I had this exact same situation last filing season! I was waiting and waiting for the verification letter that never seemed to come. After about 4 weeks of checking my mailbox daily, I finally called the IRS Identity Verification hotline (800-830-5084) and explained my situation. The agent was actually really helpful and verified me right over the phone. She said sometimes the letters get lost in the mail or are significantly delayed. My return was processed within 10 days after that call. Don't be afraid to be proactive - the worst they can say is that you need to wait for the letter!

Have you checked if your return is showing any specific codes on your tax transcript? Sometimes the transcript will show a specific freeze code that indicates what type of verification is needed, which might help determine if you can proceed without the letter.

Be careful here! According to IRS Publication 5084, once your return is accepted, direct deposit information CANNOT be changed. If the funds are sent to a closed account, Section 6402(n) of the Internal Revenue Code requires the IRS to issue a paper check to your address of record. This typically adds 2-3 weeks to processing time. I learned this the hard way last year and ended up waiting almost 8 weeks for my refund check to arrive.

You might want to consider setting up a refund trace if your refund doesn't arrive within the expected timeframe. It's generally more effective than calling repeatedly. The IRS can initiate a trace approximately 5 days after a direct deposit was scheduled or 4 weeks after a paper check was supposed to be mailed. In my experience, this sometimes resolves issues faster than waiting for the normal process to play out, especially when there are account number discrepancies.

It's perhaps worth noting that there are some potential reasons why your transcript might show as N/A that could indicate different issues: • Simple processing delay (most common, typically resolves on its own) • Identity verification needed (what OP experienced) • Potential audit flags (less common, but possible) • System processing errors (rare but happens) In my experience working with tax clients, about 70% of blank transcript cases are just normal processing delays that resolve within 30 days. However, the remaining 30% benefit from proactive contact, especially if you've had recent life changes like divorce, address changes, or new dependents.

This is super helpful info! I was at day 20 w/ blank transcript & getting worried. Called IRS this AM at exactly 7:01 and got thru after 45 min wait. Lady confirmed they needed to verify my identity b/c I moved last yr. She asked for SSN, DOB, address, filing status, AGI from 2022, and the exact refund amt from my 2023 return ($4,273). No letter had been sent yet! Transcript updated 3 hrs later. DDD scheduled for 4/3. Thx for posting this!!

There's an important distinction to make regarding direct deposit timeframes. When the IRS indicates a DD date, that's when they initiate the ACH transfer, not necessarily when funds become available. For traditional bank accounts, this is typically 1-2 business days. For prepaid cards like Walmart ONE, Green Dot, Chime, etc., there's often an additional review period of 1-5 business days depending on your account history and deposit amount. This is due to Regulation E compliance and fraud prevention protocols implemented by these financial institutions.

Based on community experiences with Walmart ONE cards for tax refunds: • Most people receive funds 1-5 business days after IRS shows "sent" • First-time large deposits often take longer due to fraud reviews • Calling Walmart ONE directly is more effective than checking the app • Some users report funds appearing after midnight rather than during business hours • Having a history of direct deposits to the card can speed up processing • IRS batch processing happens Wednesday-Friday, so many Walmart card deposits post Monday-Tuesday Hope this helps those still waiting!

I was worried about spending money on a service too, but honestly, it saved me so much stress! The time I would have spent on hold is worth way more than what they charge. Plus, finding out early that my refund had an issue meant I could adjust my budget immediately rather than waiting weeks for a letter in the mail. When you're counting on that refund money for bills, knowing exactly what's happening is priceless. The peace of mind alone was worth it for me.

FYI - if ur DD date was 2/26 & still nothing, check transcript for TC 971 code. Sometimes they flip from DD to check w/o telling u. Also, many banks (esp Wells & BofA) holding tax refunds for 5-7 biz days this yr due to fraud concerns. TT batches usually hit accts by EOD on DD date but can take up to 5 biz days to clear banking system. Def call ur bank first, then IRS if needed.

According to IRS Publication 1345 (section 5.5), financial institutions must reject direct deposits when account/routing number combinations don't match their records. The IRS then automatically initiates the paper check process. What surprises many taxpayers is that there's no notification system in place - you won't get an email or text about the rejection. The only way to know is by checking your transcript for code 846 followed by code 971, which indicates the direct deposit was canceled and a paper check is being issued. I'm still amazed that in 2024, with all our technology, this process hasn't been streamlined!

Have you considered calling your local Taxpayer Advocate Service? They're like the customer service superheroes of the IRS world. If your refund is causing financial hardship (like if you need it to pay rent or utilities), they might be able to expedite the paper check process. It's like having someone navigate the IRS maze for you. Their number is 877-777-4778. Think of it as taking a shortcut through the IRS bureaucracy - sometimes worth it if waiting those extra weeks would cause real problems.

I experienced this exact scenario during the previous tax cycle. The 570 code indicates a refund hold while the 971 code signifies a notice generation. In my particular case, the IRS had recalculated my Child Tax Credit eligibility based on AGI thresholds. The notice arrived approximately 7 days after the transcript date, and my refund was processed 14 days thereafter with the adjusted amount.

Just to clarify - are you seeing these codes on your 2024 Account Transcript (not Return Transcript)? I filed on January 29th, 2025, and just got these same codes yesterday with the March 10th date. My understanding is that the date shown (March 10th) is when the action was taken internally, not necessarily when we'll receive any notice or resolution.

I made this exact mistake with FreeTaxUSA last year! The system doesn't catch that the routing and account numbers are identical during submission. My refund was rejected on the deposit date, then 19 days later I received a paper check in the mail. No need to do anything - the IRS handles it automatically. Have you checked your informed delivery from USPS to see if there's anything coming from the Treasury?

Just to clarify what happens technically: When the ACH transfer fails due to invalid routing/account info, the IRS system automatically flags your refund for paper check issuance. Unlike other tax issues that require amendments or forms, this process is handled entirely on their end. The timeline is typically 2-3 weeks longer than your original direct deposit date. For comparison, address changes require Form 8822, but banking errors are handled without any action from you.

Dealing with tax refund timing is like watching a package delivery that keeps saying "out for delivery" for days. I finally got smart this year and used taxr.ai to decode my transcript. It's like having a translator for IRS-speak! It showed me exactly what the codes meant and predicted my deposit date would be 1-2 days later than what my transcript showed for Credit Karma specifically. Sure enough, it was spot on - the site explained that online banks often have different processing windows than traditional banks.

This happens every tax season with Credit Karma! 😂 They're consistently about 4-6 hours behind traditional banks on the deposit day. Think of it as the tax refund fashionably late to its own party. I've been tracking this pattern for three years now, and it's pretty predictable. Don't worry - your money isn't lost in the void. Credit Karma just likes to build suspense before making it rain! Hang in there, it'll show up today.

Tax refund processing is like a plane landing at a busy airport - it has an expected arrival time, but sometimes there's a holding pattern before touchdown. Your money is in that holding pattern between the IRS and your bank. Have you checked if TurboTax took their fees from your refund? That's like adding another layover to your refund's journey.

This is happening to way more people than last year! My sister got her California refund 7 days after the WMR date, while I got mine exactly on time. Same bank, same filing software, both claimed CTC. The difference? She had her TT fees taken out of her refund, I paid upfront. You need to call your bank TODAY - some are holding tax refunds for fraud review but won't tell you unless you specifically ask about pending government deposits.