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I actually got ALL my money back from TPG last year! The secret? I recorded the entire tax preparation session (legal in my state with one-party consent) where the preparer glossed over the fees. When I called TPG customer service, I mentioned I had documentation that I wasn't properly informed of the fees according to their own disclosure requirements. Suddenly they were VERY accommodating! Got a full refund of the $1650 they had initially taken. Sometimes you have to be your own advocate - these companies count on people not knowing their rights.
One additional piece of information that might help: TPG is required by their agreement with the IRS to provide a complete itemization of all fees upon request. If they refuse or delay providing this, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB takes these matters seriously, especially when tax refunds are involved. Also, for next year, consider avoiding the refund transfer option altogether. If you file electronically and choose direct deposit, you'll typically receive your refund within 21 days directly from the IRS with no middleman taking a cut. Many tax preparation companies offer a "pay later" option where they take their fee from your refund, but this always involves TPG or a similar service.
Have you tried checking your tax transcript instead of WMR? Here's what I'd do: 1. Create an account on IRS.gov if you don't have one 2. Request your 2023 Account Transcript (not Return Transcript) 3. Look for Transaction Codes - specifically 150 (return filed), 570 (processing hold), or 971 (notice issued) 4. Check for code 846 which means refund issued The transcript will update before WMR does in most cases. If you see code 570, don't panic - it often just means they're processing the 1099-B matching.
Mail processing is unpredictable. Consider amended return. File electronically next time. Use specific brokers with electronic reporting. Worth the switch. Might save weeks next year.
One option you might consider is initiating a formal trace on your refund using Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund). The standard protocol is to wait 5 business days after the direct deposit rejection before filing this form. This creates a systemic indicator in the IRS database that can expedite the check reissuance process. In some cases, this can reduce the standard reissuance timeframe by 7-10 days, particularly if you're experiencing financial hardship.
Had this EXACT issue in February. Bank rejected my DD on Feb 9th, and I received my paper check on March 4th - so exactly 24 days. The most frustrating part was that my WMR status never updated from "Your refund has been sent to your bank" even after I physically received and deposited the check! Make sure you're checking your mail daily and sign up for Informed Delivery if you haven't already.
I verified my identity on February 24th and received my refund on April 12th - exactly 47 days later. Here's what happened: After verification, my transcript showed no updates for 3 weeks. Then on March 18th, I got code 570 (hold). On March 29th, code 571 (hold released) appeared. On April 7th, I got code 846 (refund issued) with a date of April 12th. The money arrived exactly on that date. Check your transcript weekly - it's the best indicator of progress.
Got my refund exactly 38 days after verification! Was it worth the wait? Absolutely. Would I want to go through it again? Not a chance. The key was checking my transcript every Friday morning (seems to be when they update most accounts). My cycle code was 20231705, which meant Friday updates. Once I saw code 846, the money was in my account 5 days later. Hang in there!
OMG thank you for mentioning the cycle code! I've been checking mine daily and driving myself crazy! Where exactly did you find your cycle code on your transcript? I need to check mine ASAP because I need this refund to pay my rent by the end of the month!
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Did your CP74 notice specify exactly which items they wanted verification for? Mine was pretty vague and I'm trying to figure out if I should: ā¢ Send everything related to income (all W-2s, 1099s) ā¢ Only send items for the specific line items mentioned ā¢ Include explanatory cover letter ā¢ Send copies or certified copies Wanting to get this right the first time to avoid delays!
I'm also curious about this! My CP74 mentioned "verification of income" but didn't specify which sources they were questioning. I sent EVERYTHING - all income documents, supporting documents for deductions, and a detailed cover letter explaining each item. Did I overdo it? Did anyone get feedback that they provided too much information? I'm feeling anxious that I might have complicated my case unnecessarily!
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I received a CP74 on March 12, 2023, responded with all requested documentation on March 19, 2023, and received my refund on June 27, 2023. That's exactly 100 days from notice to refund, or 14 weeks and 2 days. The verification process took 87 days from when I submitted documentation to when the refund was issued. My transcript showed code 570 (refund hold) until June 20, when it was replaced with 571 (resolved) followed by 846 (refund issued) on June 22. Direct deposit arrived 5 days later.
Be careful about assuming everything is fine just because others had good experiences. My cousin got a refund before transcript updated last year, but it turned out to be incorrect. The IRS later adjusted it and he had to repay $1,200. It's like getting a paycheck before your hours are verified - sometimes it works out, sometimes there's a correction coming. Different from regular processing delays where everything is verified before payment.
This is actually really important information. On March 15th, I received a deposit that didn't match my expected refund amount. I assumed it was correct since it came from the Treasury. Two weeks later I got a notice explaining the adjustment. Wish I'd known this could happen.
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How long has it been since you filed? Are you checking account daily? Did you have credits on your return? Need answers fast. Planning my budget around this.
Deceased taxpayer returns are subject to Manual Review Processing under IRS procedures. The IRS applies additional verification protocols to prevent fraudulent claims. Standard processing time for paper-filed deceased returns is currently 16-20 weeks minimum. This timeframe extends if the decedent had outstanding liabilities or if documentation is incomplete. Form 1310 must accompany the return unless you're a surviving spouse filing jointly. The IRS will issue Notice CP05 if they need additional verification of your legal right to claim the refund.
Look, the system is frustrating but there are ways through it. Mail anything to the IRS and you're looking at months not weeks. Next time, use a tax pro who specializes in estate issues - they know the exact documentation needed the first time. Check your father's online account transcript if possible. If not, call early morning (7am Eastern) on Tuesday or Wednesday for shortest wait times. And definitely follow up if it's been more than 3 months. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with the IRS.
I went through this exact nightmare last year and got my money back by following these steps: 1. First, I verified my refund status using the IRS Where's My Refund tool to confirm it had been issued 2. I called the IRS (took forever but worth it) and explained the situation - they confirmed the check had been cashed and started a payment trace 3. I filed a formal complaint with my state's Department of Revenue AND the IRS using Form 14157 4. I sent a certified letter to the preparer stating I would pursue legal action if the funds weren't returned within 10 days 5. I filed a police report for theft/fraud The combination of these steps worked! Within 3 weeks, the preparer contacted me and returned my money. Don't give up - the system actually works if you're persistent and document everything.
Be very careful how you proceed. I had a client who found himself in a similar situation, but he made the mistake of posting accusations about the tax preparer on social media before verifying all the facts. The preparer sued him for defamation and it turned into a legal nightmare. First, absolutely verify your refund status directly with the IRS. Then document all your attempts to contact the preparer. If you confirm the refund was issued and the preparer has it, send a formal demand letter via certified mail before taking any other steps. This creates a paper trail that will be crucial if you need to escalate to legal action or file complaints with regulatory agencies. While you should absolutely report fraud, making sure you have solid evidence first will protect you from potential counteractions.
Think of the IRS processing system like a car assembly line. "Still being processed" is like your car sitting in the quality control area waiting for inspection. "Being processed" means your car passed inspection and is now moving down the final assembly line toward completion. You've moved from the problem area to the normal flow, which is like going from the hospital waiting room to actually seeing the doctor. You're not done yet, but you're definitely moving forward!
FYI - The status change is def positive. WMR updates aren't real-time tho. Your transcript is what rly matters. Check for TC 150 (return filed), then look for TC 570 (hold) followed by TC 571 (hold released). Once u see TC 846, you're golden - that's your DDD. Most ppl in your situation get their $ within 5-7 biz days after the status change you described. FWIW, I filed 1/24 and was in the exact same boat.
Ethan Moore
Just went through this exact scenario with my 2023 return. Here's what happened: ā¢ Feb 12 - Filed electronically ā¢ Feb 28 - Transcript updated to show 2023 but "no return filed" ā¢ Mar 8 - Transcript updated with codes 150, 806, 971 ā¢ Mar 15 - WMR finally updated to "approved" ā¢ Mar 18 - Refund deposited The transcript was definitely more accurate and updated first. WMR was basically useless until the very end of the process.
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Yuki Kobayashi
This timeline comparison is incredibly helpful! It matches almost exactly with what the IRS representative explained to me when I finally got through to them. The transcript really does provide earlier indicators of movement in the system.
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Carmen Vega
Did you have any credits on your return that might have triggered the delay? I'm wondering if things like Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit affect how long this limbo period lasts?
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QuantumQuester
The transcript is generally more accurate, though perhaps not in the way you might expect. When it shows the tax year but says "no return filed," it typically means your return has been received but hasn't completed initial processing. This is usually resolved within 2-3 weeks for most filers, though it can occasionally take longer if there are verification issues or high processing volumes.
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