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According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, returns claiming refundable credits like the Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit are subject to additional verification procedures under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. While the IRS cannot issue refunds before February 15th for these returns, there is no statutory maximum processing time. The current processing delay you're experiencing is within normal parameters for the 2024 filing season, particularly for returns filed in early February with these specific credits. The absence of transcript data simply indicates your return is still in the pre-refund processing phase.
I was in the exact same situation - filed Feb 1st with EIC/CTC, got my state refund quickly, but federal showed nothing for weeks. I finally got my transcript to update on day 47, and my refund was deposited 8 days later. The key indicator was when my transcript suddenly appeared - that's when I knew things were moving. Just hang tight - you're likely in that final waiting period before everything updates at once!
I track this stuff obsessively every year. Here's what I've noticed with SoFi specifically: โข They typically release tax refunds 1-2 days early โข BUT this varies based on processing volume โข February is their highest volume month โข They prioritize payroll direct deposits over government payments โข Weekend processing is slower than weekday My refund had a 2/26 date too. Last year it would have hit on 2/24, but this year it didn't show until exactly 2/26 at 6am. Their early deposit feature seems less consistent during peak tax season.
Have you noticed any pattern with SoFi based on refund amount? I'm wondering if larger refunds get processed differently than smaller ones? My refund is significantly larger this year due to some investments, and I'm curious if that might affect the timing.
8d
Just wanted to add something important here. The IRS "Where's My Refund" tool updates overnight. Not real-time. Sometimes status changes don't appear for 24 hours. Also, SoFi changed their early deposit policy in January. They now say "up to two days early" instead of guaranteed early deposits. This affected direct deposits too. Not just tax refunds. Hope this helps explain what's happening.
Thank you for this info! I was starting to think something was wrong with my account specifically. This definitely makes me feel better about the situation.
7d
I went through this exact nightmare last year with my own taxes. Filed January 15th with Child Tax Credit and 1099 income, and didn't see my refund until March 28th. The IRS has special verification procedures for both CTC claims and self-employment income. I remember checking the Where's My Refund tool obsessively every morning at 3am thinking it would somehow update faster! What finally worked was requesting my tax transcript which showed code 570 (additional account action pending) followed later by 571 (resolved) and then 846 (refund issued).
I appreciate this timeline breakdown. If I'm understanding correctly, seeing code 570 doesn't necessarily indicate a problem, but rather an additional verification step? How long was the gap between your 570 and 571 codes appearing? I'm trying to gauge reasonable expectations for processing timeframes.
11d
Don't waste time calling until you're outside normal processing windows. I'm a contractor too and my refund with Child Tax Credit took 7 weeks this year. The IRS is seriously backlogged. Just keep checking your transcript weekly instead of daily - saves your sanity. When I finally got mine, it had interest added because it took so long, so at least there's that small bonus.
I'm in EXACTLY the same situation! Filed through H&R Block on March 1st and my Adjusted Gross Income is $42,500 with a Child Tax Credit claim for my daughter. The IRS Where's My Refund tool still shows "Your return is still being processed" with no progress bar. Called H&R Block and they mentioned something about a Form 1310 verification that's causing delays for many CTC claims. This is way more complicated than I expected!
Has anyone who filed with H&R Block in April received their refund yet? I'm wondering if filing later in the season means faster processing since they've worked through the February/March backlog? Last year I filed in February and waited forever, but my brother filed in April and got his in 2 weeks.
I'm in the same boat waiting on my Deep Blue card to be funded. Filed March 21st and still nothing. WMR shows approved but no deposit. Why do we put ourselves through this every year? The Liberty Tax rep told me "it's still within normal timeframes" but couldn't give me any specific date. Does anyone know if calling the card's customer service is any more helpful than calling Liberty?
Next year skip the middleman and just file yourself! ๐ I used to go to Liberty but now I just use FreeTaxUSA and have my refund direct deposited to my regular checking account. Saved the $300+ preparation fee AND got my refund a week faster. The software walks you through everything just like a tax preparer would, and you don't have to deal with these prepaid card headaches.
I just went through this process last month, so here's exactly what you need to do if you need a trace: Step 1: Verify your refund was actually issued (check transcript for code 846) Step 2: Wait the required time (5 days for direct deposit, 4+ weeks for checks) Step 3: Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 Step 4: Tell them you need to request a refund trace Step 5: They'll either process it by phone or have you submit Form 3911 Step 6: You'll receive a trace number for reference Step 7: Use that number for all future communications The trace number is CRUCIAL - without it, you'll get transferred around endlessly when you call for updates. The IRS is extremely backed up right now with the April 15th deadline just passing, so act quickly if you think you need a trace!
I wonder if initiating a trace might potentially delay things further? It seems like it could add another layer of processing to an already complex system. Perhaps there are certain situations where it's better to wait a bit longer before requesting a trace?
7d
I had a similar issue last year with my refund. I waited about 6 weeks after filing before requesting a trace. The process took another 4 weeks, but they eventually found that my refund had been sent to an old bank account that was closed. I'm a bit worried about going through all that again this year.
7d
Got my refund today! Had similar confusion last month. Refund showed sent. Nothing in my account. Called IRS. Started trace. Got number TR-28453901. Bank found issue within days. Wrong account number. IRS reissued payment. Whole process took 3 weeks. Trace number made all the difference. Every time I called for updates I just gave that number. No long explanations needed.
I'm curious - did TurboTax specifically say you'd get your refund 5 days before the IRS date, or did they say the refund would be "up to 5 days faster"? The wording makes a big difference in what they're actually promising, kind of like how a restaurant promising "up to 30 minutes delivery" doesn't mean your food will arrive in exactly 30 minutes.
Tax professional here. The confusion stems from misinterpretation of TurboTax's marketing. Under IRC ยง6402 and Treasury Regulation ยง301.6402-2(e), the IRS maintains sole authority over refund disbursement timing. The Direct Deposit Date (DDD) on your transcript represents the official date when the Treasury will initiate the ACH transfer to your financial institution. TurboTax's expedited service primarily accelerates their internal review process prior to IRS submission, not the actual IRS processing timeline. For accurate financial planning, rely exclusively on the DDD shown on your transcript.
Based on current IRS processing protocols, paper check delivery timeframes operate on a geographic distribution matrix. Treasury Financial Management Service typically batches checks by region, with delivery estimates ranging from 5-7 business days (local distribution centers) to 12-15 business days (cross-country). Additionally, USPS mail volume fluctuations impact delivery windows. Your transcript will show TC846 with the actual disbursement date, which may differ from the projected date by 1-3 business days.
My check was mailed February 14th. Arrived February 24th. Ten days total. I'm in California. The mail is unpredictable lately. Hope yours comes soon. The waiting is hard.
Have you called the IRS directly about this? They can tell you exactly what will happen with your refund. Ask specifically about the remaining balance and whether the 846 amount will be adjusted. Request they check if the state payment has been fully applied to your account.
On April 12th last year, I had an identical situation with almost the same amounts. My transcript showed code 846 for the full refund amount ($3,200), but when the deposit date of April 19th arrived, they had reduced it by my remaining balance ($750). The IRS systems don't always talk to each other in real-time, so what you're seeing on your transcript today might not reflect what will actually happen when they process the final payment.
Natalie Chen
According to the IRS Processing Delays page on irs.gov, returns requiring corrections are taking an average of 26 days to process after the correction is completed. I went through this last year when they had to adjust my Earned Income Credit amount. The 8-week timeline is their standard disclaimer, but I received my refund exactly 19 days after speaking with an agent who told me about the correction. If you're concerned about your medical procedure, you might want to check your transcript daily using the IRS online account access - it updates more frequently than WMR and will show code 846 when your refund is scheduled.
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Santiago Martinez
I'm a bit concerned about something - when I had a correction last year, I received a CP12 notice in the mail explaining the adjustment. Did the agent mention if they're sending you any notices? Sometimes you need to respond to these to avoid further delays.
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7d
Samantha Johnson
When you checked your transcript, did you notice if there was a code 570 (additional account action pending) before it updated with the refund date? I'm trying to understand the sequence of events for these corrections to better estimate my timeline.
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7d
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Nick Kravitz
You know what's interesting about these IRS timelines? They're almost always worst-case scenarios. I had a similar situation in March when they made a correction to my return. The agent told me 6-8 weeks, but I received my refund in 17 days. Why do they do this? Perhaps because they're dealing with millions of returns and want to set expectations low? Or maybe because complex cases can genuinely take that long? Either way, I've found that the actual processing time is usually about half of whatever timeline they quote you.
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