Has anyone tried calling the regional IRS office instead of the main number? It's like trying to get through the front door of a packed concert when there's a side entrance with no line. I've heard Alabama has a specific office that handles the paper check distribution for our region.

Have you tried using USPS Informed Delivery? It emails you scans of mail that's coming to your address each day. I started using it after missing an important tax document last year. Wouldn't it be better to know if the check is actually on its way instead of checking an empty mailbox every day?

My transcript showed March 27th for my refund date, but I actually received it on March 25th. It seems the date on the transcript is more of a deadline than an exact date, doesn't it? I was a bit worried when I first saw the date since I needed the funds for an unexpected car repair, but was pleasantly surprised when it arrived early. I've noticed over the years that my refunds typically arrive 2-3 days before the date shown on my transcript. The 14-day difference you saw with stimulus payments was likely due to different processing procedures for those special payments.

The community consensus based on hundreds of posts here is: Step 1: The 846 date on transcript is the GUARANTEED date (not exact deposit date) Step 2: Direct deposits typically arrive 1-5 business days BEFORE this date Step 3: Check your bank's policy on Treasury deposits (some show pending, others don't) Step 4: If not received by the day AFTER your transcript date, then: - Verify your direct deposit info is correct - Check if your bank rejected the deposit - Contact the IRS (expect long wait times) Urgent note: If you don't see it by April 16th, call the IRS immediately as this could indicate a problem with your banking information or a rejected deposit!

Wait, people are paying money just to talk to the IRS? That seems crazy to me. Shouldn't this be a free service our tax dollars already pay for? What's next, paying someone to help us stand in line at the DMV? 🤔

It's a trade-off. Time versus money. Some people can't sit on hold for hours. They have jobs. Or kids. Or both. The service costs less than missing work. It's practical for many situations. Not required. Just an option.

Be somewhat cautious about counting on that May timeline. I had a similar situation last year with a special tax credit, and while they initially said April processing, mine wasn't actually completed until mid-June. The IRS tends to give somewhat optimistic estimates, in my experience. You might want to budget as if you won't see the money until June, just to be on the safe side.

Have you checked if your transcript shows any TC 570/971 combo codes? Those specific codes would indicate whether there's an actual review happening or just the standard hold for student loan forgiveness processing. There's a significant difference between general ERS processing and an actual examination.

I'm a tax professional and I can tell you TAS is overwhelmed right now. They're primarily taking cases with demonstrated financial hardship. Here's what works with my clients: 1. Document actual financial hardship (eviction notices, utility shutoffs) 2. Call early in the morning (7:30-8:00am EST) 3. Be extremely specific about the issue and prior contact attempts 4. Have all your information ready (filing dates, previous contact dates, transcript info) About 60% of my hardship clients are getting through now compared to nearly 100% pre-pandemic.

TAS is completely useless now. I've been trying since JANUARY. Called 20+ times. Congressional inquiry. Nothing worked. They keep saying they're "prioritizing hardship cases" but even with my utilities about to be shut off, they wouldn't help. The system is broken.

Have you tried calling the specific refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954? It's different from the main IRS number and sometimes has shorter wait times. Also, what filing status did you use? Are you claiming any credits like the Earned Income Credit or Child Tax Credit? Those can affect processing times significantly.

Instead of calling, have you considered setting up an in-person appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center? You can schedule it by calling 1-844-545-5640. They're usually less busy than the main phone lines, and once you get an appointment, you can speak to someone face-to-face who can look up your return status. I've found this approach much more effective than spending hours on hold.

I think I might have some insight that could possibly help. When I filed an amended return last year, my transcript showed nothing for about 5 weeks. I was perhaps a bit too cautious, but I decided to mail a polite inquiry letter to the IRS service center where my return would have been processed. I'm not entirely sure if this made a difference, but within 10 days of sending that letter, my transcript suddenly updated and showed both my original and amended returns. Maybe it was just coincidence, but it seemed to possibly trigger someone to look at my account?

Just to give you a data point - I filed an amended return on February 12, 2024, and my transcript showed 'no tax return filed' until April 3, 2024. Then it suddenly updated with all the information including my original return (filed January 29, 2024) AND the amended return. The cycle code 20241405 appeared, followed by a 971 notice code dated April 15, 2024. My refund was deposited exactly 9 days after the transcript updated. The key technical detail most people miss is that amended returns go through the Error Resolution System (ERS) even when there are no errors, which adds approximately 30-45 days to processing time.

Anyone else find it hilarious that we're all obsessively checking our bank accounts for money we didn't even know we were owed? 😂 I was in the same situation last week - waiting for my unemployment adjustment with zero updates. I tried calling the IRS (LOL) and spent 2.5 hours on hold before getting disconnected. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to an actual human at the IRS in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed my adjustment was approved but stuck in the final verification queue. Money showed up 2 days later! Worth the $25 fee to avoid the hold music torture.

Let me clear up some confusion I'm seeing in this thread: • This is NOT like the 2020 COVID unemployment exclusion • This is about a correction to how unemployment was calculated for 2023 • TurboTax identified a calculation error affecting certain filers • Not everyone who received unemployment is affected • Only those who meet specific criteria received emails • Processing time varies based on complexity and filing date I received my adjustment last week after waiting 24 days from the initial email. Patience is key here - the system is working, just slowly.

Have you checked whether you can access your tax transcript online? Sometimes your transcript will show codes that indicate what type of review you're under even when the WMR tool doesn't show any details. You'll want to look for Transaction Code 570 (refund hold) and 971 (notice issued). If you see a subsequent 571 code, that means the hold was released. Have you received any correspondence from the IRS requesting additional information? Sometimes they need verification but the letter gets delayed or lost in the mail, which can extend the process unnecessarily.

Is it just me, or does the IRS seem to be taking longer with everything this year? I filed on January 29th and was also told my return is under review. The representative couldn't even tell me why! How are we supposed to plan our finances when they keep our money for months with no explanation? My cousin filed the same day and got her refund two weeks later - no review, no delays. What's the difference? We both have simple returns! You better mark that March 25th date on your calendar and call them first thing that morning if you don't have your money. Don't let them push you back another 10 weeks!

If you're really anxious about it and want definite answers, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to an IRS agent. I was in the same position last month and spent days trying to get through on the regular IRS number. Used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was approved and gave me my exact deposit date. Worth every penny for the peace of mind.

The IRS systems are notoriously glitchy this time of year. I've seen WMR go from no bars to one bar to three bars then back to one bar all within a week, and still got my refund on time. As long as you're seeing some kind of movement, it's usually a good sign.