I filed an extended return last year and it took FOREVER. Mailed it in early May and didn't get my refund until mid-August. Over 14 weeks! When I finally got through to someone at the IRS, they said my return had been in a backlog of paper returns that were processed in the order received.

I'm in a similar boat - filed my extended return by mail in early May and still waiting. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like 6-8 weeks is pretty standard, but some people are waiting much longer. @Anastasia - since you filed around May 1st and it's been a few weeks, you're probably looking at getting your refund sometime in late June or early July if everything goes smoothly. The $3,800 is substantial enough that they might take extra time to review it, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. One thing I learned from this thread is that calling the IRS might be worth it just to make sure there aren't any issues holding up your return. Even if it doesn't speed things up, at least you'd know if there's something you need to address. Those services like Claimyr that people mentioned might actually be worth trying if you're getting anxious about it. Keep checking "Where's My Refund" every week or so - once your return shows up in their system, you'll at least know it's being processed rather than lost in the mail.

I'm in a very similar situation - my refund was also mailed 3/15 according to my transcript and switched from direct deposit to paper check (also showing code 971). Haven't received it yet either, which has me concerned since I need it for upcoming medical expenses too. Based on what others are sharing here, it sounds like we're still within the normal timeframe, but it's definitely nerve-wracking when you're counting on that money. I'm going to wait until early April before taking any action, but thanks for posting this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this timing issue right now.

I'm also waiting on a 3/15 mailed check with code 971 - same exact situation as you and several others here. It's reassuring to see I'm not alone in this timing. Based on what Carmen shared about their 3/8 check taking 18 days, we're probably looking at receiving ours around April 2nd-5th. The medical expense planning aspect makes the wait especially stressful, but it sounds like we're still well within normal parameters. I've been checking my mailbox obsessively too! Will update when mine arrives to help others track the timing.

I went through this exact same process last year and completely understand your frustration! I was also randomly selected for ID verification despite having no changes to my return whatsoever. After completing the online verification, it took exactly 4 weeks for my refund to arrive. The hardest part was the complete lack of communication - the "Where's My Refund" tool was basically useless and just kept saying "processing" until the day before my money actually hit my account. My best advice is to check your tax transcript regularly (weekly) rather than relying on the WMR tool, as it's much more accurate about what's actually happening with your case. Look for codes like 570 (additional account action pending) which means they're working on it, followed hopefully by 571 (resolved) and then 846 (refund issued). The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're counting on that money, but try to hang in there! Most people I know got their refunds within 3-6 weeks post-verification, so you're hopefully getting close. The inconsistency in processing times is maddening, but at least you completed the verification right away which puts you ahead of the game.

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Filed in early April, got flagged for ID verification in May (literally nothing changed from last year - same job, same everything), and I'm now at 8 weeks post-verification with still no refund. The inconsistency is absolutely maddening - I've seen people get their money in 10 days while others wait months for the exact same process. I finally broke down and used one of those services mentioned here to actually get through to an IRS agent, and they told me my verification was complete but there was some kind of secondary review happening that they couldn't give me a timeline for. The "Where's My Refund" tool has been stuck on "processing" this entire time, completely useless. I've been checking my transcript religiously and have seen the 570 code for weeks now but no 571 yet. Really hoping something breaks loose soon because I desperately need this money for some major expenses that I've been putting off. This whole system feels designed to frustrate people into giving up on their refunds.

I had the exact same thing happen with my transcripts last year. Filed on January 22nd, star appeared on January 26th, and full transcript was available on February 3rd. My refund came exactly 5 days after the transcript appeared. Do you have any complicated deductions as a contractor? Home office? Vehicle expenses? Those can sometimes trigger additional review that extends the timeline.

Thanks for sharing your timeline, Luca! As someone who's been through this process multiple times as a contractor, the star is definitely a good sign that your return is moving through the system. Based on your filing date of January 21st, you're right on track - most contractor returns with Schedule C take 2-3 weeks from filing to transcript availability. The star typically appears 3-7 days after filing, so you're in the normal window. One thing I've learned is to check your transcript early in the morning (around 6 AM EST) since that's when the IRS usually updates their systems. Given that you filed just over two weeks ago, I'd expect your full transcript to populate within the next 5-7 days if there are no issues. Keep an eye on both your transcript AND Where's My Refund - sometimes one updates before the other!

idk man the IRS is straight up ghosting us at this point

Thank you for posting this! I was literally about to call the IRS hotline again after seeing that message for the 3rd week straight. It's reassuring to know that "still being processed" is just their standard way of saying "we're working on it" rather than code for "something's wrong." Definitely saving me some stress and phone time 🙏