I heard they're super backed up because of the pandemic still. My cousin's neighbor's dog's previous owner works for the IRS and said they're like 2 years behind on everything.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed early February, did the identity verification through ID.me about 3 weeks ago, and my transcript still shows no updates. It's like my return just disappeared into the void. One thing I've been doing is checking the "Where's My Refund" tool every Friday (that's when they typically update), but it's been stuck on "Your return is being processed" forever. Really hoping someone here has some insight because calling the IRS feels impossible these days. @Annabel have you tried checking if there are any notices in your online account? Sometimes they send digital notices that don't show up in the mail right away.

What time of day did you call? I've been trying for weeks but always get the "due to high call volume" message and then it hangs up on me 😡

This is exactly what happened to me! Filed on February 28th and had absolutely nothing on my transcript for 7 weeks. I was starting to panic thinking my return was lost in the system. Finally called using the phone tree someone posted here (the 1-2-1-3-2 sequence) and got through after about 45 minutes on hold. The agent immediately said "Oh, I see you need identity verification" - like it was obvious to her but there was NO indication of this anywhere on my end. No letter, no codes on transcript, nothing. She verified me right there on the phone asking basic questions about my filing history and personal info. My transcript updated with processing codes within 2 hours and I got my DDD the next day! If you're past the 21-day mark with zero movement, definitely call and specifically ask about identity verification requirements. Don't let them just tell you to "keep waiting" - push for answers about what's actually holding up your return.

Sorry to hear about your troubles with the prepaid card! The IRS system is so frustrating. Have you tried calling the IRS directly? I had a similar situation last year and was able to get some help by using Claimyr.com to actually get through to a live person at the IRS. It's worth trying since they might be able to give you more specific information about when to expect your check. Talking to an agent on the phone was the only thing that got my refund situation resolved.

This is exactly why I always tell people to avoid prepaid cards for tax refunds! I work as a tax preparer and see this happen every year. The problem is that prepaid card companies often have undisclosed deposit limits, fraud detection systems that flag large government deposits, or they simply don't want to deal with the liability of holding large amounts. Your GreenDot situation with the $5,000 limit is unfortunately very common - they should absolutely disclose that upfront. The good news is that once the IRS processes the rejection and issues a paper check, it's usually pretty reliable. Keep checking your transcript for the 846 code that others mentioned, and definitely sign up for USPS Informed Delivery so you'll know when it's coming. For next year, even a basic checking account at a credit union will save you all this hassle. Most credit unions have very low or no minimum balance requirements and won't play games with your refund deposits like these prepaid cards do.

After fighting with the IRS for WEEKS about my verification, I finally broke down and used claimyr.com to get an agent on the phone. Literally had been trying to call for days with no luck. Got connected to an IRS rep within 90 minutes who confirmed my refund was being processed and would be deposited within the week. Best money I spent all year considering I was waiting on a refund of over $5k!

I went through this exact same thing in January! My verification status disappeared after about 3 days and I totally panicked thinking something went wrong. But it turns out that's completely normal - when the status disappears it means you successfully passed verification and your return moved into regular processing. I got my 846 code exactly 11 days after the verification status disappeared, and the refund hit my account 4 days after that. The waiting is nerve-wracking but try not to stress too much - the disappearing status is actually good news! Just keep checking your transcript every few days and you should see that 846 code soon.

Called them yesterday and sat on hold for 2hrs just to be told to 'be patient' smh

Been waiting 4 weeks myself and just stuck on "received" too 😤 The lack of transparency from MA DOR is so frustrating. At least with federal you get actual status updates. Has anyone tried calling recently or is that still a waste of time?