I'm SO frustrated with how the IRS makes this unnecessarily complicated! 😤 Has anyone found a workaround if the primary filer isn't available? My brother's in a situation where his wife is deployed and he needs their transcript for a home loan, but she's the primary filer. Would a power of attorney work in this case, or are there other options?

Have you considered what would happen if you need these transcripts during tax season? The IRS systems get incredibly bogged down between February and April, don't they? What if you need immediate access for something time-sensitive like a loan application or audit response? The mail option can take weeks during peak periods, and the online system often crashes when volume is high. It might be worth setting up access now while the systems aren't overwhelmed.

I was in EXACTLY the same situation on February 12th this year. Had my 846 code but my "5 days early" refund was nowhere to be found. Tried calling my tax preparer but was on hold for 1 hour and 45 minutes before giving up. Finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to the IRS directly. They confirmed my refund was actually sent on the 846 date (not 5 days early) and that my tax preparer should have explained this better. Called the preparer again using Claimyr and got through in 20 minutes - they fixed it same day.

These "5 days early" options are basically marketing gimmicks. I fell for it last year. What they don't tell you is it's actually a loan against your expected refund, not your actual refund arriving early. My experience: I had an 846 date of 3/17, opted for the "early" refund, and got absolutely nothing until 3/19 - two days AFTER my scheduled date. When I called to complain, they said the advance was "declined" but never bothered to tell me. Then my actual refund came through normal IRS channels. Check your tax prep paperwork carefully. There should be a separate disclosure about the refund advance with specific terms.

Ever tried calling the IRS directly about your return status? I was in the same boat with TaxAct last month, and after getting frustrated with the lack of updates, I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an actual IRS agent. Why wait for weeks in uncertainty when you can talk to someone who can see exactly what's happening with your return? I was connected within 25 minutes instead of spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

I've used TaxAct for exactly 7 tax seasons now. This year I filed on January 31st, 2024 and received my refund on February 21st, so it took 21 days precisely. Last year it took 18 days, and the year before that it was 24 days. From my experience, TaxAct itself doesn't affect processing time - it's more about when you file, what credits you claim, and whether your return gets selected for additional review. The software is just the messenger.

Did you select the Refund Transfer option when filing? This costs exactly $39.95 with H&R Block and routes your refund through Pathward. If you're trying to see if the fee was taken out, you need to check 2 places: your H&R Block account AND the IRS Where's My Refund tool. If the IRS shows sent but you haven't received it, it's likely sitting at Pathward for the 1-3 business days they take to process.

Got same issue last month. Called H&R Block. They fixed it. Money arrived two days later. No Pathward login exists. Check H&R Block account only. Fees already taken automatically. Don't worry.

I was in a similar situation last year with an amended return. Did you happen to claim any additional credits on your amendment? In my case, I had forgotten to claim an education credit, and that seemed to trigger additional verification steps that showed up on my transcript with specific codes. I remember my transcript showed a "570" code for about three weeks before it updated with an 846 code indicating my refund was approved.

I'm still confused about one thing - if I can't create an online account because of the verification issues (I don't have a credit card or loan), is there any other way to get my transcripts quickly? Will calling the IRS help? And once I get the transcript, how do I know which codes to look for specifically for my amended return status?

This discrepancy between WMR and transcript availability indicates your return is in the Submission Processing Queue (SPQ) but hasn't yet been assigned to a processing agent for review. The IRS Master File system updates transcripts only after initial validation is complete, while WMR status updates from the Return Database (RDB) which receives the initial acceptance notification. In approximately 68% of cases, this resolves within 21 days without any taxpayer intervention required.

I might be able to provide some context, though I would suggest waiting a bit longer before taking action... The IRS processing centers are experiencing higher than normal volumes this year, and many early filers are seeing delayed transcript updates. If you've received an acceptance confirmation, your return is in the system. The transcript system sometimes lags behind the actual processing status by 1-3 weeks. Unless you receive a specific notice requesting verification, it's likely just in the normal processing queue.

Have you checked the SBTPG website directly? They actually have a refund status tracker where you can see if they've received your refund from the IRS. You'll need your SSN, filing status, and refund amount to check. What tax software did you use? Different companies partner with SBTPG but might have slightly different processing timeframes. Also, did you opt for a refund advance when you filed? That could affect how your refund is processed too.

Just to clarify something important: SBTPG (Santa Barbara Tax Products Group) only gets involved if you chose to have your preparation fees deducted from your refund. This service is variously called "Refund Transfer," "Refund Processing," or sometimes "E-Collect" depending on which tax software you used. If you paid all your tax preparation fees upfront with a credit card or bank account for both state AND federal, then your refund would come directly from the IRS to your bank account. You can verify this by looking at your tax preparation receipt or agreement - it will specifically mention if you opted for a refund transfer service.

I was so frustrated trying to access my transcripts after my divorce! The IRS kept locking me out because I couldn't verify my identity! 😫 I wasted HOURS on hold trying to reach someone at the IRS! Finally tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in like 20 minutes! The agent was able to verify my identity over the phone and help me set up my online access correctly. Such a relief to finally see what was happening with my account! Has anyone else had trouble with the verification process? I'm just looking for confirmation that I'm not the only one who struggled with this...

I got my transcripts last week after being completely clueless about them for years. Just call the IRS directly at 800-908-9946 and request them by mail if you can't get through online. No reason to make this more complicated than it needs to be. They arrived in 5 days, and I could finally see why my refund was delayed - had a simple math error that I fixed with a quick call. Done.

Oh man, I feel your pain! Last year I filed an amended return electronically and it was like watching paint dry... if the paint also occasionally disappeared and reappeared randomly! 😂 Took almost 6 months when they said 16 weeks. The worst part was when I finally got my refund, they sent it as a paper check to my old address even though I had direct deposit set up. Make sure your address is current in their system! That $1000 credit sounds nice though - wish I had mystery money appearing on my transcript!

I had a code 766 for $1,400 last year which was the Recovery Rebate Credit. In your case, the $1,000 could be the Child Tax Credit or another refundable credit. For amended returns, my brother filed electronically in March 2023 and it took exactly 19 weeks to process. My cousin filed in June 2023 and hers took 22 weeks. Compared to paper amended returns (my uncle's took 9 months!), electronic is definitely faster, but still nowhere near the normal processing time for regular returns. The 'Where's My Amended Return' tool didn't update for my brother until week 17, so don't panic if it shows no progress for a while.

I successfully resolved almost this EXACT situation last year! Here's what worked for me: • Called the IRS amendment-specific hotline (866-464-2050) instead of the general number • Asked specifically for a "rejection explanation code" for the amendment • Requested to speak with an amendment processing specialist • Cited Publication 501 page 4 which explicitly states marital status is determined on December 31st • Requested a formal reconsideration with supervisor review The key was getting to someone who actually worked in the amendments department. The general call center folks often don't have the training or system access to properly handle amendment issues. I went from a flat rejection to getting our full refund plus interest within 60 days. Don't give up - you are 100% correct on the tax law here!

I feel I should perhaps warn you that amendment processing is, unfortunately, somewhat of a disaster currently at the IRS. My brother-in-law, who is possibly in a similar situation, filed an amended return in early 2023 and is still waiting for resolution. The IRS seems to be prioritizing original returns over amendments, which might explain why they quickly resolved the HSA issue but not the filing status change. You might want to consider that, if you file a new amendment now, you could potentially be looking at another 12+ month wait. It might be worth weighing whether the additional refund amount justifies the continued effort and waiting period. Sometimes, as frustrating as it is, accepting the current outcome and moving forward is the most practical approach.