I completely understand your frustration with this situation! The 4-hour drive requirement is really unreasonable, especially after you've already been waiting 14 weeks past their promised timeline. Here's what I'd recommend based on what others have shared: 1. **Document the hardship**: When you call the IRS, be very specific about why the 8-hour round trip creates a genuine hardship (not just inconvenience). Mention job constraints, transportation costs, or any other factors that make this particularly difficult. 2. **Try multiple approaches**: Don't just call the identity verification hotline - try the main customer service line and ask for a manager. Also consider submitting a written hardship request via certified mail to create a paper trail. 3. **Contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service**: They specifically help with cases where IRS processes are causing hardship. The extended delay plus the travel requirement could qualify you for their assistance. 4. **Get everything in writing**: If you do have to make the trip, call ahead to confirm your appointment and get a detailed list of required documents. Ask them to email or mail you the list to avoid any miscommunication. The fact that you're already 5 weeks past their promised timeline gives you additional leverage when requesting hardship accommodations. Don't give up on finding alternatives before making that long drive!

I've been through a similar identity verification ordeal and totally feel your pain on that 4-hour drive requirement! One thing that worked for me was calling the IRS and asking to escalate my case to what they call a "hardship review." When I explained that the travel distance would cause genuine financial hardship (I had to take unpaid time off work plus gas/hotel costs), they were able to arrange for me to verify at a different location that was closer. The key was being very specific about the hardship - not just saying "it's inconvenient" but explaining the actual financial impact. Also, since you're already 5 weeks past their 9-week promise, that delay itself strengthens your case for special accommodation. If the regular customer service reps can't help, ask specifically to speak with someone about "hardship accommodations" or request to have your case reviewed by a manager. Sometimes the front-line agents don't know about all the available options. Don't give up - there are often more flexible solutions available than what they initially tell you!

I've been tracking IRS deposit patterns for exactly 3 years now, and I've noticed that the 846 date is accurate for 97.2% of direct deposits. The only exceptions I've seen were during holidays or weekends. Since March 14th is a Thursday, you should receive your deposit either on that exact date or potentially 1 day earlier if your bank processes government deposits early (like Chime or Capital One sometimes do). The WMR tool updates exactly 24-72 hours after transcript changes in most cases.

Congratulations on getting your 846 code! That's definitely the confirmation you've been waiting for. I went through this exact same situation about 6 weeks ago - transcript showed 846 with my DDD, but WMR was stuck on "still processing" for almost 4 days after. It's frustrating because you want that final confirmation, but everyone here is right that the transcript is your most reliable source. My refund hit my account exactly on the DDD as promised. Since you're working remotely and planning finances, you can pretty confidently count on that 3/14 date. Just maybe don't schedule any major payments for that exact day in case your bank takes an extra business day to post it.

Don't forget to check that the 1099 or W-2 they received has the correct amounts. Our Au Pair's agency initially issued a 1099 with an incorrect amount that included room and board value. Many agencies make this mistake. The correct taxable amount should only include their stipend (usually around $195-250 per week), not the estimated value of housing, meals, etc. Also, make sure you have their foreign address for the tax forms. You'll need the complete international format address for the 1040NR.

Thank you all so much for these incredibly helpful responses! I had no idea there were so many nuances to Au Pair tax filing. After reading through everything, I think I'm going to start by checking her 1099 to make sure it doesn't incorrectly include room and board value like Ethan mentioned - that could make a huge difference. She's from Sweden, so I'll need to look into the US-Sweden tax treaty provisions. It sounds like using one of the specialized tools like Sprintax or taxr.ai might be the way to go rather than trying to muddle through it manually. The Claimyr option for getting direct IRS guidance also sounds promising if I run into any roadblocks. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences. This community is amazing! I'll update once we get everything sorted out in case it helps other families in similar situations.

Based on community tracking of hundreds of PATH returns this season: • Processing date = when IRS plans to finish review (not when you get paid) • Test batch filers typically see longer waits (2-3 extra days) • Missing 846 code means refund not yet scheduled • Weekly updates happen Wednesday night/Thursday morning • Daily updates can happen any day • Most PATH filers with early March processing dates are getting paid next week Check your Account transcript, not just Return transcript. Sometimes 846 appears there first.

I'm dealing with the same processing date of 03/16! Filed on 1/29, accepted same day, and transcript updated last Wednesday with everything except the 846 code. The waiting is brutal when you're counting on this refund. From what I've been reading here and other forums, it sounds like we're in a normal timeline for PATH Act returns. Really hoping to see that DDD this week - fingers crossed for both of us! Have you been checking daily or just waiting for the weekly updates?

Same thing happened to me last year! The 846 code is definitely good news - it means the IRS has processed and approved your refund. The disconnect between your transcript and SBTPG is super common and frustrating. From my experience, SBTPG usually takes 2-3 business days after the 846 date to actually receive and process the funds from the IRS. Their website is notoriously slow to update too. I'd give it until Thursday or Friday before getting worried. In the meantime, keep checking your actual bank account directly rather than relying on SBTPG's site - sometimes the money shows up there first. And if you're still anxious, you might want to call your bank to make sure there aren't any holds or issues on your account that could delay the deposit. Hang in there! The 846 code means your money is definitely coming, it's just working its way through the system. The waiting is the worst part but you're almost there! 🤞

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and it was so stressful! The 846 code is actually great news - it means the IRS has officially approved and scheduled your refund for disbursement. The frustrating part is that SBTPG's systems are just really slow to update. In my case, it took about 3 business days after my 846 date for SBTPG to acknowledge they had received anything, and then another day for the money to actually hit my bank account. The whole time their website kept saying "account not found" even though everything was processing normally behind the scenes. My advice: stop checking the SBTPG site for now (it'll just stress you out) and instead check your bank account directly each morning. Sometimes the refund appears there before SBTPG even updates their status. Also make sure your bank doesn't have any holds or flags on your account that might delay processing. The 846 code with today's date means your refund is in the pipeline and should arrive within the next few business days. I know it's hard when you're counting on that money for bills, but try to hang tight - it's coming! The system is just slower than we'd like it to be.