This is exactly why I always tell people to be extremely cautious with tax preparers who promise unusually large refunds. As a general rule, if someone is guaranteeing you'll get way more money back than you've ever received before, that's a huge red flag. Beyond filing police reports in both jurisdictions (which is solid advice), make sure you also report this to the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility if the preparer claimed to have any professional credentials. They take unauthorized filings very seriously, especially when preparers are intercepting client refunds. Also document EVERYTHING - save all text messages, emails, voicemails, and any promotional materials they used to advertise their services. The more evidence you have of their fraudulent practices, the stronger your case will be. This kind of documentation can help other victims too if this becomes a larger investigation. You might want to check if there are other victims by searching online reviews or social media for complaints about this company. Sometimes these operations target multiple people with the same scheme.

I went through something very similar with a tax prep company that filed without my authorization and kept my refund. Here's what worked for me: 1. File the police report locally first - they'll give you a case number which you'll need for everything else. Then contact Georgia authorities with that case number. 2. The IRS forms mentioned earlier (14157 and 14157-A) are crucial, but also file Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) if you're having trouble getting your money back. The Taxpayer Advocate can really push things along. 3. Don't just complain to Georgia's consumer protection - also file with the Georgia Department of Revenue since they regulate tax preparers in that state. They can suspend the company's ability to operate while your case is pending. 4. Check if they advertised on social media or websites promising guaranteed large refunds. Screenshot everything because the FTC goes after these operations for deceptive advertising practices too. The key thing that got my money back was showing I had explicitly requested my documents back rather than authorizing any amendments. Save every text, email, and voicemail where you asked for your paperwork. That's your smoking gun that they acted without permission. Also consider reaching out to your state's attorney general office - many have special units that handle financial fraud and can coordinate with multiple agencies at once.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm a tax preparer and I get this exact question from clients almost daily during tax season. The disconnect between WMR and transcript availability is one of the most confusing aspects of the IRS system for taxpayers. Just wanted to add a few professional insights: The "received" status on WMR typically means your return has been accepted into the IRS system and assigned a Document Locator Number (DLN). However, transcripts won't populate until the return moves through several automated screening processes - think of it like your return being in different "rooms" of a massive digital processing center. For e-filed returns, transcript updates usually happen within 7-14 days after the "received" status. Paper returns can take 3-4 weeks longer since they need to be manually scanned first. The good news is that once your transcript shows up, you're usually very close to getting your refund. One thing I always tell clients - if WMR shows "received" without any error messages, you're in good shape. The system glitches and delays people are mentioning are real, but they're processing delays, not lost returns. Your refund is coming!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my 2024 return about two weeks ago, WMR shows "received" but my transcript page is completely empty. It's been driving me crazy wondering if something went wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring though. The explanation about WMR and transcripts being different systems that update at different speeds makes perfect sense - I just wish the IRS would actually explain this on their website instead of leaving everyone to figure it out through forums like this! @Oliver Cheng your professional insight about the "rooms" analogy really clicked for me. It helps to think of it as my return moving through different processing stages rather than just sitting in limbo somewhere. I'm going to follow everyone's advice and wait the full 3 weeks before getting concerned. The hardest part is definitely the uncertainty, but knowing this transcript delay is completely normal for most people makes me feel much better about the whole situation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been way more helpful than anything I found on the actual IRS website!

Welcome to the transcript world, Lucas! I know it feels overwhelming at first, but you're actually in a great position now that you can access them. Here's my simplified approach after dealing with business returns for years: 1. Find the "Account Transcript" (not the other types) 2. Scroll to the bottom transaction codes section 3. Look for TC 846 - this is your golden ticket with the exact refund date 4. TC 150 = processed (you're good!) 5. TC 570 = hold (common for business returns, usually temporary) Since you filed business taxes, expect everything to move slower than individual returns. The transcript updates weekly based on your cycle code (top right corner). Once you see that 846 code appear with a date, that's when your money will hit your account - it's been accurate to the day in my experience. Don't bother with "Where's My Refund" - it's pretty much useless for business returns. The transcript is your most reliable source. Hang in there, the waiting is the hardest part!

Hey Lucas! I was in your exact shoes last year with my first business return - totally lost looking at all those codes! Here's what finally clicked for me: Focus on the Transaction Codes section at the bottom. Code 150 means they accepted and processed your return (yay!). Code 846 is the one you're hunting for - that's your actual refund date and amount. If you see Code 570, don't freak out like I did - it's just a temporary hold that's super common with business returns and usually resolves within 2-3 weeks. The cycle code in the upper right corner (looks like 20241405 or something) tells you which day of the week your transcript updates - super helpful for knowing when to check back. Business taxes definitely take longer than simple W-2 returns, so be patient. Once that 846 code appears with a date, you can bank on getting your refund that exact day. Way more reliable than the "Where's My Refund" tool which basically ignores business returns. Good luck and congrats on finally getting access to your transcripts - it's a game changer!

Ugh, I feel your pain! I'm currently at week 11 with code 960 and it's been such a rollercoaster of emotions. What's helped me cope is joining a few Facebook groups specifically for people dealing with IRS delays - there's something oddly comforting about seeing hundreds of others in the same boat. One tip I picked up: if you have a tax preparer, ask them to check if there are any common issues with returns they filed that might have triggered your review. My preparer found out that a bunch of their clients who claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit got flagged this year due to some system glitch on the IRS side. Not sure if that applies to your situation, but worth checking! The waiting is absolutely brutal but try to remember that the vast majority of 960 codes do get resolved eventually. Hang in there! 💪

I've been through this exact situation! Had code 960 pop up on my transcript back in September and just got my refund released last month. The whole process took about 16 weeks total, but like others mentioned, I did get interest which ended up being around $180 on a $3,800 refund. What really helped me was keeping a simple log of when I checked my transcript and any changes - it made me feel more in control even though there wasn't much I could actually do. Also want to echo what others said about the Taxpayer Advocate Service - they were actually pretty helpful when I reached out around the 14 week mark. They couldn't speed things up but they did give me a better timeline estimate and helped me understand that my case was progressing normally. The anxiety is real but try to remember that code 960 doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your return - it's just their way of being extra thorough. You'll get through this! 🙏

has anyone actually managed to talk to a human at the IRS lately? I've been trying for weeks and can't get through.

The 'as of' date changing from April 30 to May 25 is actually pretty normal during processing, especially for EITC returns. I went through the same thing last year - mine changed dates about 3 times before my refund finally came through. The IRS systems are notorious for these date shifts that don't really correlate to your actual refund timeline. Since you filed in early March and it's been accepted, you're still within the normal processing window. EITC returns do take longer because they require additional verification steps to prevent fraud. The fact that you don't see any error codes (like 570 or 971) on your transcript is a good sign that there aren't any major issues with your return. Try not to check daily if you can help it - I know it's tempting but it just adds to the stress. The date changes are more about their internal system cycles than anything specific happening with your individual return. You should see movement in the next few weeks!