None of these answers are addressing a key point - if you're having pay periods with $0 or very low income, are you sure you're setting your W-4 up correctly in the first place? The 2020-and-later W-4 form is supposed to be more accurate than the old one with allowances. If you're filling it out correctly (especially the multiple jobs worksheet or the tax estimator tool), you shouldn't need such a large extra withholding amount.

Great point about the W-4 accuracy! I've been dealing with a similar irregular income situation, and I think many of us who switched to extra withholding might have been using it as a band-aid for incorrectly filled out W-4s. For anyone in this thread with multiple jobs or variable hours, the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator) is actually really helpful. You can input your actual pay stubs and it will tell you exactly how to fill out your W-4 for each job. I redid mine after reading Rachel's comment and realized I was treating my part-time jobs wrong on the multiple jobs section. Instead of needing $500 extra withholding, I now just needed to check a box and my regular withholding covers everything properly - even with those $0 pay periods where nothing gets withheld anyway. Sometimes the simplest solution is just making sure you're using the forms correctly in the first place!

Think of the IRS processing system like a massive traffic jam where some lanes move faster than others. Your cycle code is like your lane assignment. Sometimes being in the 0605 lane is great, other times it's the slowest one on the highway. From what I've seen across multiple tax seasons, there's no real advantage to any particular cycle code - it's more about what's in your return. Credits like CTC or EIC are like driving a wide load that requires special handling and slows everything down.

I'm also a 0605 cycle and filed on February 15th - still no movement on my transcript after 23 days. What's really frustrating is that I filed the exact same forms last year (1040 with Schedule C for my side business) and got my refund in 14 days. This year feels completely different. I've been reading that the IRS is dealing with staffing issues and new system updates that are causing delays across the board. At least it sounds like we're not alone in this! I'm trying to be patient but it's hard when you're expecting that refund for planned expenses.

Has anybody tried just printing and mailing their return instead of e-filing? After my second rejection I just said screw it and mailed everything in. No rejection possible that way!

Thanks for sharing this solution! I went through the exact same frustrating cycle of rejections last month. What made it even more confusing was that H&R Block's error message just said "incorrect AGI" without any mention that amendments could be the culprit. For anyone else dealing with this - another thing to watch out for is if you filed a superseding return (not just an amendment) the previous year. The IRS treats these differently than regular 1040-X amendments, and you might need the AGI from your very first filing, not the superseding return. Also, if you can't locate your original pre-amendment AGI, you can request a wage and income transcript from the IRS website (irs.gov) which will show exactly what they have on file for verification purposes. Way faster than calling and waiting on hold!

Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.1.3.3, the IRS is required to maintain adequate staffing on verification lines during filing season. However, budget constraints often impact actual availability. According to Treasury Regulation §301.7701-15, if your verification relates to EITC or CTC claims, you might also try the dedicated EITC verification line at 1-866-897-0161. I'm slightly concerned about the extended wait, as verification holds typically delay refunds by 60-90 days, and this clock usually doesn't start until successful verification occurs.

I've been dealing with this exact same verification nightmare for over a week now! The 1-800-830-5084 line has been completely useless - just that same "can't put your call through" message every single time. It's incredibly frustrating when you need to resolve this to get your refund processed. Based on what everyone's shared here, I'm going to try the early morning approach (calling right at 7 AM) and also give the Taxpayer Advocate Service number a shot. Has anyone had luck with the IRS's callback service? I saw they supposedly offer that now, but I'm not sure if it works for verification issues specifically. Also wondering if anyone knows - does the verification hold affect the interest they pay on delayed refunds? This whole process is adding so much stress to what should be a straightforward tax situation.

If I may add a bit of clarification here, the transition from one bar to "still processing" might possibly indicate that your return has been selected for a more thorough review, though it doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong. In my experience, this sometimes happens when there are certain credits claimed or when there are discrepancies that need to be verified. Have you perhaps claimed any credits like the Earned Income Credit or Child Tax Credit? Those tend to trigger additional processing steps.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Filed 2/8, accepted 2/9, had one bar for exactly 21 days, and now it's showing "still processing" with Topic 152. It's so reassuring to see I'm not alone - I was starting to panic thinking something was wrong with my return. The fact that so many people are experiencing this identical pattern makes me feel better that it's just part of their normal (albeit frustrating) process this year. Thanks for posting this - sometimes you just need to know others are in the same boat!