I've been through this exact situation with Credit Karma last year. My transcript showed a March 30th DDD but I actually got my deposit on March 28th around 11am. What I've learned from years of tax seasons is that no two experiences are identical - I've seen people with the same DDD get deposits up to 3 days apart. The IRS sends these in batches, and then each financial institution has their own policies about when they release the funds. Credit Karma is generally faster than traditional banks, but there's still variability even among CK customers.

Based on my experience with Credit Karma over the past few tax seasons, you should expect your refund to hit around March 26th or 27th. I've had a March DDD three times with CK and it's always been 1-2 days early. Last year my March 25th DDD actually deposited on March 23rd around 2pm. For your medical appointments, I'd suggest scheduling them for March 27th or later just to be safe. While CK is typically faster than traditional banks, there's always a small chance of processing delays. The good news is that March DDDs have been pretty consistent this year from what I've seen in the community. One tip: if you have the CK mobile app, turn on push notifications for deposits. That way you'll know the moment it hits your account rather than constantly checking your balance!

OMG same boat! DDD 3/24, H&R Block, Emerald Card, and still nada. I finally checked my tax transcript using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it showed my refund was actually sent but there's some kinda hold on H&R Block's end? The site explained all the codes on my transcript and showed my refund was def processed and sent by IRS. Helped me figure out it's not an IRS issue but prob just H&R Block being slow af with processing.

Has anyone noticed if direct deposits to regular bank accounts are processed faster than these prepaid cards? It's like the difference between express shipping and standard - wondering if I should switch methods next year if Emerald Card is consistently slower than direct deposit to a traditional bank.

I experienced this exact scenario during the 2022 filing season. The IRS system flagged my Emerald Card deposit due to a Treasury Offset Program verification. My transcript showed code 971 followed by 846 with paper check indicator. The check arrived exactly 19 days after the 846 date on my transcript. If you're concerned about timing for your quarterly estimated payment, you might consider making a partial payment through EFTPS.gov using other funds, then amending the payment once your refund arrives. The IRS generally waives underpayment penalties if you pay at least 90% of your quarterly obligation by the due date.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed with H&R Block using my Emerald Card for direct deposit, but my refund status just switched to paper check yesterday. I checked my transcript like others suggested and sure enough, there's a 971 notice code followed by an 846 with paper check indicator. What's really frustrating is that I used the same Emerald Card last year with zero issues. Has anyone figured out if there's a pattern to which accounts are getting flagged? I'm wondering if it's related to the amount of the refund or specific tax forms used. Really need to plan around this 2-3 week delay everyone's mentioning since I have some bills due soon.

OMG this verification stuff is SO frustrating! 😤 I've been researching this extensively and found that the IRS is flagging WAY more returns for verification this year! Apparently there's been a huge spike in tax identity theft, so they're being extra cautious. I'm super curious - did your letter have a 5071C code on it? That specific verification type seems to be taking longer than the 4883C letters. Either way, hang in there! Most people I've talked to are getting their refunds about 3-4 weeks after completing verification.

I'm dealing with a similar verification situation right now - filed early February and just got my letter yesterday. One thing I've learned is that the IRS has definitely ramped up their identity protection measures this year, especially for early filers. For anyone still waiting, here are a few tips that helped me navigate this: • Keep checking your online IRS account - sometimes the verification option appears there before the letter arrives • If you call, have your prior year AGI and filing status ready - they'll ask for these to verify your identity • Document everything - dates you called, reference numbers, what agents told you The waiting is brutal, but from what I'm seeing in various tax forums, most people are getting their refunds 2-4 weeks after completing verification. Thanks for sharing your timeline - it really helps to know others are going through the same thing!

Has anyone considered the fact that waiting just ONE MONTH would save potentially tens of thousands in taxes? I mean, I get the builder incentives might be good, but are they $15-20k good? Seems crazy to rush into a potentially big tax bill for a slightly better interest rate.

You might want to check if your move qualifies for a partial exclusion under the "unforeseen circumstances" provision. The IRS allows partial exclusions for moves related to health, employment changes, or other qualifying unforeseen circumstances. Moving closer to your kids could potentially qualify if it's for caregiving purposes or other family-related reasons that meet the IRS criteria. Even if you don't qualify for any partial exclusion, remember that you can add your selling costs (realtor commission, title fees, etc.) directly to your cost basis to reduce the capital gain. On a $415k sale with typical 6% realtor fees, that's about $25k in selling costs that reduce your taxable gain. Also, don't forget to include any capital improvements you've made since 2021 - new appliances, flooring, HVAC work, etc. These all increase your basis and reduce your gain. Keep all your receipts organized. Given the potential tax savings of waiting one more month versus the builder incentives, I'd run the actual numbers on both scenarios. Sometimes those builder rate buydowns are worth more than the tax hit, especially if you're planning to stay in the new home long-term.