Did you file with any credits like Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit? Those automatically go through additional verification that delays processing. Also, have you checked whether Credit Karma actually transmitted your return successfully? Sometimes there can be transmission errors that aren't immediately apparent.

Be careful about checking WMR too frequently! Last year I checked multiple times daily and my account got temporarily locked for "security reasons." Had to wait 24 hours to try again, and then had to verify my identity which added another 2 weeks to my processing time. The system flags frequent logins as potential unauthorized access attempts. The irony is that my obsessive checking actually CAUSED the delay I was worried about! 😭

Topic 152 is just a general refund information topic - not bad at all. But if you're really concerned and want definitive answers, calling the IRS directly is your best bet. I spent 3 hours on hold last week before hanging up, then tried https://Claimyr.com and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my return was just in normal processing despite my bars disappearing. Totally worth it for the peace of mind.

The PATH Act delays refunds with certain credits until at least February 15th, and that's just when they START releasing them. With the CTC you mentioned, your return is likely just in the verification queue. Most people with disappeared bars and Topic 152 get their refunds within 7-14 days after that happens.

I'm a tax preparer and we're seeing TONS of delays this year, especially with TaxSlayer and other similar services. The IRS is overwhelmed with early filers. If your return is straightforward, you should see movement within 21 business days from acceptance (which would be around March 14th). If it goes beyond that, then you should start making calls.

Tax topic 152 is actually a good sign! It means your return is being processed normally. The IRS is just moving slower than usual this year. My brother filed same day as you and just got his deposit yesterday, so yours might be coming soon!

Did they tell you what triggered the review? Was it a specific deduction? Did they mention any documentation you need to provide? Will you get another call?

According to Internal Revenue Manual section 4.1.3, random selection for review is part of the IRS's Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program. It's not necessarily indicative of any issues with your return. Most of these reviews complete within the stated timeframe as long as no discrepancies are found. If you don't receive your refund within 3 weeks, you may request a Taxpayer Advocate intervention under IRC section 7811 if the delay creates financial hardship.

Have you considered a 0% APR credit card as an alternative? Many offer 12-15 months interest-free, which would give you time to receive your actual refund without fees. The average processing time for e-filed returns with direct deposit is currently 21 days, though 78% of filers receive their refunds in 14 days or less according to recent IRS data. Would your school accept a credit card payment that you could then pay off when your refund arrives?

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the risks of refund delays if you go the RAL route. What happens if the IRS flags your return for review after you've taken out an advance? Are there additional fees if your actual refund is less than estimated? And what documentation do these loan companies typically require besides your W-2?

Thanks everyone. I'm going to try checking again with the exact refund amount (I might have rounded it before) and if that doesn't work, I'll probably try calling. This is so frustrating!

One more thing to check - did you claim any credits like Earned Income Credit or Child Tax Credit? Those automatically get extra scrutiny and can delay processing. Also, if this is your first time filing, sometimes that can cause delays too since the IRS has no history with you.

Just got my Chime deposit 20 minutes ago! Last year I had the same worry when my DDD date came and went with nothing. I remember refreshing my app constantly. This year I was prepared for the delay, but it still came through on the actual DDD date, just later in the day. From what I've seen over the past few years, Chime tends to release IRS deposits in waves throughout the DDD day, with many coming through between 4-7pm Eastern.

According to Regulation E (Electronic Fund Transfer Act), financial institutions have until end of business day to post deposits received that day. I experienced this last year with my Chime account - DDD was April 18th but funds didn't appear until 5:45pm. Many people don't realize that while Chime advertises "up to 2 days early" for direct deposits, this applies primarily to regular payroll deposits where they receive advance notice, not necessarily to IRS refunds which follow different processing protocols.

Anyone else notice that Chime deposits seem to hit faster than traditional banks? I switched last year and got my refund 2 days before my husband (we filed separately but on the same day). Has the "Where's My Refund" tool updated at all for you? Still showing just the first bar?

Here's exactly what happened with my mid-February filing: Step 1: Filed 2/14, accepted same day Step 2: WMR showed one bar for 19 days Step 3: Transcript updated on day 20 with 846 code and DDD Step 4: Funds hit my Chime account 2 days before the official DDD The key is checking your transcript, not WMR. My WMR didn't update until after I already had my money. If you have any credits like EIC or CTC, that adds about a week to processing time. Hang in there!

I filed 2/11 and just got my deposit last week. No WMR updates at all until 2 days before the money hit my account. The IRS is seriously backed up this year - I heard they had staffing issues at several processing centers. Hang in there!

Check if you have any past due debts that might trigger an offset (student loans, child support, etc). Those can cause delays because your return gets routed through an additional review process. Also, if you filed by paper instead of e-file, add at least 6-8 weeks to the normal processing time.

After waiting 5 weeks with no updates, I used Claimyr.com to get through to an IRS agent. Got connected in about 15 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. The agent told me my return was just in the verification queue because I claimed CTC, and there wasn't anything wrong with it. Got my deposit exactly 8 days after that call. Worth every penny to finally get answers and my refund! https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Check your transcript codes if you can access them. If you see code 570 (refund hold) followed by 971 (notice issued), they might be requesting additional verification. I had this happen last year and had to send in documents proving my kids lived with me.