Fixed this last month. Called TOP. Found student loan offset. Disputed successfully. Got full refund. Took 17 days total. Keep all documentation. Take names and badge numbers. Follow up regularly. Don't give up. System works if you're persistent.

Back in 2022, I had the exact same issue. The BFS took $3,400 for defaulted student loans I didn't even know about (went to a school that shut down). If you call the Treasury Offset Program quickly, you might be able to request a review before the offset is processed. In my case, I was able to apply for a student loan discharge based on the school closure and eventually got the offset returned - but it took about 3 months. Document everything and act fast!

Anyone else notice how international returns seem to get flagged more often? I filed mine with treaty benefits in February last year and didn't get my refund until JUNE. Can you imagine waiting that long? And why don't they just tell us when they're doing extra verification? Wouldn't that be more efficient than having thousands of people calling and checking daily? I'm convinced the IRS has special filters for non-resident returns that automatically add delays. Did you file with treaty benefits? That's what triggered my endless review.

Your TC 152 code in conjunction with blank transcripts indicates your return is in the Integrity Verification Operation (IVO) pipeline. This specialized processing track evaluates returns with certain characteristics for potential identity verification requirements. For non-resident filers specifically, the IVO processing adds approximately 21-35 additional days to standard processing timeframes. The blank transcript phenomenon occurs because your return hasn't cleared initial verification to populate the IMF (Individual Master File) database that powers the transcript system. This is standard procedure for approximately 37% of international filers based on current fiscal year statistics.

I had a similar experience! Filed on February 14th, accepted the same day, and got my refund on February 25th. I was honestly shocked because last year I filed on January 28th, 2023 and didn't get my refund until March 17th! I think the IRS must have improved their systems this year. Such a relief to have that money back so quickly - already used it to pay off my holiday credit card bill!

My sister filed on February 10th with almost the exact same situation (simple return, one W-2, standard deduction) and got her refund on February 22nd too! But my cousin who claimed EITC filed the same day and is still waiting. Isn't it interesting how the complexity of your return seems to be the biggest factor? Or could it be that certain processing centers are just more efficient than others? I've always wondered if returns get routed differently based on where you live.

The Treasury Offset Program operates with far less transparency than private debt collection. If this were a private debt, they'd need to validate the debt before collection under the FDCPA. But government debts? They can take your tax refund with minimal notice compared to what would happen with a bank levy or wage garnishment. In those cases, you'd get multiple opportunities to contest before any money was taken. This is why I always recommend keeping refunds minimal by adjusting withholding - better to owe a small amount than to give the government an interest-free loan they might decide to keep.

To clarify a few important points about the Treasury Offset Program: 1. The IRS doesn't make the offset decision - they're just the paying agency that must comply with the TOP system. 2. The agency claiming the debt (likely your state unemployment office) is required to have sent you notice of the debt and your appeal rights before certifying the debt to TOP. 3. You have the right to request proof of the debt from the agency that certified it. 4. If you believe the offset was in error, you must contact the agency that certified the debt, not the IRS. 5. In some hardship situations, you may qualify for a partial refund of the offset amount.

I've been carefully following Michigan's processing patterns this year, and there seems to be a slightly longer review period compared to previous years. This might be related to the new identity verification measures they implemented in January 2024. From what I've observed, returns claiming certain credits like the Home Heating Credit or Property Tax Credit are more likely to be selected for review. If your return is relatively straightforward, the review should probably be completed within 2-3 weeks.

If your return has been in review status for more than 14 days, you might want to consider contacting the Michigan Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can sometimes expedite reviews when there's a demonstrated financial hardship like medical expenses. The Michigan TAS operates independently from the regular Treasury Department and has special channels to check on stuck returns. Their direct line is 517-636-4759. I've had several clients use this approach successfully when facing extended delays with medical needs as the justification.

I notice you mentioned your state refund came quickly - which state are you in? Did you file with any credits or deductions that might trigger additional review? Have you checked your transcript to see if there are any codes like 570 or 971 that might indicate a hold or review on your return?

Just got my refund yesterday after filing on February 8th! It's like comparing apples to oranges when you look at state vs. federal processing. My state (Michigan) came within 8 days, but federal took exactly 26 days. Last year was even worse - it was like waiting for Christmas in July! The relief when that deposit finally hit was better than finding out you don't owe additional taxes. My transcript updated about 5 days before the deposit with code 846, so keep checking that for the most accurate information.

Early deposits are like finding money in your coat pocket - nice surprise but don't count on it! I've seen people get burned thinking their bank always releases funds early. One year my credit union gave me my tax refund 4 days early, the next year they held it until exactly the DDD. It's like expecting your pizza to arrive in 30 minutes when they quoted 45 - sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. The banking system is wildly inconsistent with this, and I'm actually impressed that Chase came through early for you.

What we're seeing here is a perfect example of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network's operational efficiency. Financial institutions receive the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) file from the Treasury several days before the official Direct Deposit Date. Progressive banks implement what's known as "provisional crediting" - essentially fronting the money to customers before the actual settlement date. This practice has become more common as banks compete for customer satisfaction metrics. The IRS deliberately sets DDDs conservatively to account for various processing contingencies in the Treasury disbursement system.

Be careful with tax rumors. Saw similar posts last year. Never materialized. People confused adjustments with new credits. IRS doesn't secretly add money. Your 846 amount is final. Budget based on that figure only. Don't count on extra $200. Could cause financial problems if you're expecting money that won't come.

I track tax legislation professionally, and there is no $200 credit that has been passed for the 2023 tax year. The confusion might be coming from people who received exactly $200 more than expected due to other adjustments. For example, I've seen precisely 47 posts in various tax forums where people reported getting $200 more, but in each case when they examined their transcripts carefully, it was due to: 1) Math error corrections (31 cases), 2) Earned Income Credit recalculations (12 cases), or 3) Recovery Rebate Credit corrections from prior years (4 cases). Your 846 code amount will be exactly what deposits on your DDD, not a penny more or less.

FYI - PATH Act returns are super delayed this yr. IRS is swamped w/ verification. My transcript was blank for 58 days (!!!) after filing on 1/29. WMR just said processing the whole time. Then suddenly everything updated at once and DD hit my acct 4 days later. SBTPG prob only has ur state $. They take fees from first refund received. Hang tight - fed is still at IRS. Blank transcript = still in initial processing queue.

I had this exact issue last year. Blank transcript for weeks, SBTPG showed funded, and I'd received my state refund. Back in 2022, I panicked and called the IRS every day for a week. This year, I was patient and my transcript suddenly updated on March 23rd after filing January 25th. My federal refund hit my account on March 29th. The IRS is just incredibly slow with PATH Act returns, especially if you claimed the Earned Income Credit like I did.

YES! This JUST happened to me! I was stuck on the verification page for 9 days, then it switched to processing on Monday, and I just checked my transcript this morning and I have a DDD for next Wednesday! I was so worried this was going to drag on forever! From what I can tell, the status change means everything is moving normally now. The timeline seems to be: 1. Status changes from verify to processing 2. Wait about 4-7 days (weekend days don't count) 3. Transcript updates with DDD 4. Money arrives on DDD or sometimes a day early depending on your bank I'm so relieved! I've been checking WMR and my transcript literally every 2 hours for weeks!

Went through this last year and let me tell you, it's like the IRS version of dating - just when you think they're ghosting you, they text back! 😂 But seriously, watch out for what happened to me: status changed to processing, I got excited, then BAM - got hit with the dreaded 60-day review letter two weeks later. Apparently my employer submitted my W-2 with a typo in my SSN. The moral of this tragic tax tale: even when it goes back to processing, keep checking your transcript for codes 570/971 which might indicate additional reviews. Not trying to be a downer, just saying don't celebrate until you see that 846 refund issued code!