Have you checked if the 846 date on your transcript has already passed? I had mine show up on April 12th with a deposit date of April 17th, but then got a verification letter on April 15th. I completed the verification on April 16th, and still got my deposit on April 17th as scheduled. Curious about your timeline specifically.

This sounds like a classic case of the IRS's left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing! I went through something similar last year - had the 846 code with a deposit date, then got a letter asking for identity verification three days later. I was panicking thinking my refund would get held up, but it actually deposited exactly when the transcript said it would. The verification letter turned out to be completely unnecessary in my case. I think what happens is their automated letter system triggers based on certain flags in your return, but by the time the letter gets generated and mailed, your return has already completed processing through a different part of their system. The 846 code is basically the IRS saying "we're sending you money" - they don't issue that code unless everything has been approved and cleared. My advice would be to monitor your bank account around the deposit date on your transcript, and if the refund shows up as expected, you can probably ignore the verification letter. But definitely keep the letter just in case, and maybe call back to speak with a different rep who might have a clearer picture of your account status.

I'm a tax professional who sees this exact OPA system issue constantly during tax season, especially with graduate students. The good news is everything you're describing indicates your payment plan is active in the IRS system - that error when trying to create a new plan is actually confirmation it exists. Here's what I recommend: First, try logging into the main "Online Account" section at IRS.gov (not the payment plan portal) with your ID.me credentials. Look for "Payment Plan" or "Installment Agreement" in your account summary - this often works even when the OPA section is glitching. Check your bank statements for a small test charge from "IRS TREAS 310" (usually $1-2) that you might have missed. These verification charges sometimes get stuck in the system and block account access. Most importantly, call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 instead of the main IRS line. They handle exactly these technical failures and have much shorter wait times. As a student with system access issues, you qualify for their help. Make a payment through IRS Direct Pay selecting "Form 1040" and "Installment Agreement" to show compliance while resolving access issues. Don't panic - since you established the plan before the filing deadline, you're protected from penalties even with technical glitches. Avoid credit cards at all costs - the interest will be far worse than IRS fees. Your plan exists; it's just a system issue that typically resolves within 2-3 weeks.

I'm a CPA who works with a lot of graduate students, and this OPA system issue is unfortunately extremely common during tax season. The silver lining is that all the symptoms you're describing actually confirm your payment plan is active in the IRS system. Here's my recommended approach: **First, try alternative access methods:** - Log into the main "View Your Account" section on IRS.gov (not the payment plan portal) using ID.me - Look for "Payment Plan" or "Installment Agreement" in your account summary - Check your bank statements for any small charges from "IRS TREAS 310" - these verification micro-deposits often cause access issues if not properly confirmed **For immediate peace of mind:** - Make a payment through IRS Direct Pay selecting "Form 1040" and "Installment Agreement" as the payment type - This demonstrates good faith compliance while you resolve the technical issues **For resolution:** - Call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 (NOT the main IRS line) - They specialize in system failures like this and have reasonable wait times - Tell them you're a student with an inaccessible payment plan - you qualify for their help **Important:** Since you established the payment plan before the filing deadline, you're protected from failure-to-pay penalties even with these system glitches. The error preventing you from creating a new plan is actually proof your original plan exists. Don't put this on credit cards - the interest rates will be far more expensive than IRS payment plan fees. This is a common technical issue that typically resolves within 2-3 weeks, but TAS can expedite it.

Quick tip: check your transcript super early morning on Fridays, thats when they usually update the system with new codes and DDDs

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Had the 570 codes pop up earlier this week and now seeing the PATH message too. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - makes me feel less alone in this confusing process. Going to keep checking my transcript on Friday mornings like Margot suggested. Fingers crossed we all get our DDDs soon! 🤞

Has anyone tried just structuring this as a gift instead of a loan? I know there are annual limits but doesn't each person get a lifetime exemption that's pretty high?

Just to add another perspective - don't forget about state tax implications too! Some states have different rules for reporting large cash transactions or loans, especially from foreign sources. In California, for example, they sometimes require additional documentation for large deposits that don't match your reported income, even if it's properly documented as a loan at the federal level. Also, since you mentioned your husband has an LLC, consider which entity should actually take the loan - personal vs business. If the LLC is buying the investment property, having the loan go directly to the LLC might simplify things, but you'll want to make sure the foreign relatives are comfortable lending to a business entity rather than individuals. The rental income and loan repayment structure could also affect your business vs personal tax situation depending on how you set it up.

Filed on 2/4 and got mine this morning! Took exactly 4 weeks to the day. Used direct deposit with Arvest Bank here in Broken Arrow. Pretty standard return - just W-2 and took the standard deduction. I was starting to get anxious since I've been seeing all the posts about delays, but it finally came through. For anyone still waiting, it seems like they really are processing them, just much slower than usual. Hang in there! 🙏

Filed 2/6 here in Oklahoma City and still waiting on week 4. Using Chase for direct deposit. It's reassuring to see people are actually getting their refunds, even if it's taking longer than usual. The inconsistency is definitely frustrating though - seems like it's just a waiting game at this point. Really hoping the new fraud detection systems speed up once they work out the kinks, but for now we're all just stuck in limbo. Thanks everyone for sharing their timelines, it helps to know we're not alone in this! 💪