I went through almost the exact same situation with my 2021 return - mailed it in March 2022, had delivery confirmation, but it sat unprocessed for 13 months. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: First, I kept detailed records of every attempt to contact the IRS, including dates, times, and what happened. This documentation became crucial later. Second, I filed Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service) online. You can do this if your case meets certain criteria - like experiencing economic hardship or if the IRS hasn't responded to your inquiries within normal timeframes. Since you're buying a house and need your tax transcript, that definitely qualifies as economic hardship. Third, and this was the game-changer: I contacted my state's Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC). Even though I'm not low income, they helped me for free because of the systemic nature of the problem. They knew exactly which IRS departments handle different types of processing delays and had direct contact information. The LITC advocate was able to get through to the right person within 48 hours and discovered my return was flagged for manual review due to a minor discrepancy. It was resolved within a week of their intervention. You can find your local LITC at https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/about-us/low-income-taxpayer-clinics-litc/. Don't let the "low income" part deter you - many help regardless of income level for systemic issues like this.

I'm going through almost the exact same nightmare right now with my 2022 return! Filed in March 2023, have certified mail delivery confirmation from April 2023, and it's like my return just vanished into thin air. The "Where's My Refund" tool gives me the same useless "no information available" message every single time. What's really frustrating is that I've tried calling that main IRS number probably 50+ times over the past year. Half the time I get the "we're too busy, call back later" message and just get hung up on. The other half I sit on hold for 2-3 hours before giving up because I have to get back to work. Reading through these comments is giving me some hope though. I had no idea about the Taxpayer Advocate Service or the congressional representative option. The Low Income Taxpayer Clinic suggestion sounds especially promising since @Jasmine Hancock mentioned they help regardless of income level. I'm also dealing with a time crunch since I need my tax transcripts for a mortgage application. My loan officer is getting antsy and I'm worried this is going to derail the whole process. Has anyone here successfully gotten their tax transcripts while their return was still stuck in processing limbo? I'm wondering if there's a separate process for that or if I'm just stuck waiting until they finally process my return. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's weirdly comforting to know I'm not the only one dealing with this bureaucratic nightmare!

I'm in year TWO of this nightmare. Yes, that's right - TWO YEARS trying to get my 2021 refund. Multiple verification letters that never arrived, countless phone calls, three in-person appointments. Still no resolution. Prepare for the long haul. The IRS is beyond broken.

This is such a frustrating situation and unfortunately way too common this year. I went through something similar - waited 6 weeks for a verification letter that never came. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. Call the verification line (800-830-5084) at exactly 7:00 AM Eastern time. I know everyone says this, but the timing really matters. I got through on my 4th try doing this. 2. When you do get through, explain that you've been waiting over 5 weeks and ask them to check if the letter was actually generated and mailed. In my case, they found that the system had flagged my return but never actually printed the letter. 3. The agent was able to verify my identity over the phone using previous tax return information, addresses, and other personal details. No letter code needed once you're talking to an actual person. The whole verification letter system seems to be having major issues this year. Don't give up - that $4,200 refund is worth the persistence! The TAC appointment idea others mentioned is also solid if you can get one scheduled. Good luck!

Can you call your accountant in Spain and ask them to check the status for you? My accountant can log into the IRS system and check my payment status even though I made it myself. They have some special tax preparer account that shows more info than regular online accounts.

I've been in this exact situation before! When you split your filing like this, the key is patience and documentation. Your Direct Pay confirmation is your best friend right now - that's proof of payment that the IRS will honor even if there are processing delays. One thing to keep in mind: the IRS typically takes 2-4 weeks to fully process and match electronic payments with mailed returns. Since you're at the 3-week mark, you're right in that window where things should start showing up properly in their system. I'd recommend checking your IRS online account first (as others mentioned), but also consider calling the Practitioner Priority Service line if you have access through your accountant. Since she's handling your taxes, she might be able to check the status more easily than you can, even from Spain. The international location shouldn't matter for checking existing payment status - only for e-filing new returns. Also, make sure you kept copies of everything you mailed. If there are any issues down the line, having your own complete paper trail will make resolution much faster.

Quick tip from someone who processes a lot of international mail: when sending important tax documents internationally, don't just rely on the carrier's tracking. Pay the extra few dollars for signature confirmation service AND take photos of all your documents before sending them. I'd also recommend putting a cover letter on top that clearly states what's enclosed and where it needs to go (ITIN Operations). Sometimes these packages get opened at various processing points and having that cover sheet helps ensure it gets routed correctly.

I went through this exact same situation last year when applying for my spouse's ITIN from overseas. Here's what worked for me: For the federal return with W-7, I used DHL International Express to the physical address that Ava mentioned (3651 S Interregional Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78741). Make sure to write "ITIN Operations" clearly on the package. DHL was able to provide full tracking and delivery confirmation, which gave me peace of mind. For California, the Franchise Tax Board address you have is correct and accepts courier deliveries. I used the same DHL service for both. One thing I learned the hard way - include a prepaid return envelope if you want your original documents back. The IRS will return certified copies of your ID documents, but only if you provide the return postage. Also, expect the ITIN processing to take 7-11 weeks from when they receive it, so plan accordingly for any future tax filings. The total cost for both shipments was around $80 with DHL, but it was worth it for the peace of mind and delivery confirmation.

I went through the exact same thing last year! Filed in March, got the acceptance right away, then crickets for months with just that dreaded 570 code staring back at me. Turns out they were manually reviewing my return because I had some freelance income that triggered their verification process. The whole thing took about 16 weeks to resolve, but once they released the hold (you'll see code 571), my refund was direct deposited within a week. The worst part is the complete lack of communication - they don't tell you what they're looking for or give you any realistic timeline. Since you filed in April and it's July now, you're definitely past the normal processing window. I'd suggest calling first thing Monday morning right at 7am when they open - that's when you have the best shot at getting through. If you can't get anyone on the phone, those callback services like Claimyr that others mentioned really do work. Sometimes you just need a human to tell you exactly what's happening with your specific return. Hang in there - I know how stressful it is when you're counting on that money!

I feel your pain - the 570 code is like being stuck in limbo! I had this exact situation a few months ago and it drove me absolutely crazy not knowing what was going on. The code means there's some kind of hold on your account, but like everyone else has said, they don't tell you WHY which is the most frustrating part. Since you mentioned claiming the child tax credit, that's very likely what triggered the review - they automatically flag returns with certain credits for additional verification. The good news is that this doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong with your return, they're just being extra cautious. Given that it's been 3+ months since you filed, I'd definitely recommend trying to get in touch with them. The early morning call strategy (7am Eastern) really does work better, or if you want to avoid the phone tree nightmare, those callback services people have mentioned can be worth it when you're dealing with thousands of dollars. Keep checking your transcript for that 571 code - once you see that, you'll know the hold has been released and your refund should follow shortly after with an 846 code. Hang in there!