I fixed this exact problem last year! The secret is knowing that the IRS has multiple database systems that don't always talk to each other. If your transcript shows the info, then your return IS in their system - just not in the customer service database the phone reps use. I wrote a letter to the Taxpayer Advocate Service with copies of my transcript, return, and mailing receipt. Marked it "Hardship Case - Medical Bills" since you mentioned medical expenses. Got assigned an advocate who found my return in 3 weeks. Had my refund 2 weeks after that. Don't take no for an answer! Your return is in there somewhere, and the transcript proves it!

I would be careful about assuming the transcript means they have your return. Sometimes the transcript system shows prior year information even if the current return hasn't been processed. I waited 8 months thinking my return was being processed because I saw similar information online, but it turned out they never received my second submission. By the time I figured it out, I had to refile completely. Maybe consider sending another copy with a cover letter explaining the situation? Just to be safe.

The state tax departments are basically underwater right now 🌊🏊‍♂️. Everyone wants their money yesterday (me included, lol). I've filed in the same state for 8 years and it's always a different timeline. My neighbor filed the same day as me and got hers 2 weeks ago. Tax karma, I guess? But seriously, unless you're past 8-10 weeks, it's probably just normal processing. The good news is state refunds usually hit your account with zero warning - like finding $20 in your pocket you forgot about, except hopefully much more!

State refund processing times vary significantly by state and filing method: - Electronic returns: 2-8 weeks (average 21 days) - Paper returns: 8-12 weeks (average 63 days) - Returns with credits: Add 2-4 weeks If you've waited more than 45 days and need your refund for medical expenses, you can request an expedited processing by submitting Form XYZ-123 (varies by state) with documentation of your medical hardship. In 73% of cases, this reduces wait time by 7-10 business days. Alternatively, contact your state taxpayer advocate office directly - they can often help prioritize hardship cases.

I've probably been through this refund waiting game about a dozen times with various banks, and Chime has generally been more reliable than most. My experience suggests that, barring any specific verification issues with your return, you'll likely see your deposit hit within 24-48 hours of the IRS releasing it. The uncertainty is usually on the IRS side rather than with Chime's processing.

I received my refund via Chime yesterday, exactly as scheduled. According to Publication 2043 and the IRS Direct Deposit guidelines, financial institutions must make electronically deposited funds available on the settlement date specified by the IRS. In my case, my transcript showed an 846 code with an April 1 date, and the funds were in my Chime account at 10:23 AM on April 1. This is consistent with my experience in prior tax years as well.

Back in 2022, I spent nearly 4 hours trying to reach someone about my missing Child Tax Credit. After multiple disconnects, I found Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. Saved me hours of frustration. They basically navigate the phone tree and wait on hold for you, then call you when they've reached an agent. It costs a few bucks but was absolutely worth it to get my $3,600 credit issue fixed.

Last month I was in the same situation with my CTC after getting married. I tried calling at different times of day, different days of the week, even tried the Spanish line and using the translator (I'm somewhat conversational). What finally worked was calling the tax practitioner priority line and explaining that I had already tried the regular channels multiple times without success. They transferred me to someone who fixed the issue in about 15 minutes. Sometimes you just have to be persistent and try different approaches.

Have you checked your tax transcript instead of just WMR? Many people don't realize that transcripts update more frequently and with more detailed information than WMR ever provides. Here's what might be happening: 1. Your return could be in the verification queue, which doesn't trigger WMR updates 2. There might be a minor discrepancy that's being fixed automatically 3. The IRS could be experiencing database synchronization issues between their systems I'd recommend checking your account transcript every Tuesday and Friday morning (when the IRS typically updates their systems). If you see cycle codes ending in 05, you're on a weekly update schedule. If they end in 01-04, you're on a daily update schedule. That alone can tell you when to expect movement.

WMR is notoriously unreliable. It doesn't update consistently. Many returns are processed without WMR changes. Mine updated only after deposit. Check your bank account daily. That's more reliable. IRS is processing 2/20-2/25 filers now. You're probably in that batch. The system is overloaded. Delays are normal. Don't panic yet.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I've been on both sides of Form 8332 (as both custodial and non-custodial parent at different times). In my experience, the medical expense deduction generally follows whoever actually paid the expenses, regardless of the dependency exemption. However, there might be some nuances depending on your specific situation. For example, if you're claiming medical expenses that push you over the 7.5% AGI threshold, it could potentially be more beneficial for the higher-income parent to claim them, assuming both parents contributed to the medical costs. Just something to consider when you're making these arrangements.

Have you considered alternating years? That's what my ex and I do - I take odd years, he takes even years. No Form 8332 needed if you follow the tie-breaker rules and have it specified in your custody agreement. Saves a lot of paperwork and potential disputes. We just make sure our custody agreement clearly states which parent claims the child in which years, and then we each take the exemption, Child Tax Credit, and any medical expenses we personally paid in our designated years. Much simpler than dealing with Form 8332 every year.

This happened to me with both my 2022 and 2023 returns. The IRS has completely separate processing systems for different payment types. In my case, I tracked both payment streams using the Account transcript (shows the CTC payment) and the Return transcript (shows refund status). Here's what I found: the CTC payments are automatically generated based on your previous year's return data, while your current refund goes through multiple verification stages including fraud detection, math verification, and sometimes manual review. My CTC hit 12 days before my refund last year and 9 days before my refund this year.

Got same thing last month. CTC came first. Refund came 8 days later. Different systems. Different timelines. Nothing wrong with your return. Just wait.

There's actually an important distinction between e-file acceptance and return processing that many people don't realize. When you get that acceptance notification, have you considered what it actually means? It's just confirming your return passed basic validation checks and was successfully transmitted. But that doesn't mean processing has started yet. The IRS processes returns in batches, and yours is likely waiting in queue. But here's the important part - the transcript system only updates when actual processing begins. So the gap between acceptance and transcript updating can be anywhere from 2-6 weeks during peak season. Did you claim any credits that might put you in the PATH Act delay category? That could extend your waiting time even further.

Be careful with this situation! I had the same thing happen last year and it turned out my return was REJECTED but my tax software didn't notify me! The acceptance was just for the submission, not the actual return. I waited 2 months thinking everything was fine before I finally got through to an IRS agent who told me they never actually received my return for processing! I had to refile and it delayed my refund by 3 months. Step 1: Double check with your tax software that there weren't any rejection notices you missed. Step 2: Verify your e-file status with the IRS directly. Step 3: Don't assume everything is fine just because you got an initial acceptance message.

Has anyone had experience with Pathways Bank's business accounts versus personal accounts? Do they process deposits differently? I'm wondering if having a business account might delay things or if they prioritize one type over another?

Word of caution: Pathways had a system glitch last tax season that was showing phantom pending deposits. Think of it like a mirage in the desert - you see water but it's not really there. Several customers (myself included) saw pending IRS deposits that later disappeared. The bank explained that their system was incorrectly flagging certain ACH identifier codes. If you see a pending deposit appear and then vanish, don't panic - call the bank directly and have them verify with their back-office processing department.

Has anyone checked if this affects your tax account for future years? I'm reading on the IRS.gov forums that sometimes when verification is auto-cleared, they might still require additional verification next year. Did anyone experience this carrying over to the next tax season?

I went through this exact scenario last year! Got the notification from my tax software, never received a letter, but got my refund anyway. Step by step, here's what happened: 1. Filed in February 2023 2. Got software notification about identity verification needed 3. Never received a letter 4. Refund appeared in my account anyway in March 5. Called IRS in April just to be sure 6. They confirmed everything was fine - my identity had been verified through their automated system Fast forward to this year - filed my taxes with no issues at all! Sometimes the system works in our favor!