who claimed student loan interest deduction, so it's reassuring to know this is such a common trigger. I've been obsessively checking my transcript every few days (I know, I know 😅), but reading everyone's experiences here has really helped calm my nerves. The fact that most people are getting their refunds resolved within 45-60 days, and that it's usually just routine verification, makes this so much more manageable. Thanks especially to those who shared specific timelines - it really helps set realistic expectations. I'll definitely be following this thread for updates!

This entire thread is so reassuring! I'm a newcomer here but found this discussion while frantically searching for answers about my own 60-day review notice. Filed on January 28th, got the CP05 notice dated March 12th - and yes, I also claimed student loan interest deduction as a recent grad! 🎓 It's amazing how many of us are in the exact same boat. I've been checking my transcript obsessively (guilty as charged 🙋‍♀️) and driving myself crazy trying to decode all those cycle codes. Reading everyone's experiences here, especially knowing that student loan interest is such a common trigger and that most reviews resolve in 45-60 days, has honestly been the best thing for my anxiety about this whole process. Ashley, thanks for starting this thread and being so organized about sharing details - your spreadsheet approach is totally something I would do too! Looking forward to following along with everyone's updates. Fingers crossed we all get good news soon! 🤞

Welcome to everyone joining this thread! As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while, it's really refreshing to see such helpful and supportive responses to what can be a stressful situation. I'm currently dealing with my own 60-day review (got my CP05 notice on March 20th), and like many others here, I'm a recent grad who claimed student loan interest deduction. The pattern is so clear now that everyone's sharing their experiences! What I find most valuable about this discussion is how it demonstrates that these reviews, while anxiety-inducing, are actually quite routine. The specific timelines people have shared (especially the 45-60 day range for most resolutions) really help set realistic expectations rather than just the vague "60 days" the IRS gives us. Ashley, your organized approach and willingness to update everyone is exactly what makes this community so helpful. Looking forward to seeing everyone's success stories as these reviews get resolved! 📊✨

This thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm new to this community but stumbled upon this discussion while researching my own 60-day review notice. Got my CP05 dated March 21st - and surprise, surprise, I'm also a recent grad who claimed student loan interest deduction! 🎓 Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief. I was initially panicked thinking I'd made some major error on my return, but seeing how common this verification process is for people in our situation makes it so much less scary. The specific timelines everyone has shared (especially the 45-60 day resolution range) are incredibly helpful for setting realistic expectations. Ashley, I love your organized approach with the color-coded folders and spreadsheets - that's totally my style too! And to everyone else sharing their day counts and transcript monitoring tips, thank you so much. It's amazing how this community turns a stressful situation into something manageable just by sharing experiences and supporting each other. Looking forward to following along with everyone's updates and hopefully celebrating successful resolutions together! 🤞