I'm seeing a pattern with Credit Karma refunds this year: • SBTPG funding before 2pm ET: Money typically arrives next morning • SBTPG funding after 2pm ET: Money typically arrives morning of day after next • Weekend SBTPG updates: Almost always delay until Tuesday • Bank holidays: Add 24 hours to expected timeline The Credit Karma subreddit has a megathread tracking this with hundreds of data points. The pattern is pretty consistent.

I had almost the exact same situation! Filed with Credit Karma on March 27th, got my DDD of 4/23, and SBTPG showed funded yesterday around 2:45pm. Still waiting for it to hit my account, but based on what everyone else is saying here, it sounds like we should both see our money tomorrow morning since our funding updates happened in that afternoon window. The consistent 24-48 hour timeline that people are reporting is actually pretty reassuring - at least there's a predictable pattern to this whole process. I'll update tomorrow if mine comes through!

Has anyone received their trace number faster by calling them directly instead of waiting? I've heard some people say calling makes no difference while others claim it speeds things up.

Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like Santa Barbara TPG is definitely running behind their normal processing times. I'm in a similar situation - got funded last Tuesday with a 02/27 DDD and still waiting for my trace number. What's frustrating is the lack of transparency from TPG about these delays. They should be proactively communicating with customers about extended processing times instead of leaving everyone in the dark. I've been checking my bank account obsessively, which isn't helping my stress levels. For those mentioning calling - I tried their customer service line yesterday and after a 2-hour wait, they basically just confirmed what we already know: they're backed up and processing in batches. The rep couldn't give me a specific timeframe for my trace number. At this point, I'm just planning for the worst-case scenario timeline mentioned here (3-5 business days) and hoping for the best. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a widespread issue and not something specific to my return.

Does anyone know if you could get in trouble with the IRS for not filing if you were actually owed a refund? I'm in a similar situation - didn't file for 3 years but I think I had too much withheld from my paychecks.

Hey Sean, I totally understand the anxiety you're feeling - I went through something similar a few years back! The good news is that with income levels around $8k-$10k per year, you were likely below the filing threshold for some of those years anyway (the standard deduction would have covered most of your income). Here's what I'd recommend: First, don't ignore it any longer - it's better to be proactive. Contact the IRS to get wage transcripts for those years (Form 4506-T) so you can see exactly what was reported. You'll probably find that you had taxes withheld and are actually owed refunds! The IRS generally won't penalize you for late filing if you're owed a refund, but you do lose the right to claim refunds after 3 years from the original due date. So if you had refunds coming for 2021, you need to file by April 15, 2025 to claim them. Don't let this stress consume you - tackle it step by step and you'll get through it. The IRS deals with situations like this all the time, and they're generally reasonable when you're making an effort to get compliant.

If its any consolation. I'm in the same boat. 2/19 DDD and SBTPG still says awaiting. Tax preparer said it could take a few more days because of high volume this year. They're processing millions of returns at once. Try to be patient even tho I know it sucks when your waiting on ur money.

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! Had a 2/19 DDD and SBTPG has been stuck on "awaiting transfer" for a week now. It's so stressful when you're counting on that money. I've been checking my bank account obsessively but nothing yet. Reading through these comments though, it sounds like their system is just really behind this year and the website doesn't update in real time. Definitely going to pay upfront next year to avoid this middleman nightmare. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know I'm not alone in this!

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! As someone who just got married last year and is about to file MFJ for the first time, this has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had. The technical explanations about the Master File system and batch processing cycles really help explain why the delays happen rather than it just being random IRS inefficiency. One thing I'm curious about: for those who experienced the typical 1-2 week delay as secondary taxpayers, did you notice any difference in how quickly other IRS tools updated? For example, did the "Where's My Refund" tool show information for both spouses at the same time, or did that also have a delay for secondary taxpayers? Just trying to understand if this processing delay affects all IRS online tools or just the transcript access specifically. Also, I really appreciate everyone mentioning the importance of having verified accounts set up beforehand. We're planning to file in a few weeks, so I'm going to make sure we both get our accounts fully verified now rather than scrambling later. This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for taking the time to share your real experiences!

As a tax professional who's helped hundreds of couples navigate their first joint filing, I can confirm everything shared here is accurate! Both spouses absolutely will have access to joint return transcripts in their individual IRS accounts, but the timing difference for secondary taxpayers is completely normal and expected. What I tell my clients is to think of it like a two-stage rocket launch - the IRS processes primary taxpayer access first through their Master File system, then runs a secondary batch process for spouse records typically within 5-14 business days. This isn't a glitch or problem, it's literally how their system architecture is designed. A few additional tips from my experience: • Set up your verified IRS accounts NOW, not when you need transcripts • Make sure your SSN appears correctly on Line 6b of Form 1040 • The transcripts will be identical regardless of which spouse views them • Don't call the IRS about this delay - it's standard processing Since you mentioned being between gigs, having your own transcript access will be valuable for employment verification, loan applications, or any situation where you need to prove income independently. The wait can feel frustrating, but it's worth having that direct access to your tax information!