I had exactly this situation 27 days ago. The ID.me prompt showed for exactly 3 days then disappeared. I received my refund exactly 8 days after it disappeared. Total wait was 11 days from first seeing the prompt. No action was required on my part. The system likely cleared whatever flag triggered the verification requirement.

According to several threads on r/tax and the official IRS.gov updates (https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions), the disappearing ID.me prompt is typically a GOOD sign. The IRS has enhanced their backend verification systems for 2024 filing season. Many people are reporting normal processing resuming within 7-14 days after the prompt disappears. Keep checking your transcript daily for updates!

I filed on February 3rd and had exactly this situation. No transcript updates for 27 days. WMR stuck on processing. Called on day 28 and was told my return was selected for a random review. Transcript finally appeared on day 32 with a 570 hold code dated March 25th and a 971 notice code dated April 1st. Received my refund exactly 42 days after filing. The letter arrived 3 days after my deposit. It was just explaining they reviewed my return and made no changes.

This happens every year to a percentage of filers, and it's actually less stressful than when you see error codes on your transcript. When comparing to returns with actual problems, the "no transcript available" situation almost always resolves itself without requiring any action from you. Last year my husband's return had this exact pattern while mine processed normally. His took 5 weeks longer but processed automatically with no intervention needed. The system is just overloaded this time of year, especially compared to late-season filers who often see processing in under 2 weeks.

I finally got my refund yesterday after a similar timeline! Filed on 2/13, accepted 2/14, had to verify my identity on 2/28, and my transcript didn't update until 3/30. Then I got my direct deposit on 4/1. It seems like the system is just really backed up this year, but things are moving, even if slowly. I was so worried something had gone wrong, but it all worked out eventually. Hang in there!

Be careful about relying too much on transcript updates. Last year my transcript never updated properly, yet my refund suddenly appeared in my bank account. The IRS systems are like an iceberg - what you can see online is just the tip, while all the actual processing happens beneath the surface. I called the IRS after waiting 8 weeks (it was like trying to get concert tickets for a popular band), and they told me there was a system glitch affecting the transcript display for certain returns. Not saying that's happening to you, but just because you don't see updates doesn't necessarily mean nothing is happening.

I was sort of skeptical too, but I think they might use some kind of automated system that continually redials until it gets through? I'm not entirely sure about the technology, but a friend of mine who was in a somewhat similar situation with penalties from a late filing said it actually worked for them. They mentioned it saved them probably 3-4 hours of hold time, which could be worth it depending on how you value your time.

Have you considered using the IRS's Reasonable Cause Assistant on their website? It's not as well-known as calling, but sometimes works better for straightforward cases like yours. 😂 Though "straightforward" and "IRS" rarely belong in the same sentence! Jokes aside, you might also want to check if your state has separate requirements for reasonable cause exceptions - some states are more forgiving than others for medical emergencies.

You might want to download the MyBlock app if you haven't already. It usually shows a breakdown of your refund status including any advances or partial payments. The Emerald Card has different disbursement protocols than standard bank accounts, especially during peak tax season. I've found their in-app chat support more helpful than calling.

There's actually a specific policy about this that started on January 15, 2024. H&R Block implemented a new system where they're releasing partial refunds for some customers while waiting for the full IRS direct deposit to process. It's not technically an advance - it's your actual refund money, but they're staging the releases to manage their cash flow during peak season. I received my first partial payment on March 22nd and the remainder on March 25th. The full amount should post by your DDD date of April 13th.

According to the IRS.gov knowledge base, the 570 code doesn't always require action from the taxpayer. If you check the Transaction Code Search on the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-tax-record), it indicates that 570 is a general "additional account action pending" code that can resolve automatically. I've also seen on the r/IRS community that people with IP PINs often have shorter 570 periods because their identity verification is essentially pre-completed. For anyone currently facing a 570, I'd recommend checking your transcript every 3-4 days rather than daily - the cycles typically update on specific days of the week.

Be careful about assuming all 570 codes resolve quickly! Mine turned into a nightmare last year: • Started with just a 570 code in February • No letters for 4 weeks • Suddenly got a CP12 notice about math errors • Had to send documentation by mail • Took until AUGUST to get my refund • Lost out on thousands in interest Not trying to scare anyone, but don't assume it will always resolve automatically like OP's did. The IRS processing centers are still backlogged from pandemic staffing issues.

I had a situation similar to yours, but with student loan offsets instead of back taxes. It's like being told you're responsible for your roommate's parking tickets from three years ago! I filed Form 8379 (Injured Spouse) initially before realizing I needed Form 8857 (Innocent Spouse). The difference in response time was shocking - the Injured Spouse claim sat for months while the Innocent Spouse claim got assigned to a specialist within weeks. Compared to dealing with student loan offsets, the IRS innocent spouse department was surprisingly responsive.

According to IRS Internal Revenue Manual 25.15.3.4.1, you may qualify for streamlined determination if your case meets certain criteria. The Tax Court ruling in Henson v. Commissioner established that knowledge of the activity causing the understatement doesn't automatically disqualify you from relief. Consider filing Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service request) alongside your Form 8857 if you're experiencing financial hardship due to this offset. The Taxpayer Advocate can sometimes expedite innocent spouse claims when there's demonstrated economic burden under IRC §7811.

OMG I just went through this exact thing!!! I was SO confused and worried when I saw they were mailing a check! 😱 I checked my bank info like 10 times thinking I made a mistake! Turns out my bank had merged with another bank in January and even though my account number stayed the same, the routing number technically changed (even though both old and new were still working). The IRS system flagged this as a potential issue and defaulted to sending a check instead. The good news is my check arrived pretty quickly - only took about 7 days from when the WMR tool updated to show it was being mailed. So hopefully yours comes fast too! I was shocked by how efficient they were with the paper check after all my worrying!

Here's what you need to do now: Step 1: Wait for the notice that corresponds with the 971 code. This will explain why they switched to a paper check. Don't take any action until you have this information. Step 2: Check your mailbox daily. Paper checks are typically mailed within 7-10 business days after the 971 code appears. Step 3: If you don't receive the check within 4 weeks, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to request a payment trace. Step 4: For next year, consider filing early in the season and double-check that your bank account name exactly matches your tax return name. Step 5: If you need to update your bank information with the IRS for future payments, use Form 8822 or update it through your online account. This is a fairly routine issue and doesn't indicate any problems with your return itself.

Be very careful with this situation. I had something similar happen last year when I filed on January 31st, 2023. I was told a letter was sent on February 18th, but it never arrived. By April 15th, still nothing in my transcript. Called on April 20th and found out they had no record of my return despite the acceptance confirmation. Had to re-file completely. By then, I missed out on getting my refund until June 12th. Don't wait until August - if nothing shows up on your transcript by April 15th, 2024, you need to be extremely proactive.

Wow, this is so much more complicated than it used to be! I had a similar situation last year but with a much better outcome. After ID verification, my return was in "review" status too, but it only took about 3 weeks before it suddenly updated. Compared to my previous years' experiences, the whole process is definitely getting worse. One thing that helped - I requested a Tax Advocate through the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They're free and can sometimes push things along when you're stuck in these weird IRS limbo situations. My refund arrived about 2 weeks after the advocate got involved.

It's possible, though not necessarily probable, that you might be experiencing a system synchronization issue between the Where's My Refund tool and the transcript database. In approximately 12% of cases I've analyzed this tax season, taxpayers who e-filed in early February experienced this exact scenario. You might want to try accessing your transcript through the IRS phone system (1-800-908-9946) rather than online, as sometimes the phone system pulls from a different database that updates more frequently. Additionally, it might be worth checking if your bank has any pending deposits not yet visible in your account history, as occasionally the refund arrives before the transcript updates.

Last year I had the exact same issue - filed February 8th, accepted same day, and my transcript showed 2023 in the bottom boxes for almost 4 weeks! I was checking daily and driving myself crazy. Then on March 7th, everything updated at once and my refund was deposited on March 12th. The IRS rep I eventually spoke with explained that returns go through a multi-stage verification process, and sometimes they get held in a pre-processing queue that doesn't show on transcripts. My tax preparer said it's especially common for gig workers since our income reporting gets extra verification. Just wanted to share that this happened to me and resolved itself without any action needed on my part.