Be careful with the "free" options - they're like those all-you-can-eat buffets that charge extra for the food you actually want. I used one of the "free" services last year, and it was fine until I needed to amend my return because I forgot a 1099. Suddenly it was like trying to escape quicksand - paid upgrade to amend, paid upgrade to e-file the amendment, paid upgrade to track the amendment. What started as "free" ended up costing me $120. It's like they're fishing with free bait knowing they'll hook you eventually.

The community college near me offers free tax preparation through their accounting program! Students get real-world experience and you get free tax help - even with self-employment income! I'm SO ANGRY that the IRS and tax prep companies don't advertise these options more widely!!! Check your local community colleges, universities with accounting programs, or even law schools. Many have IRS-certified volunteer programs that can handle self-employment returns at no cost. You deserve access to free filing regardless of your income source!

Check if you claimed any credits like the Earned Income Credit or Child Tax Credit. Those automatically get additional review and can take longer. Also, if your refund is large (over $10k), that can trigger additional verification steps.

I've been dealing with IRS returns for years and this "info incorrect" message after weeks of "still processing" is actually very common. It typically happens when your return moves from one department to another or when they're about to issue your refund. The system basically hiccups during the transition. I'd give it another 5-7 days before getting too concerned.

I track my TC150 date and DDD religiously every year. My return with an EITC claim was accepted on 2/8, hit with a TC570 hold on 3/4, resolved with TC571 on 3/18, and finally got my TC846 refund issued code on 3/20. Your timeline sounds similar to what many PATH Act affected returns are experiencing this year. The processing backlog seems to be about 2-3 weeks longer than the typical 21-day timeline.

According to the IRS Operations Status page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue), they're still working through a backlog from previous years while handling this year's returns. Have you checked your transcript for any specific TC codes? The Where's My Refund tool doesn't show detailed status, but your transcript can tell you exactly where you are in the process.

Tbh I don't trust those 'as of' dates at all. Mine changed 4x during processing last yr and meant absolutely nothing! The IRS systems are so outdated they barely talk to each other. Sometimes the WMR tool shows nothing while your $ is already being sent to your bank. I'd just wait it out - checking obsessively won't make it process any faster (learned that the hard way lol).

I'm actually feeling optimistic about your situation! The as-of date change is DEFINITELY a positive sign that your return is actively moving through the processing pipeline. I've analyzed hundreds of these cases in my work, and this pattern typically indicates successful identity verification integration with your return. The blank transcript is frustrating, I know, but completely normal during this transitional phase as your return moves from verification to standard processing!

Has either of you completed Form 8332 (Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent) in previous years? According to Regulation 1.152-4, the custodial parent can release their claim to the non-custodial parent, but this must be done formally with the proper documentation. If you've signed this form in the past, it could affect your current situation.

Be careful with this! On February 12th last year, my ex claimed our child without telling me, even though our daughter had been living with me since September 2022. When I filed on March 3rd, my return was rejected. I had to file by paper, and it took until June 17th to get my refund. The IRS actually audited both of us, and we had to provide extensive documentation. Make sure you file as early as possible this year - like January 29th when they start accepting returns.

I would suggest... perhaps... monitoring your bank account rather than the transcript at this point. The IRS system has... completed its processing cycle for your return. If you need to speak with someone about the status, I tried calling the regular IRS number but waited over two hours. I eventually used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my deposit was scheduled and explained why my international income verification took longer than my domestic returns in previous years. It might be worth the call if you're concerned about international processing differences.

Did you get any other codes? Like 570 or 971? Mine updated yesterday. Shows 3/19 DDD. First time filing with foreign income. Wondering if normal timeline.

Be extremely careful with this situation. I waited exactly 47 days for my employer to send a replacement W-2 last year, and it put me past the filing deadline. I ended up with a $435 late filing penalty that took 3 months to get removed. If you have exactly 30 days or less until the filing deadline, I would immediately proceed with getting a wage transcript and filing Form 4852. Don't trust that your employer will suddenly become responsive.

Here's what worked for me: I contacted our HR department directly instead of my boss. Turns out my boss hadn't forwarded my request to payroll. HR had my W-2 sent out the same day. If that doesn't work, call the IRS. They'll contact your employer. Most businesses straighten up fast when the IRS comes knocking.

I've been stuck on N/A for over a month now. Called the IRS six times and couldn't get through. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get past the busy signals - connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. Found out my return was just sitting in a backlog and needed manual review because of a small discrepancy with my W-2. They fixed it while I was on the phone and said I should see movement within a week.

What's your DDD date? Is it actually 3/1 or 3/6? Sometimes people read the transcript wrong and the 846 code date isn't always the actual deposit date.

Here's what I've learned after getting paper refunds for the last 5 years: 1. The date shown is when they PROCESS the refund, not mail it 2. Add 2-3 days for them to actually print and mail the check 3. Add 3-10 days for USPS delivery depending on your location 4. If you're more than 14 days past the refund date and nothing arrived, that's when you should start worrying I'm a bit concerned about all the mail theft happening lately. I've started having my refunds direct deposited even though I was resistant to it for years. Just feels safer now.

Has anyone considered how the IRS's definition of "refund date" creates unnecessary confusion? I received a paper check last year with a supposed issue date of 3/20, but the postmark was 3/25 and delivery was 4/2. When I called to inquire, the agent explained that system limitations from the 1980s prevent them from updating their terminology or providing accurate mailing dates. Isn't it interesting how an agency that demands precision from taxpayers can't provide the same in return? My colleague had his check lost entirely last year - no tracking, no recourse except to wait 6 weeks before they'd even begin an investigation. Perhaps we should question why in 2024 the default isn't direct deposit?

I filed on January 29th this year with education credits and had the EXACT same issue! My transcript only showed 768 and 806 until February 17th (two days after PATH lifted), then suddenly the 766 code appeared with my education credit amount. I was shocked by how complicated the whole process was - the IRS really doesn't make this easy to understand. My refund with all credits included was deposited on February 22nd, exactly 24 days after filing.

The collective wisdom around here is "transcript codes are like reading tea leaves" 😂 Seriously though, education credits (AOTC/LLC) do typically appear after PATH restrictions lift, but not immediately. The system processes in batches. Your 768 (EITC) and 806 (withholding) are already there, which is a good sign. Most people see their 766 code appear within 7 days after PATH lifts. One thing to check: look at the expected refund amount on your return. If it's higher than what's currently shown on your transcript (the 768 + 806 amounts), then your education credit is likely still pending and not rejected. Patience is hard when you're waiting for money, I know!