I went through this exact same situation two years ago and it was incredibly frustrating! The lack of proper notification from the IRS about ITIN expiration is really a systemic problem that affects thousands of taxpayers every year. Here's what worked for me: I ended up using a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) to renew my ITIN because I was too nervous about mailing my original documents. It cost about $50 but was worth the peace of mind. The CAA verified my documents and submitted everything electronically, which actually processed faster than the mail-in option. After my ITIN was renewed, I filed Form 1040-X and got the rest of my refund plus interest (which was a nice surprise!). The whole process took about 10 weeks total, which was shorter than I expected. One tip that helped me: I called the IRS every few weeks to check on the status of both my ITIN renewal and amended return. Even though the wait times are brutal, having those reference numbers and confirmation that everything was progressing normally gave me peace of mind during what felt like an endless waiting period. Hang in there - you will get your full refund, it just takes patience and persistence with the IRS bureaucracy!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My ITIN expired and I had no idea until I got a significantly reduced refund. It's so frustrating that the IRS doesn't do a better job of notifying people about expiration dates. I've been reading through all the advice here and it's really helpful to know that others have successfully gotten their full refunds back. The process seems long but at least there's a clear path forward with the Form W-7 renewal and then filing an amended return. One question I have - has anyone had success contacting their local Taxpayer Advocate Service office for help with this? I'm wondering if they can help expedite the process or provide additional guidance since this seems like such a common issue that catches people off guard. Also, for those who used a CAA, how did you find a reputable one? I'm definitely leaning toward that option since mailing original documents makes me nervous, but I want to make sure I'm working with someone legitimate. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really reassuring to know this can be resolved even though it's such a hassle!

Former payroll specialist here. The terminology on W-2s and payroll systems can be confusing! "Credit Amount" in this context almost always refers to the amount of money that was credited toward your tax obligations - meaning money that was withheld from your paychecks. When you see "Total Credit Amount" of $7,000, that means approximately $7,000 was withheld from your paychecks throughout the year and sent to the government on your behalf. This is a good thing! It means you've already paid $7,000 toward whatever your tax liability ends up being.

can we just take a moment to laugh at how TERRIBLY the irs communicates with ordinary people?? like who the heck would know what "total credit amount" means without a payroll degree lol. every year its the same story, trying to decode these forms like they're written in ancient egyptian 🙄

I'm going through something very similar! Filed in late February with EITC and just saw my status change from the PATH Act message to "we are processing your return" yesterday. My transcript shows the 507 code too but no 971, which based on everyone's comments here seems like a good sign. It's such a relief to find this thread because I was starting to panic thinking something was wrong with my return. The waiting is so stressful when you need that money for unexpected expenses - I totally get it! From what everyone's sharing, it sounds like we're all part of the same verification wave this year and most people are getting their refunds within a few weeks of the status change. Really hoping mine follows the same pattern. Thanks for asking this question because it's exactly what I needed to hear today!

Going through the exact same thing right now! Filed in early February with EITC, had that dreaded PATH Act message for what felt like forever, then it switched to "we are processing your return" about 5 days ago. My transcript also shows the 507 code with no 971, which from reading all these comments seems to be the standard pattern this year for EITC reviews. It's such a relief to find this thread because I was getting really anxious about what was happening with my return. The waiting is absolutely killing me - I've got some medical bills that came up unexpectedly and I'm really counting on this refund. But seeing all these success stories where people got their refunds 1-3 weeks after the status change is giving me so much hope! It sounds like we're all part of the same verification wave and most people are getting positive outcomes. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and timelines - makes this whole process feel way less scary when you know you're not alone in it!

Do yall know if there's a required minimum resolution for the photos? Some of my receipts are kinda faded and I'm worried my phone camera isn't capturing everything.

Great question! I've been doing the digital receipt thing for about three years now and can confirm the IRS absolutely accepts photos of receipts. The key is making sure they're readable and contain all the essential info - date, vendor, amount, and description of what was purchased. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet is to be consistent with your photo quality. I always take photos immediately after purchases while the receipt is still crisp, use good lighting, and make sure the entire receipt fits in the frame. I've seen people try to piece together receipts from multiple photos during audits and that gets messy fast. Also, don't forget about receipts for cash purchases under $75 - technically you don't need a receipt for business expenses under that amount, but having photo documentation makes your life so much easier if questions come up later. Better safe than sorry!

dont worry bestie ur not alone. mine did the exact same thing last week and now its back to normal with a ddd!!

This is actually pretty common during transcript updates! The system temporarily shows "no return filed" while they're processing changes or removing holds. I'd recommend checking again in 24-48 hours - it should update back to showing your return with hopefully good news about your refund status. The fact that the freeze disappeared is actually a positive sign that things are moving forward with your case.