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I was in the same boat last year! Mailed my state return on March 1st and was convinced it had fallen into a black hole π But it actually processed faster than I expected - about 5 weeks total. The key was making triple copies of EVERYTHING (one to send, one for my records, and one as a backup because I'm paranoid lol). Also, I used certified mail with return receipt which gave me peace of mind. My refund showed up right when I'd forgotten about it!
Did you have to follow up with them at all? Or did it just magically appear in your account one day?
7d
Did you do anything special with how you organized the documents? I'm wondering if there's a specific order or method that helps them process it faster?
7d
Anyone know if there's a difference in processing time between returns with refunds vs. returns where you owe? I've heard the states prioritize processing payments they're owed, but wasn't sure if that's actually true.
Have you checked for a 570 code? That's an additional account action pending. Or a TC 420 for examination? Those would explain the delay. Without transcript access, it's difficult to diagnose. I'm concerned the divorce might have triggered additional review protocols.
The community wisdom here is that identity verification adds significant time to processing. Most people report 6-9 weeks after verification before seeing movement. I verified on February 8th and saw my first transcript update on March 29th. My deposit arrived on April 3rd. The silence is normal but frustrating. The system just takes time to work through the backlog.
I would probably recommend checking your mail carefully for the next week or so, as sometimes these notices can be somewhat delayed after the code appears on your transcript. It might also be worth checking if perhaps the notice was possibly sent to an old address if you've moved recently? In my experience, the 810 code is typically, though not always, related to income verification or identity verification issues. If you're somewhat concerned about the delay affecting your finances, creating an online account with ID.me on the IRS website might give you access to more detailed information.
Whatever you do, DON'T ignore this! I got an 810 code last year and thought "I'll just wait for the letter" - big mistake. Never got a letter, and when I finally called THREE MONTHS LATER, they told me they'd been waiting for me to respond to a verification request they claimed they sent. Had to start the whole process over. I now keep a binder with printouts of all my transcripts, confirmation numbers, and notes from every call including agent ID numbers. Might seem like overkill, but after last year's fiasco that delayed my refund by 5 months, I'm not taking chances.
According to the IRS Processing Delays page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue), amended returns are still facing significant backlogs even in 2024. When you add an 810 freeze code on top of that, you're looking at a potentially long wait. I'd recommend checking your account transcript weekly rather than daily - the Transaction History section will update with any new codes. If you see a 971 code appear, that means they're sending you a notice, which is often the next step after an 810 freeze. I'm watching my transcript closely too after filing an amendment in January... still waiting π
Back in 2022, I had an 810 freeze that lasted for 143 days after I filed an amendment. What finally resolved it was discovering that the freeze was related to a mismatch between my reported 1099-R distribution and what the IRS had on file. The distribution code on my 1099-R was coded as a rollover (G), but the issuing financial institution had incorrectly reported it as a regular distribution (1) to the IRS. I contacted the financial institution, had them issue a corrected 1099-R with the proper code, and then faxed that corrected form along with a cover letter to the specific IRS department handling my case. The freeze was released 16 days later. The key was identifying the specific discrepancy rather than just waiting for the IRS to figure it out.
I had almost the identical situation with a 1099-R coding error! In my case, it was a direct rollover that the institution coded as a taxable distribution. The difference was that I never got the 810 code - instead, I received a CP2000 notice about underreported income. Took almost 6 months to resolve completely.
8d
This is incredibly helpful! I never would have thought to check the actual distribution codes on the 1099-R. Going to pull mine right now and see if there might be a similar issue. Thank you for sharing such a specific example that could actually help others!
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My experience confirms this pattern: β’ Verified on Monday (March 11) β’ Transcript updated Friday (March 15) β’ Refund deposited Wednesday (March 20) My sister verified on Wednesday (March 13): β’ No update that week β’ Transcript updated following Friday (March 22) β’ Refund deposited Wednesday (March 27) Same tax situation, same preparer. Only difference was verification day. Wednesday seems to be the cutoff.
Did you know the IRS actually publishes their processing schedule internally? Their systems run on an antiquated weekly batch process that dates back to the 1970s. Ever wonder why your friend who filed after you got their refund first? It's all about hitting the right window in their processing cycle. Wednesday at noon Eastern is typically the cutoff for the current week's batch. Miss that window, and you're waiting for next week's cycle. Frustrating when you're waiting on money, isn't it?
Just want to share a word of caution from my experience. Here's what you need to know about TAS requests: 1. First, call the TAS office directly in your state (find the number on irs.gov/advocate) 2. Explain your hardship situation clearly and specifically 3. Have documentation ready to prove the hardship 4. Be prepared for them to suggest alternatives first 5. If they take your case, you'll be assigned a specific advocate 6. IMPORTANT: Even with TAS help, amended returns still take time My sister thought TAS would solve everything immediately, but it still took 3 weeks to get resolution even with their help. They're amazing, but they're not magicians. Start the process immediately, but also look for temporary solutions for your housing situation.
I worked with TAS last summer on an amended return issue. They specifically look for four criteria: 1) Financial hardship, 2) Multiple failed attempts to resolve through normal channels, 3) Significant costs/burden if not resolved, and 4) Irreparable harm without intervention. Based on my experience, your eviction situation would qualify under criteria 1 and 4. When I called, they asked very specific questions about my hardship - how much was needed, exact dates, and documentation I could provide. Have you already tried calling the general IRS amendment line to see if they can flag your return for expedited processing? Sometimes that works before escalating to TAS.
This is a known issue with TurboTax's Refund Processing System (RPS) integration with their banking partner. The root cause is their migration to a new payment processor that uses a standardized check sequence for tax refund disbursements. I was able to bypass this by selecting the "Pay with Refund" option but then manually entering my direct deposit information in the tax return itself rather than letting TurboTax handle the disbursement. This ensures your refund comes directly from the IRS Treasury, not through TurboTax's third-party processor.
I've been helping people with tax issues for about 8 years now, and unfortunately, this TurboTax check problem seems to be happening to quite a few people this year. In my experience, the fastest solution is probably to deposit the check at your primary bank (not a check cashing place), and perhaps talk to a manager about reducing the hold time since it's a tax refund check. It might also be worth considering that sometimes these problems occur when there's a mismatch between the name on your tax return and the name on your bank account, which can cause direct deposits to be rejected and converted to checks. Just something to possibly check for next year.
I don't think this is normal at all! I got my refund check last week and my credit union cashed it immediately. Sounds like your bank is just sitting on your money to earn interest for themselves for an extra week. I'd be switching banks immediately if I were you!
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My check arrived on April 15th and they're holding it until April 22nd. Did anyone try going to a check cashing place instead? Would they cash an IRS check without the hold period?
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Have you considered a few important factors here? What's your account standing with this bank? Do you maintain minimum balances? Have you had any overdrafts in the past 12 months? Many banks have tiered hold policies based on customer history and relationship status. If you've been with them for over 6 years with good standing, you might want to ask specifically what triggered the hold and if there's a way to expedite the release based on your customer loyalty. Sometimes it's just a matter of speaking with the right department.
Based on the 2024 filing statistics, returns with identity verification are taking exactly 8-16 business days to update on transcripts. Since you verified on March 3rd, you should see movement between March 13th and March 25th. I tracked 42 cases in a tax professionals forum, and the average was 11.3 business days for transcript updates following verification. In 78% of cases, the WMR tool updated 1-2 days after transcripts, with direct deposits occurring 3-5 days after WMR updates. For a $14,800 refund with March 3rd verification, statistical models suggest you'll likely see transcript updates by March 18th.
Is that 8-16 business days or calendar days? My verification was on a Monday too. Still waiting.
11d
Isn't it strange how the IRS expects us to file and pay on time, but then takes forever to process our refunds? I was in your exact situation last month - verified on February 8th after e-filing on January 22nd. My transcripts updated on February 21st (13 days later) and I received my $9,700 refund on February 26th. Have you checked your account transcript specifically? Sometimes the return transcript shows nothing while the account transcript shows processing codes. The waiting is awful when you have scheduled renovations, but at least in my case, they eventually processed everything correctly.
Amara Okonkwo
Your situation indicates a standard processing delay rather than an audit flag. The absence of Transaction Code 570 (indicating a hold) or 971 (indicating a notice being issued) on your account transcript suggests your return hasn't yet completed initial processing. The disappearance of Tax Topic 152 from WMR often correlates with batch processing transitions within the IRS Master File system. Typically, returns filed in mid-February are processed in sequential batches, with priority given to returns claiming EITC/ACTC after the PATH Act release date (which was February 15th this year). Without any error codes appearing, your return is likely still in the verification queue awaiting assignment to a processing team. This is consistent with current processing timelines for non-complex returns.
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Giovanni Marino
This matches exactly what I'm experiencing! I filed on February 19th and my transcript still shows N/A for 2024. I've been checking precisely every 24 hours for exactly 28 days now. The IRS processing centers are currently operating at 78% capacity according to the latest data, which explains the extended timelines.
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Fatima Al-Sayed
Thx for breaking this down! Was getting super worried my return got lost in the system or something. Makes sense that it's just working thru the queue. Gonna stop obsessively checking WMR every 5 mins now lol.
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Dylan Hughes
I was in a very similar situation last year, but with a much smaller refund than most people here (only about $600). Even with that small amount, the waiting and uncertainty was incredibly stressful. What helped me was setting up a payment plan for my medical bills while waiting for the refund. Many medical providers will work with you if you explain the situation - I was able to make a small down payment and then pay the rest when my refund finally arrived. Much less stressful than watching WMR every day! My return was in limbo for about 5 weeks total before suddenly processing and depositing. No explanation for the delay was ever provided.
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