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According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.2, amended returns undergo a preliminary review within 30 days of receipt, during which time your transcript may display various temporary status indicators. Per IRM 3.11.6.2, the 'Pending' designation specifically indicates your return has been accepted into the Amended Return Processing System but awaits assignment to a tax examiner. You might consider using the 'Where's My Amended Return' tool which operates on a separate database and may provide more consistent status information during this transitional period.
Went thru this last yr w/ my amended return. The 'pending' status is NBD tbh. It's just their sys updating internally. My TT showed 'pending' for ~10 days, then went back to normal. The whole process took about 16 wks total from submission to refund. Don't stress too much about the status changes - they happen all the time during processing. Just make sure you're checking the right tool (WMAR not WMR) for amended returns.
According to the IRS.gov website (https://www.irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office), all Taxpayer Assistance Centers now require appointments, but there are exceptions for certain services. Based on the Columbus office's specific guidelines, they do accept walk-ins for: (1) payments, (2) form pickups, (3) transcript requests, and (4) ITIN services. For dependent verification issues, which typically involve EITC or CTC documentation review, an appointment is officially required. However, I've seen reports on the r/tax subreddit that some offices are making exceptions during slower periods. If you decide to try a walk-in, bring multiple forms of ID (photo ID, SSN cards for you and dependents, birth certificates, etc.) and any correspondence you've received.
I feel for everyone trying to navigate this system. It's especially hard for working parents who need to arrange childcare just to handle tax issues. The Columbus staff are actually quite helpful once you get in - they helped my elderly mother resolve a complex issue with great patience. It's just the access that's frustrating.
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Thanks for this info! Need to go there next week. Will call for appointment right now. Can't risk wasting a trip.
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Columbus TAC has limited walk-ins. Tuesdays best. Arrive by 8AM. Bring two forms of ID. Have all documents organized. Expect 3+ hour wait even if accepted. No guarantee you'll be seen. Better to call for appointment. No cell phones allowed inside. No food or drinks. Parking is $10 nearby. Security is strict about what you can bring in.
I think you should be checking for a very specific pattern of updates. Based on my experience with an amended return that required verification on March 4th, 2024, the transcript updates happened on March 18th, 2024 - exactly 14 days later. However, the actual processing didn't resume until March 25th, 2024. The verification confirmation doesn't always show up as a separate entry - sometimes it's just implied by the removal of freeze codes. If you don't see any update by April 30th, 2024, I'd be concerned that something might have gone wrong with your verification. The implications of a failed verification could mean starting the entire process over again, which would push your timeline into late May or even June.
I believe I can offer some reassurance here. I had a similar situation with an amended return that required identity verification. It may take approximately 2-3 weeks, possibly longer, for your transcript to reflect the verification was completed. This is not necessarily cause for concern, though I understand the anxiety it can create. In my case, there was no explicit "verification complete" indicator - rather, the processing simply resumed with new transaction codes appearing. The system worked as intended, albeit slowly. My amended return was ultimately processed correctly about 5 weeks after verification, which is within normal parameters for amended returns with verification holds.
Calling the IRS is like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon - technically possible but extraordinarily inefficient. Instead of the main line, try the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They're like the customer service department for the IRS itself. Alternatively, schedule an appointment at your local IRS office through irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office. For Schedule C questions specifically, the Small Business Tax Workshop recordings on their site might address your question without the hold music soundtrack.
I called on March 14th at exactly 7:01am Eastern and got through in 17 minutes. Called again on March 21st at 4:45pm and waited 2 hours and 23 minutes. The IRS staffing patterns follow predictable cycles, with Mondays and Tuesdays being the worst days to call. Their fiscal year funding determines agent availability, and we're currently in a period of reduced staffing compared to the post-filing deadline period when wait times typically decrease by approximately 40%.
I had a verification appointment scheduled for April 2nd and couldn't reach anyone at the IRS to confirm exactly what documentation they needed. After calling the main IRS number for three days and being disconnected, I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an agent. They confirmed I needed my loan disbursement statements in addition to my 1098-T since I was being verified for American Opportunity Credit. The verification specialist also explained that without the proper documentation, my refund would be held indefinitely. The $20 for Claimyr saved me from potentially losing thousands in credits.
I had my verification appointment on February 15th this year and was told on arrival that I needed to provide proof of enrollment status for Spring 2024 semester, which wasn't mentioned in my letter at all. The appointment took 45 minutes, and they processed my verification on the spot. Your appointment today will likely require all 2023 tax documents, plus enrollment verification for any semesters you claimed education credits for. Bring everything TODAY - if you miss this appointment, the next available slot might not be until May or June!
I think we should be careful about setting expectations here... there might be more to this situation than we realize. While waivers are certainly possible, they're not guaranteed, and the process is, well, not always straightforward. The relationship between state unemployment agencies and the Treasury Offset Program is complicated at best. In my experience, successful cases typically involve persistent follow-up with both agencies. It's not enough to just submit the waiver and wait. You might need to regularly check if the state has actually communicated the waiver approval to the federal system. And there could be additional factors in your specific case that might affect the timeline or outcome.
I was in this exact same boat after my divorce last year! My ex had somehow claimed unemployment under my information (long story) and I got hit with an overpayment offset. Let me tell you, it was a rollercoaster. I submitted my waiver in February 2023, got approved in April, but didn't see my money until JULY! The most frustrating part was that nobody could tell me where in the process things were stuck. The state said "we approved it" and the IRS said "we haven't been notified" and I was caught in the middle. What finally worked was calling my state representative's office - they have caseworkers who can cut through the red tape. Within two weeks of their involvement, my refund suddenly appeared in my account. Don't be afraid to escalate if you're getting nowhere!
After completing ID verification on February 7th, I received my refund on March 12th (33 days). According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.5.6.4.7, the normal processing timeframe after identity verification is 9 weeks, but many returns are processed faster. For those experiencing student loan offsets despite forbearance, you have rights under the Treasury Offset Program (31 CFR Part 285). If your loans were in an eligible forbearance status, you can request a refund by contacting both your loan servicer AND the Treasury Offset Program directly at 1-800-304-3107. The Department of Education issued guidance that loans in COVID-related administrative forbearance should not be subject to offset, but implementation has been inconsistent.
I had my identity verified back in January. Took exactly 6 weeks and 2 days to get my refund after verification. Did you have to verify in person or online? The online process seems to go faster from what I've seen. About the student loan situation - my refund was offset despite my loans being in forbearance. I called my loan servicer and they admitted it was a mistake on their end. They hadn't properly updated my status in the Treasury Offset Program database. Did you receive a notice before filing that your refund might be offset? You should get a notice at least 65 days before they can take your refund.
The Post-Verification Processing Protocol typically completes within 9 business days for standard returns. I verified on February 18th and received my refund exactly 8 business days later. The system follows a sequential verification validation where your information transitions through three distinct processing queues: identity confirmation, return validation, and refund authorization. Your early deposit feature will function normally once the 846 code appears on your transcript, as this indicates the Treasury has scheduled the ACH transfer to your financial institution.
I've gone through in-person verification three years in a row now. In 2022, it took 14 days from verification to deposit. In 2023, it was 9 days. This year (2024), I verified on February 28th and had my refund by March 6th - only 7 days. The early deposit feature with your bank should work fine - I've used similar services with Bank of America and Capital One in previous years. The refund appears as soon as the ACH notification hits your bank, regardless of the official deposit date.
Have you contacted your bank directly about this? Some financial institutions have specific policies about name mismatches on incoming direct deposits. If you're concerned, you could also change your refund method to a paper check, though that would take longer to receive.
Just went thru this exact situation! Filed w/ married name but my checking acct was still in maiden name. Was super worried but refund came thru no probs! My bank (Chase) didn't even flag it. DD hit my acct exactly 16 days after filing. Obv every bank is diff but most major ones seem pretty chill abt this common situation. Good luck!
Yara Campbell
I think I might have a solution that could possibly help you get some answers. After waiting about 6 weeks with the PATH Act message still showing, I tried calling the IRS regular number and couldn't get through to anyone. I eventually used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which seems to help people connect with an actual IRS agent instead of waiting on hold forever. It might be worth considering if you really need to know what's happening with your return, especially with your medical appointments coming up. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly why my refund was delayed and when I could expect it.
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Isaac Wright
Claimyr is unnecessary. You can reach the IRS directly by calling early in the morning or using their callback feature. Don't waste money on third-party services when free options exist.
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Maya Diaz
Just had my PATH Act message finally change yesterday! Timeline for reference: ā¢ Filed Jan 31 with EITC ā¢ PATH Act message until April 5 ā¢ Transcript showed 570 code on March 15 ā¢ 571 code appeared April 3 ā¢ Refund approved April 5 ā¢ Deposit scheduled for April 10 I was shocked by how long it took! Four weeks longer than last year for basically the identical return. The IRS seems completely overwhelmed this season.
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