I've been following this thread because I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed in mid-January with EITC and still waiting after nearly 3 months. The advice here has been incredibly valuable! I wanted to share what worked for me: I checked my transcript after reading the suggestions here and found processing code 570 (additional account action pending) with a freeze date. Turns out the IRS had flagged my return for income verification because I had a significant increase in earnings compared to last year due to a job change. The transcript also showed they had issued a notice (code 971) that I never received - probably got lost in the mail or I mistook it for junk mail. Once I saw this on the transcript, I was able to call the IRS with specific information about my account status, which made the conversation much more productive. For anyone trying to call the IRS, I had success calling at exactly 7 AM EST on a Wednesday. Still took 45 minutes to get through, but much better than the afternoon attempts where I couldn't even get in the queue. Having the transcript codes ready made the conversation quick - the agent was able to complete the verification over the phone and told me to expect my refund within 2-3 weeks. The key insight for me was that the "Where's My Refund" tool is basically useless for complex situations like EITC returns. The transcript shows you exactly what's happening behind the scenes.

I'm in almost the exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Filed my return in early February with EITC and it's been stuck on "received" for about 10 weeks now. I was starting to panic thinking I had made some major error. Reading everyone's experiences with EITC delays taking 2-3 months has been such a relief - the IRS website's "21 days" timeline really sets unrealistic expectations for these types of returns. I had no idea that income changes, job switches, or even moving could trigger additional verification requirements. I'm definitely going to check my transcript first thing tomorrow morning. The idea that there could be processing codes and notices that don't show up in the Where's My Refund tool is eye-opening. I've been relying entirely on that tool and getting nowhere. Also going to dig through my mail again more carefully - the comments about verification letters looking like junk mail really hit home. I get so much spam that I probably toss anything that doesn't immediately look important. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. It's reassuring to know that long delays don't necessarily mean something went wrong, and that there are actual steps I can take to figure out what's happening with my return!

Just wanted to chime in about the triathlon training aspect since that's important to you. I'm an EA with my own practice and also train for marathons. The key is setting boundaries with clients. I made it clear from the beginning that I don't work weekends (except maybe a few during peak tax season) and I block off specific training times in my calendar that are non-negotiable. You absolutely can maintain athletic pursuits while being an EA - just structure your practice intentionally!

As someone who's been working in tax preparation for about 3 years now, I can definitely echo what others have said about the EA certification being very manageable while maintaining work-life balance. I passed all three parts in about 8 months while working full-time and training for a half-marathon. One thing I'd add is that your background as a financial advisor will actually be really helpful for the EA exam, especially the individual tax section. You already understand investment products, retirement accounts, and capital gains/losses, which gives you a solid foundation. The H&R Block program is a good start, but I'd recommend supplementing with either Gleim or PassKey EA review materials. The exam tests much deeper knowledge than basic tax prep. For the triathlon training aspect - I actually found that having a structured study schedule helped me stay disciplined with both my training and exam prep. I'd study early mornings before training sessions, which kept me focused and efficient with both activities. One practical tip: consider taking the exams in order (Part 1: Individuals, Part 2: Businesses, Part 3: Representation) rather than all at once. This spreads out the study load and lets you apply what you're learning in real client situations if you're already doing some tax work.

I totally get the frustration with those transcript codes! 😤 As someone who's been through this maze before, here's what those codes mean: 150 = your return was processed, 570 = there's a hold (usually for review), and 971 = they sent you a notice (your CP05). The dates can be tricky because some are "as of" dates and others are actual transaction dates. Since you got the CP05 and your transcript updated yesterday, that's actually a good sign - it means they're actively working on your case! The review process for CP05 letters typically takes 45-60 days from when they first flagged it, but with it being tax season and you filing so recently, you might be looking at a bit longer. Keep checking that transcript on Fridays like someone mentioned - that's when most updates happen! 🤞

I totally feel your pain with those confusing transcript codes! 😵‍💫 I went through the same thing last year and it was like trying to decode the Matrix. Here's the deal with those codes you're seeing: Code 150 = Your return was accepted and processed initially Code 570 = There's a hold on your account (that's the review) Code 971 = They issued you a notice (your CP05 letter) The tricky part is the dates - some are "cycle dates" (when the IRS processes things) and others are "as of" dates. Since your transcript updated yesterday with new dates, that's actually promising! It means they're actively reviewing your case and making progress. With the CP05 review, you're basically in a waiting game unfortunately. They typically take 45-90 days to complete their review, but since tax season just started and you filed recently, it could stretch a bit longer. The good news is that most CP05 reviews end up being resolved in your favor - they just want to verify some information. Pro tip: Check your transcript every Friday morning - that's when the IRS does their weekly updates! And don't stress too much about calling them unless you hit the 60-day mark. Their phone lines are absolutely swamped right now. Hang in there! 💪

I'm really sorry to hear about your cousin's mom passing away. This is definitely a stressful situation, but from what I understand, he should be okay as long as he keeps making payments. The key thing is that most mortgage contracts don't have automatic acceleration clauses triggered by a co-signer's death - they're more concerned with getting paid than who's making the payments. Since your cousin has been the one actually making payments all along and has never missed one, that works strongly in his favor. My suggestion would be for him to call the mortgage servicer directly and ask to speak with their estate or borrower services department. He should be prepared with his mom's death certificate and ask specifically what their process is for removing a deceased co-signer. Most servicers have a standard procedure for this and will just need some paperwork filed. It might also help to get any confirmation in writing that the loan terms won't change and that regular payments can continue as normal. This would give him peace of mind and documentation if any issues come up later. The fact that he's been responsible for payments from day one should really work in his favor here. Banks generally don't want to foreclose on performing loans - it's expensive and risky for them too.

I'm sorry for your cousin's loss. This is such a common worry, but the good news is that most lenders won't call the loan just because a co-signer passes away, especially when the primary borrower has a solid payment history like your cousin does. The most important thing is for him to be proactive about notifying the lender. I know it seems scary, but hiding it could actually cause more problems down the road. When he calls, he should ask specifically about their "survivorship" policies and request written confirmation that the loan will remain in good standing as long as payments continue. One thing that might help ease his mind - if this is an FHA loan, there are federal protections specifically preventing lenders from accelerating the loan due to a co-borrower's death. Even with conventional loans, most major lenders have policies in place for exactly this situation since it's so common. The key is that he's been the one making payments all along and has never missed one. That payment history is his strongest asset here. Banks make money from borrowers who pay on time, not from foreclosures or forced refinancing. I'd also suggest he gather any estate documents he might need (like letters testamentary if he's handling his mom's estate) in case the lender requests them, but most of the time they just need the death certificate and a simple form to update their records.

Code 420 is definitely nerve-wracking when you first see it! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago. The code appeared on my transcript on a Wednesday, and I got the CP2000 notice in the mail exactly 12 days later. In my case, they were questioning some 1099 income that didn't match what I reported. I gathered my documents, responded within the 30-day window, and my refund was released about 5 weeks after I sent my response. The waiting is the hardest part, but most of these examinations are really straightforward once you know what they're looking for. Hang in there!

I'm dealing with the exact same thing right now! Code 420 showed up on my transcript 3 days ago and I've been checking it obsessively ever since. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually making me feel a lot better - sounds like it's usually not as scary as it initially seems. Really appreciate everyone sharing their timelines and outcomes. Guess I just need to be patient and wait for that letter to arrive!