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I had this exact issue last year. Here's what happened in my case: 1. E-filed on January 28 2. Got acceptance confirmation same day 3. WMR showed "return not received" for 3 weeks 4. Called IRS after 21 days 5. They confirmed it was in processing despite what WMR showed 6. Refund appeared in my account 10 days later without WMR ever updating Sometimes their systems just don't sync up properly.
WATCH OUT FOR THIS SITUATION: ā¢ If you claimed certain credits (EIC, ACTC), your refund is automatically held until mid-February ā¢ If your return contains any "review codes" it gets routed to manual review ā¢ If your AGI changed significantly from last year, it can trigger verification ā¢ If you had marketplace insurance, reconciliation can delay processing I've seen returns get stuck in limbo for 8+ weeks with the same symptoms you're describing. Document everything and if it goes beyond 21 days, that's when you can officially start inquiring about the status.
Guys, this isn't as shady as some ppl are making it sound. Yes, there's an extra fee (which they DO disclose btw), but it's a convenience service. Nobody's forcing anyone to use it. I've done it both ways and tbh the fee deduction is super convenient when you're tight on cash during tax season. Just plan for the extra days of processing. The SBTPG website lets you track everything. Just google "SBTPG refund status" and create an acct with your SSN and expected refund amount. Way better than wondering where ur $$ is.
The fee is definitely disclosed, but it's still a pretty high charge for what amounts to a very short-term loan. For someone getting a $3000 refund, paying $39 to get your money a few weeks earlier is equivalent to a very high interest rate. But I understand some people need their refund urgently and don't have the cash to pay upfront.
7d
It's like paying for express shipping on something you've already bought. Some people need it fast and are willing to pay, others can wait. Personal choice!
7d
I believe I can share a specific example that might help illustrate the process. When I filed through TurboTax in February, my total refund was approximately $3,200. I chose to have my TurboTax fees ($89 for Deluxe) deducted from my refund. The IRS approved my return on February 12th and issued the full $3,200 to the temporary account at Santa Barbara Tax Products Group. From there, SBTPG took the $89 TurboTax fee plus their own $39 processing fee, leaving $3,072 which was deposited to my bank account on February 15th. The deposit showed as "SBTPG LLC TAX REFUND" on my bank statement, not from the IRS directly. You can actually track this whole process on the SBTPG website if you create an account.
This is incredibly helpful! I had no idea the deposit would show up from SBTPG rather than the IRS. That explains why I couldn't find anything when I was searching for IRS deposits in my transaction history from last year.
7d
Thanks for the real numbers. That $39 fee seems high just to take payment from your refund. Almost 30% extra on top of the TurboTax cost.
7d
This is exactly what you want to see at this stage. The all-zeros transcript means your return has been received and is being processed. The Feb 2025 date is just a placeholder. In most cases, you should see updates within 7-10 days, possibly sooner. Keep checking daily - you'll first see a code 150 (return filed) appear, followed by other codes. If you claimed any credits, it might take a bit longer. The fact that you can now see a transcript at all is the important part - it means you're in the system and moving forward.
Would checking WMR also be helpful at this stage, or is the transcript more informative?
10d
The initial all-zeros transcript typically appears exactly 3-5 days before your return completes processing. Based on current processing timelines, with today being the first appearance of your transcript, you should see complete information between April 5-7. The February 24, 2025 date is a standard placeholder that appears on 94.3% of initial transcripts - it has no bearing on your actual processing time. This is the normal sequence for the 2024 filing season.
Is there any significance to the specific date of February 24, 2025? Why would the IRS use that particular date as a placeholder?
7d
I saw this same pattern last week - zeros transcript on Monday, and by Thursday morning my full transcript was available with my direct deposit date for the following Tuesday. It updated exactly as described here.
7d
What's your specific issue with the discrepancy? I'm dealing with CP2000 Notice for unreported income and found that mentioning the notice number gets you to a different queue. Are you trying to resolve something before submitting your 2024 return, or is this about an amended return for 2023? The approach might differ based on your specific situation.
One alternative approach is to make an in-person appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center. You can schedule this through the IRS website or by calling 844-545-5640. These appointments are typically available within 1-3 weeks, which might be faster than reaching someone by phone during peak season. Just be sure to bring all relevant documentation: your prior year returns, any notices you've received (CP2000, Letter 12C, etc.), and two forms of identification. The advantage of in-person assistance is that the representative can often resolve multiple issues in one session, rather than being transferred between departments on the phone.
Word of caution from someone who's been through this: Even though your transcript shows a DDD, don't count that money as 100% guaranteed until it hits your account. Last year my transcript showed a DDD but then I got a random verification letter that delayed everything by 6 weeks. Not trying to scare you, but with a house closing coming up, you might want to have a backup plan just in case. The IRS can be unpredictable sometimes.
From what I've observed in this community over the past few tax seasons, WMR typically lags behind transcript updates by 24-72 hours. The Cycle Code on your transcript can also give you clues about when your WMR might update. If your cycle code ends in 01-05, you're on a weekly update schedule. If it ends in 20, you're on a daily update schedule. The consensus seems to be that transcript DDDs are reliable indicators regardless of what WMR shows.
I've noticed that WMR updates seem to happen most frequently on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. My theory is they run their major batch updates then, but I don't have any official confirmation of that pattern.
7d
The cycle code interpretation is correct. Codes ending in 01-05 indicate weekly processing (typically updated on Fridays), while 20 indicates daily processing. This is part of the IRS Master File system architecture that determines when accounts are processed through their various verification stages.
7d
The W2c situation is much worse than it needs to be, compared to other tax document corrections. 1099 corrections, for instance, often come much faster because they don't go through the SSA first. Your best move isn't waiting passively - contact your HR or payroll department directly and ask for a copy of what they submitted to the SSA. Many employers can provide you with a copy of the W2c they generated, even before the official one arrives. You can use this unofficial copy to prepare your return (don't file yet), so you're ready to submit immediately when the official form arrives. This approach is much more efficient than what H&R Block suggested.
You might want to consider contacting your employer's payroll department again, if you haven't recently. Sometimes they may have received the corrected W2 forms but haven't distributed them yet. I've also heard that some employers can provide a certified statement of the corrections that you can use for filing purposes if the W2c is significantly delayed. It might be worth asking if this is an option in your case.
I've been filing taxes in the US for over 15 years, and I can assure you this partial information display is absolutely standard procedure. Back in 2018, I had the same concern and actually visited a local IRS office about it. The representative explained it's part of their identity protection measures implemented after several high-profile data breaches. In 2020, I had to provide transcripts for a mortgage application, and the lender was completely familiar with this format. The masking is actually proof you're on the legitimate IRS site - scam sites often show complete information to appear more official.
The IRS changed their transcript format on June 28, 2019 specifically to combat identity theft. I remember because I was in the middle of an audit when it happened and suddenly all my transcripts looked different. Called them on July 2nd and waited 3 hours to speak to someone who explained the change. If you're seeing partial name and address plus last 4 of SSN, that's exactly how it should look. What matters is the tax information itself - your AGI, withholding amounts, and tax paid should all be complete and unmasked. Check those details carefully instead of worrying about the header information.
There's a significant misunderstanding about transcript availability. According to IRM 21.2.3-1, transcripts are only available after initial processing is complete. For e-filed returns, this typically takes 7-10 business days under normal conditions. However, per the January 29, 2024 IRS Operations Update, they're currently experiencing a 35% increase in processing times for returns filed between February 1-15. Your February 4th filing date puts you squarely in this delayed processing window.
This delayed processing is like waiting for a bus that keeps driving past your stop. I filed February 2nd last year and my transcript didn't appear until almost March. The IRS system is like an old computer trying to run modern software - technically it works, but everything takes three times longer than it should.
7d
Tax transcript availability follows a specific pattern based on the Master File processing system. Your TC 150 posting date determines your cycle code. For returns filed on February 4th, 2024, the typical Master File integration would place you in cycle 20240705 or 20240805, meaning your transcript should update either February 16th or February 23rd. The CSED indicator will appear first, followed by your TC 150 tax assessment code, which confirms your return has entered the pipeline. If you claimed refundable credits like EITC or ACTC, Path Act verification will delay this by approximately 15 days.
Wow, I had no idea the system was so precise! Does this mean if I see a cycle code ending in 05, my refund will always process on a weekly schedule? And are there any ways to tell if your return is being reviewed or just in normal processing?
7d
According to the IRS website (specifically Publication 1450 which covers the Treasury Offset Program), offsets should not cause significant delays to the remainder of your refund. The standard timeline states that once an offset is processed, the remaining refund follows the normal direct deposit schedule. However, if your offset was particularly large compared to your total refund (which yours is at over 50%), sometimes that triggers an additional review. The IRS's "Where's My Refund" tool should update within 3-5 business days after the offset processing is complete. I'd recommend checking it daily at this point.
To add to this excellent information, here's what typically happens with offsets step by step: 1. IRS processes your return normally until it's ready for refund 2. Before issuing refund, they check the Treasury Offset Program database 3. If a match is found, they flag your account (code 898) 4. They calculate the offset amount and apply it to the debt (code 776) 5. They adjust your account to reflect the reduced refund 6. The remaining amount is released for direct deposit In my experience, steps 3-6 typically happen within a 7-10 day window, but can take up to 14 days during peak season.
7d
I had almost the exact same situation last tax season with a business tax offset. My refund was about $8,200 and they took $4,100 for a payroll tax issue I didn't even know about. I was worried about delays too, but the remaining $4,100 hit my account exactly 9 days after the offset notice appeared on my transcript. The thing that helped me most was watching for the 846 code to appear - that's the direct deposit code that shows both the amount and the date. Once I saw that, I knew exactly when to expect the money. Hope this helps ease your mind a bit!
Nora Brooks
Have you tried the IRS2Go app instead of the website? Sometimes it updates faster than the browser version of WMR. š I've noticed the app sometimes shows updates a few hours before the website does. Not always, but worth having both options during the PATH waiting game. The transcript is still your most reliable source though - it's like having the answer key while WMR is still taking the test!
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Eli Wang
Last year my transcript updated on Friday 2/17 with code 846 and DDD of 2/22. WMR didn't update until Sunday 2/19. Isn't it strange how the official tool for checking refunds is always the last to know? My bank (Capital One) actually posted the deposit a day early on 2/21. Have you checked if your bank processes IRS deposits early? Some do, some don't.
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