Important information you should gather before proceeding: • Date you first discovered the identity theft • Copy of any police report filed (if applicable) • Copies of all IRS notices received regarding this issue • Your tax transcripts for both years involved • Documentation showing your correct income for the disputed year • Any previous correspondence with IRS about this issue This documentation will be crucial when you contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service, which can often intervene in identity theft cases that have resulted in improper assessments.

Have you considered that this might actually be a case of refund fraud rather than pure identity theft? The distinction matters because the recovery process differs significantly. Did the IRS ever provide you with information about what was claimed on the fraudulent return? Was it reporting income you never earned, or claiming credits you weren't eligible for?

If you're really concerned, you could always call TurboTax directly to confirm that your direct deposit info was correctly transmitted to the IRS. Their customer service line is actually pretty decent compared to trying to reach the IRS! Just be prepared with your TurboTax account info and they can tell you exactly what happened with both the advance program and your regular refund. I had to do this last year when I had a similar confusion, and they cleared it right up in about 10 minutes. 🤷‍♀️ Sometimes the simplest solution works!

Just to clarify - the message you received is specifically about TurboTax's Refund Advance program, which is a loan product offered through their banking partners. This is completely separate from your actual tax refund from the IRS. The message means you didn't qualify for their loan product (which is actually good because you avoid those fees!), but your tax refund will still be processed normally by the IRS and sent via whatever method you selected when filing (direct deposit if you provided bank details). The fact that you filed jointly for the first time shouldn't affect your direct deposit - the IRS handles joint returns every day without issues.

The IRS is legally required to issue a verification notice before holding your refund, but they're not required to wait until you receive it before starting the hold. You have every right to be proactive. Call the verification hotline directly at 800-830-5084 and explain you know verification is needed but haven't received the letter. They can verify you over the phone in most cases. Don't wait - this is your money and you're entitled to proper service.

Last year I was in the same boat and learned a valuable lesson - always check both your online account AND call if something seems off. The verification letters are sent from a different facility than regular IRS correspondence and often get delayed. When I finally got through to someone, they told me my letter had been returned as undeliverable even though my address was correct in their system. The community here saved me weeks of waiting by suggesting I call directly!

Have you tried calling your local Taxpayer Advocate Service? They can sometimes help if your refund is causing financial hardship - like if you need it for that house down payment you mentioned. They won't help just because you're waiting, but if you can demonstrate actual hardship (like losing your chance at a house), they might intervene. Worth a shot if you're getting close to needing those funds.

Here's exactly what happened with my returns this year: 1. Filed both state and federal on February 3rd, 2024 2. State refund received February 15th (12 days) 3. WMR showed processing until February 28th 4. Transcript updated March 1st with code 570 5. Called IRS on March 8th - told to wait 6. Transcript updated March 15th with code 571 7. Refund approved March 16th 8. Money deposited March 20th (46 days total) So in my case, state came 34 days before federal with no correlation between them.

Transcripts are weird. Sometimes they update fast. Sometimes they don't. Mine took 3 weeks. Friend got hers in 5 days. No rhyme or reason. Just IRS being IRS. Status changes complicate things. Head of Household gets extra scrutiny. Didn't know that before. Learning now. Tax system is complex. Too complex. Shouldn't need forums to understand basic processes. But here we are.

I filed on February 2nd, 2024 and my transcript was completely unavailable until February 23rd. Then suddenly on February 24th it showed all processing codes at once! Received my direct deposit on March 1st. So exactly 22 days from filing to transcript update, and 28 days total to getting my money. I was checking obsessively because I needed to pay tuition by March 5th. Made it just in time! Hope yours updates soon - the wait is so stressful when you have important financial decisions riding on it.

I had this exact situation on February 23rd, 2023. Filed on February 7th, 2023 with TurboTax. Got the acceptance confirmation on February 8th, 2023. Checked transcript on February 23rd, 2023 and saw the Non-Filing Verification Letter. Called IRS on February 24th, 2023 and they confirmed my return was in the system but not fully processed. My transcript finally updated on March 9th, 2023 and I received my refund via direct deposit on March 14th, 2023. The IRS representative explained this happens frequently during peak filing season when their systems are processing millions of returns simultaneously. The acceptance confirmation is the key indicator your return was received - the transcript system simply hasn't caught up yet.

I've been through this process multiple times and here's exactly what's happening: Step 1: Your return is transmitted to the IRS through TurboTax Step 2: The IRS sends an acknowledgment that they've received it Step 3: Your return enters the processing queue Step 4: While in this queue, your transcript still shows as "not filed" Step 5: Once processing begins, your transcript will update The Non-Filing Verification Letter appears because the system is technically correct - your return hasn't completed processing yet. I'm skeptical of quick fixes for this situation. Despite what some suggest, this is simply how the IRS systems work. The confirmation from TurboTax is your proof that the return was submitted successfully. I wouldn't worry unless this continues past March 15th, at which point it might indicate a deeper issue requiring intervention.

I work with tax clients and see this comedy of errors play out every tax season 😂. Last month, I had a client who received her refund on Monday and then got a letter on Wednesday saying her return couldn't be processed until she verified her identity. The IRS has multiple systems that don't always sync up in real-time. The 846 code is the most reliable indicator - if you have that with a date, your money is on the way regardless of what letters might be in the mail pipeline.

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.

According to IRS Publication 2043, "The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 calendar days." However, Treasury Regulation §301.6402-2 specifies that actual disbursement follows standard banking procedures. Weekend deposits are not processed as Federal Reserve banks don't process ACH transactions Saturday or Sunday. I'm waiting on a refund too and wondering if I'll see it Monday or Tuesday.

Be careful about counting on that money immediately. According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), even after approval, your bank may hold funds for 1-5 business days. I've seen many small business owners get caught in cash flow problems because they expected immediate access. One client had their refund show as deposited on the IRS tool but couldn't access it for 3 more days because their bank had a hold policy on large government deposits.

When my wife and I PCS'd to Fort Bragg last year, we ran into the exact same issue! The ID.me verification kept failing because our cell phones were still registered to our previous address in a different state. What worked for us was visiting the local Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. I made an appointment through the IRS website, brought my military ID, last year's tax return, and two forms of identification. The representative was able to print the transcripts right there! It took about 45 minutes total, but we walked out with everything we needed. Most bases have a TAC within reasonable driving distance.

Military families face this constantly. Not just with IRS. With everything. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Try the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They help military specifically. Call your installation's legal assistance office too. They have connections. Don't create new accounts. Bad idea. Flags your file. Causes more problems. Trust me on this one.

Have you considered just paying the TurboTax fee upfront instead of having it deducted from your refund? Compared to other tax situations I've dealt with, this approach eliminates the whole dual order number confusion and typically gets your refund processed faster. The refund transfer service usually costs an extra $39-40 and adds 5-7 days to your refund timeline. If you have the means to pay upfront, you'll save both money and time. It's similar to how getting a tax advance loan might seem convenient but actually costs you in the long run.

I just contacted TurboTax support about this exact issue. The representative explained that the first order number is for your TurboTax product purchase (like Deluxe, Premier, etc.) and shows as complete because you've agreed to purchase it. The second order with the 'unknown' status is specifically for the Refund Processing Service that handles deducting fees from your refund. It will remain in 'unknown' status until the IRS deposits your refund into the temporary account, TurboTax deducts their fees, and then forwards the remainder to your personal bank account. This is completely normal and doesn't indicate any problem with your return or refund.