You might want to consider filing the previous year returns separately rather than trying to claim everything on your current return. In my experience, this approach could potentially reduce your audit risk, though it might take a bit longer to process. I believe the IRS generally prefers each tax year to be handled individually, but there are certainly exceptions depending on your specific situation.

The community consensus on this is pretty clear: you're entitled to credits from previous tax years, but there's a right way to claim them. Most tax professionals recommend filing separate returns for each missed year rather than consolidating everything into your current return. This creates a cleaner record and reduces the likelihood of processing delays or verification issues. Remember that the IRS systems are designed to track tax obligations by year, and maintaining that structure typically results in fewer complications.

Last year I had this exact issue with my state return. After waiting 3 weeks for a check that never came, I called and learned they had an incorrect mailing address. The best approach is to call your state tax department ASAP and verify they have your correct address on file. If they confirm the check was actually mailed to the right address, they can typically initiate a trace after 21-30 days (varies by state). Some states will even cancel the original check and reissue immediately if you explain it's been more than 14 days.

Be very careful about this! On February 15th last year, my state tax website showed my refund check was mailed on January 28th. After not receiving it by February 20th, I called and they confirmed it had been mailed. On March 7th, I called again and requested a replacement check. They told me I needed to wait until April 1st (a full 60 days) before they could reissue. When I finally got the replacement in mid-April, I discovered someone had intercepted my original check, forged my signature, and cashed it. This triggered a fraud investigation that took 5 months to resolve. Document everything and call immediately to verify the status.

Getting your refund is like watching a package delivery - except the tracking system is from 1995 and the delivery driver might take a month-long detour! When I needed to figure out why my refund was delayed last year, calling the IRS was impossible until I found Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com). It's like having a fast-pass at an amusement park - you skip the endless hold times and actually get to speak with an IRS agent who can see what's happening with your return. Saved me weeks of wondering and worrying!

Just a clarification for those who might not understand the terminology - DDD means "Direct Deposit Date" in IRS-speak. It's the date they schedule your refund to be sent to your financial institution. However, the actual posting to your account depends on your bank's processing schedule. ACH transfers typically take 1-2 business days to process, so a DDD of 2/25 means you'll likely see funds in your account between 2/25-2/27, assuming no banking holidays interfere. The IRS batch processing system is frustratingly opaque, but at least once you have a DDD, you're in the final stage.

If it's been more than 21 days, you can actually call the IRS to check on your return status. After spending THREE DAYS trying to get through the regular IRS number with no luck, I used Claimyr.com and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was happening with my return and when to expect my refund. Best $20 I've spent this tax season considering how much time and frustration it saved me!

The IRS is saying 21 days is the standard processing time, but that's honestly just their best-case scenario. I'm a tax preparer and I've seen returns take anywhere from 8 days to 10+ weeks this season. As long as your WMR doesn't show an error message, you're probably fine - just caught in the backlog. This time of year is peak filing season, so everything slows down.

I was in EXACTLY the same situation on February 12th this year. Had my 846 code but my "5 days early" refund was nowhere to be found. Tried calling my tax preparer but was on hold for 1 hour and 45 minutes before giving up. Finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to the IRS directly. They confirmed my refund was actually sent on the 846 date (not 5 days early) and that my tax preparer should have explained this better. Called the preparer again using Claimyr and got through in 20 minutes - they fixed it same day.

These "5 days early" options are basically marketing gimmicks. I fell for it last year. What they don't tell you is it's actually a loan against your expected refund, not your actual refund arriving early. My experience: I had an 846 date of 3/17, opted for the "early" refund, and got absolutely nothing until 3/19 - two days AFTER my scheduled date. When I called to complain, they said the advance was "declined" but never bothered to tell me. Then my actual refund came through normal IRS channels. Check your tax prep paperwork carefully. There should be a separate disclosure about the refund advance with specific terms.

I've tracked Frost Bank deposit patterns for the past 3 tax seasons. Out of 17 data points from friends and family, they've released funds on the exact DDD 14 times (82.4%) and the day after 3 times (17.6%). Not once have they released early. The average deposit time was between 2:00am and 5:30am on the DDD. If your DDD is 02/26, I'd set an alarm for 6:00am on the 26th to check - you'll almost certainly have it by then.

I've learned some interesting things about DDDs from this community: • Most traditional banks don't release early • The IRS actually sends batches of deposits 1-2 days before the DDD • Online banks that advertise "early deposit" are just fronting you the money • Some credit unions occasionally release a day early • DDDs that fall on weekends or holidays usually process the previous business day I was surprised to learn the IRS doesn't actually send the money on the DDD itself!

Have you checked if you have any past due debts that might cause an offset? Sometimes your refund gets held up because it's going to pay something else (student loans, child support, etc.). Not saying that's what's happening to you, but it's worth considering... unless you're one of those rare unicorns with no debt! *laughs in student loans*

According to IRS Publication 2043, normal processing time for e-filed returns should be 21 days. However, during peak filing season, this can extend significantly. I filed February 9th and just received my refund yesterday. The IRS representative I spoke with confirmed they're experiencing higher than normal verification rates due to identity theft prevention measures implemented for Tax Year 2023 returns.

I had this exact situation last tax season (though I'm laughing now at how stressed I was about it then 😂). After my deposit was rejected, I tried calling the IRS for THREE DAYS straight and couldn't get through. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed exactly when my check was scheduled to be mailed, which was super helpful since I was also planning to be away. Saved me from having to keep checking my transcript every hour like a crazy person!

Be aware that according to IRM 21.4.1.4.7 (Internal Revenue Manual), when a direct deposit is rejected, the IRS automatically converts it to a paper check, which is typically issued within 2-4 weeks after the rejection. However, this timeframe can be extended during peak processing periods. The transcript often doesn't update with a new 846 code (refund issued) for the paper check until after it's been processed for mailing. I strongly recommend setting up mail forwarding with USPS if you'll be away, as the IRS will use the address on your return and cannot expedite or redirect the check once it's in process.

This situation involves several different tax issues that need to be untangled: • Dependency claims - He cannot claim you unless you lived with him ALL year and meet other tests • Child Tax Credit - Advanced payments went to whoever claimed the kids in the previous year • Third stimulus (EIP3) - Also went to whoever claimed the kids previously • Newborn child - Special rules apply for children born in 2023 The IRS actually has a pretty robust system for handling conflicting claims! They don't just automatically give credits to whoever files first anymore. They look at who received advance payments and who has legitimate claim to the dependents.

My sister went through this exact scenario last tax season. Her ex claimed their two kids despite them living with her full-time. You know what happened? The IRS froze both refunds and sent both parents a letter requesting documentation. She sent in school records showing her address, medical bills she paid, and their custody agreement. Guess what? Her ex's tax return was adjusted, the kids were removed from his return, and he had to pay back the refundable credits he'd incorrectly received. The IRS actually handles these situations pretty effectively, don't you think? The key is responding quickly to any IRS notices and having your documentation ready.

If you're still not seeing updates by the end of this week, here's exactly what you can do: 1. First, check your transcript for any hold codes like 570 or 971 2. If you see those codes, you may need to contact the IRS directly 3. Instead of waiting hours on hold, I recommend using Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) 4. They'll call the IRS for you and only connect when an agent is on the line 5. The agent can tell you specifically what's happening with your return I was in the same situation last year and wasted three days trying to call myself. Claimyr got me connected in about 30 minutes, and the agent was able to release my return that had been held for simple verification.

Think of the IRS processing system like a crowded highway during rush hour. Your 2/23 return is like a car that entered the highway at a particularly busy on-ramp. Some cars (returns) filed earlier or later might move through faster because they hit less congestion at their particular entry point. I filed and was accepted on 2/24, just a day after you, and my transcript updated Saturday night with a DDD of 3/20. The seemingly random nature of processing is concerning because you never know if you're just in normal traffic or if there's an actual problem with your return that needs attention.