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Can you request a hardship exemption if the offset causes significant financial strain? According to Michigan Administrative Code R 205.1, certain hardships qualify for exemption from collection activities. Has anyone successfully navigated this process?
Instead of trying to get the refund back (which is difficult once offset), you might want to adjust your withholding for the rest of 2024 to get more money in each paycheck. This approach worked better for me than fighting the offset system for months. It's like choosing to take a different route when the main road is blocked - you'll still reach your destination (getting your money), just through a different path. Michigan's offset appeals success rate is much lower than simply adjusting your tax situation going forward.
I've been through this exact scenario and here's what I learned: โข 570 code = temporary hold on refund โข No 971 often means it's just in review queue โข As-of date is not when it will resolve (common misconception) โข Most education credit reviews resolve automatically โข If you claimed AOTC or LLC, this is extremely common Hang in there! Mine resolved after 17 days with no action needed.
Be careful with your expectations here. I had a similar Refund Freeze Code (570) last filing period, and it took approximately 6 weeks to resolve. The absence of a 971 Notice Issued code initially seemed positive, but in my case, it simply meant the systematic review was in a preliminary stage. The verification process for education credits has intensified significantly since the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report identified substantial improper payments.
I'm not convinced this is as straightforward as others are suggesting. An 810 freeze is like a red flag that stops everything in its tracks. In my experience as someone who meticulously plans their finances, these freezes are rarely lifted without some form of intervention. The IRS is like a massive cargo ship - once it sets a course (in this case, a freeze), it doesn't change direction easily without someone actively steering it. I'd be very surprised if this resolves automatically, especially with a refund amount of $8,750 which exceeds the average refund threshold.
I appreciate your perspective! It's helpful to hear different experiences. I'll definitely keep a closer eye on this and be prepared to take action if nothing changes in the next week.
8d
OMG this happened to me too! Freaked out when I saw the 810 code bc I rly needed my refund ASAP. Turned out it was just bc I had changed my address mid-year. The freeze lasted exactly 14 days then an 811 code appeared and my $ was released 3 days later. Def keep an eye on your transcript for the 811 code - that's when you know you're good to go!
Everyone needs to understand that WMR is not reliable this tax season. The IRS is dealing with massive backlogs and outdated systems. Code 152 appearing or disappearing means nothing concrete. What matters is what's on your transcript. Get your transcript. Check for codes 570, 971, or 846. Those tell you what's really happening. Don't waste time calling unless you're past 21 days and see concerning codes on your transcript. Most returns filed in January are now processing normally despite WMR glitches.
Thank you for this straight talk! Everyone keeps giving different advice but this makes the most sense.
7d
What if you can't access your transcript online? Is there another way to check these codes?
7d
Just to clarify something that hasn't been mentioned yet - the 152 code on WMR isn't actually an official IRS transaction code like the ones on your transcript (570, 971, etc). It's just a message code for the WMR tool itself. Its disappearance usually indicates the system is preparing to show you a new status, but the WMR tool often lags behind what's actually happening with your return. This is why many people report their refund arriving without WMR ever updating to the third bar.
Have you looked at your wage and income transcript to see if there might be any discrepancies? Under IRC ยง6402(a), the IRS is authorized to verify reported income against information returns before issuing refunds, but they're also bound by certain review timeframes. Did they mention specifically what triggered the review during your call?
This is an excellent point. Many reviews are triggered by simple mismatches between reported income and what employers/banks have submitted. Sometimes one of your information providers submitted late or with errors.
7d
The IRS representative might not have been authorized to share specific review reasons. Level 1 representatives often can only see that a review exists but not the details. That's why getting to a higher-level agent can make a difference.
7d
Looking at the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing a higher volume of manual reviews than normal for this time of year. The 570/971 combination specifically indicates a refund hold pending review completion rather than an audit. If you check your transcript again in 7-10 days, you might see a Transaction Code 776 (which means they've sent a letter requesting information) or a 420 (which indicates examination/audit). The specific code will tell you much more about your situation than the general 120-day timeline.
Where exactly on the transcript would these additional codes appear? Are they in the same section as the 570/971 codes or somewhere else?
7d
The follow-up codes would appear in the same transactions section as your original 570/971 codes, but with newer dates. They'll be arranged chronologically with the most recent at the bottom of that section.
7d
Be careful about checking too often! Last year I checked my transcript daily for THREE MONTHS and it showed N/A the whole time. I was convinced my return was lost. Then suddenly found out they had mailed me a letter requesting verification of identity two months earlier, but it went to my old address. The whole time my return was just sitting there waiting for me to respond to a letter I never got. Now I always update my address with USPS before tax season.
This is such a relief to see someone else had this experience! I thought I was going crazy when this happened to me. โข Always check your mail carefully โข Update address with both IRS AND USPS โข Consider setting up USPS informed delivery โข Check for IRS notices in your online account too
8d
Isn't it amazing how the IRS expects us to respond to letters we never receive? And then they penalize us for not responding? I had a similar situation where they sent a verification letter to my address from two moves ago. Would it be so hard to check the address against what's on my current return?
7d
Military families sometimes get priority processing. Did you indicate military status? Check box 1d on Form 1040. Might help. Also check DFAS info matches W-2. Common error point. Military spouse relief provisions might apply. Worth looking into. Processing centers have different timelines too. Where was your return filed from?
I had the exact same experience this morning! After checking the IRS2Go app daily for weeks, I decided to create an account on the IRS website yesterday to view my transcript. Lo and behold, this morning I saw the 846 code with today's date, and when I checked my bank account, the money was already there! According to everything I've read on r/IRS and other tax forums, this is the fastest turnaround I've seen mentioned for the 2024 filing season. Really makes me wonder if the IRS has improved their systems this year.
That's interesting - did you have any credits or deductions that would normally slow down processing? I've been reading that returns with EITC or Child Tax Credit typically take longer.
7d
Got my 846 code last week. Money showed up two days later. Bank held it one more day. Finally got access yesterday. Three weeks total from filing. Not bad. Better than last year. Much better than 2021. IRS seems to be catching up finally.
I track these delays every tax season on r/IRS and Twitter. For 2024 specifically, injured spouse refunds are showing a pattern: DDD + 5-7 business days = actual deposit. I've collected data from about 35 different filers with Form 8379 so far. You can check https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/reference-guidance/green-book/chapter-4.html for the official explanation of how the Treasury processes these specialized refunds. Your timeline is actually completely normal based on current processing patterns.
Patience is key with 8379 forms. Normal refunds: 1-2 days after DDD. Injured spouse: 5-7 business days minimum. Been this way for years. System needs updating but it is what it is. Hang in there.
OMG I'm the queen of tax prep mistakes lol. Last yr my preparer put wrong DOB AND wrong address (apt # missing) AND misspelled my middle name. Still got my refund in 18 days! IRS systems are smarter than we think. They match ur SSN to their master file and can see ur correct info from prev yrs. Def don't waste $ on amending for just a DOB error. They'll fix it on their end. Just double check everything next yr before signing!
This is really reassuring to hear! Sometimes we overthink these small errors when the system is actually designed to handle them.
7d
According to the IRS.gov FAQ section on common filing errors, incorrect birth dates are among the top 5 most common errors they encounter. They specifically state that these errors alone don't typically delay processing. If you check the Where's My Refund tool and it shows your return is being processed, you're likely fine. Just make sure to review your return carefully next year before your preparer submits it.
Amina Bah
For those wondering about the Feb 8th filing date specifically, here's what might be happening: Step 1: Initial processing (typically 1-3 days after acceptance) Step 2: Error review phase (can take 5-7 days) Step 3: Random selection review (another 7-10 days) Step 4: Final processing and transcript update (usually happens overnight on Thursdays/Fridays) Step 5: Direct deposit scheduling (typically 5-7 days after transcript update) So for a Feb 8th filer, you might just be hitting that final processing phase now. Have you checked if your account transcript shows any recent updates?
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Oliver Becker
I've been helping folks with tax issues for years, and this season seems particularly slow for early-mid February filers! Last week I saw a huge batch of 2/5-2/10 filers finally get updates. My sister filed 2/9 and got her DD date yesterday for 3/26. My neighbor filed 2/7 and got his refund this morning. The system seems backed up but they're working through it. If you don't see movement by this Friday, that's when I'd start getting concerned. The Friday update seems to be the big one lately!
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