Let me break down what's likely happening with your return: 1. First, returns with EIC and CTC are subject to the PATH Act, which prevents refunds before mid-February regardless of filing date. 2. Second, international filers receive additional scrutiny through the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) verification process. 3. Third, the IRS uses a scoring system called the Discriminant Function System (DIF) to assess return complexity, and international returns typically score higher. 4. Fourth, you should check your transcript for TC 570 (refund hold) and TC 971 (notice issued) codes, which might not appear on WMR. 5. Finally, if it's been more than 45 days since you filed, you may be entitled to interest on your refund per IRC Section 6611.

I'm in the same boat. Filed February 1st. International income. EIC claimed. Got my refund last week finally. Called IRS three times. No issues found. Just slow processing. Money arrived without warning. No transcript updates until after deposit. Hang in there.

I think it might be helpful to note that there may be some processing delays this year due to the new reporting requirements and system updates. I've been monitoring several tax forums, and it seems that returns filed in the first two weeks of the season might be taking a bit longer than usual to process. Perhaps the IRS is being more cautious with early returns to ensure their systems are working properly before ramping up to full capacity.

I filed on February 3rd and I'm still waiting for any update. My transcript hasn't changed since February 10th when it first showed received. Last year I filed on February 5th and had my refund by February 19th. The year before I filed on January 31st and had my refund by February 14th. This is definitely taking longer than previous years! Has anyone who filed around February 3rd received their refund yet or at least gotten a DDD?

There's a critical timing factor here that might explain what happened. The IRS implemented enhanced automatic verification protocols on February 29, 2024, and began retroactively applying them to returns filed earlier in the season. Your filing date of February 15th puts you in exactly that window. The April 8th verification date aligns perfectly with the third batch of retroactive verifications they processed between April 5-10. This is likely why you weren't contacted - your return was part of a batch verification process rather than an individual manual review. I've seen this pattern with several clients who filed in mid-February.

Just wanted to share my success story that sounds very similar to yours: • Filed: February 12th • Called IRS: April 2nd • Was told: "Needs verification but already verified on March 25th" • Refund deposited: April 9th I was equally confused about how I was verified without doing anything, but I didn't question it! The refund showed up exactly 15 days after that mysterious verification date. So based on my experience: • You should see your refund around April 23rd • No action needed from you • This is apparently a normal process Hope this helps ease your mind a bit!

Word of warning: don't rely too heavily on past cycle patterns! I was a consistent 05 (Friday) cycle for THREE YEARS, then suddenly switched to 02 this year with no warning. 😅 I spent weeks checking on Saturdays wondering why nothing was updating. Finally checked mid-week and boom - there were all my updates! The IRS works in mysterious ways, like that weird uncle who might give you $5 or a half-eaten sandwich for your birthday. You just never know what you're gonna get!

I've been tracking cycle codes for the past five tax seasons. In 2020, I was cycle 01. In 2021-2022, I switched to cycle 05. Last year and this year, I'm back on cycle 02. Based on my experience and IRS processing patterns, cycle codes are assigned based on processing center workload and return complexity. Weekly cycles typically process refunds faster than daily cycles. If you've had 03 in the past, check your transcript on Thursdays, but don't be surprised if it's different this year. The IRS redistributes workload annually based on staffing and processing center capacity.

It might be worth checking if your bank possibly has the deposit pending already. Sometimes, at least in my experience, the funds can be in a sort of processing limbo where SBTPG has sent them but they're not fully available in your account yet. Many banks have a feature to view pending deposits that might post in the next 1-2 business days. Also, if you're possibly expecting a fairly large refund, some financial institutions may place a brief hold for security reasons.

I got my refund last week through SBTPG. IRS approved it Tuesday morning. Money showed on SBTPG Wednesday afternoon. Hit my bank Thursday. Don't stress - it's moving through their system. The tracking tool is garbage and updates after you already have the money. Just watch your bank account instead.

I should caution that while the wording change might indicate progress, it may not necessarily mean your refund is imminent. The IRS systems sometimes update status messages without actual movement in processing. It would be prudent to continue checking your transcript daily, preferably in the early morning hours when the system typically updates. If you don't see any change by next week, you might want to contact the IRS again for clarification.

Back in 2022, I had almost the exact same timeline as you, and I remember how the status changed from "STILL being processed" to "IS being processed" right before I got my DDD. Instead of constantly checking WMR, I found it more helpful to set up alerts with my bank for any incoming deposits. That way I wasn't driving myself crazy checking multiple times a day. Another thing that helped was checking my transcript around 3-4am EST on Fridays when the weekly updates typically happen. Most people who verified their identity like you did end up getting their refunds, it just takes a bit longer than the advertised 21 days.

I think I figured out a workaround that might help us track progress even when transcripts show N/A. Here's what I did: 1. Instead of checking Return Transcript, check Account Transcript 2. Look for any 2024 entries (even if they're not related to your refund) 3. If you see ANY 2024 activity, it means your return is in the system 4. Check for code 570 (indicates processing delay) or 971 (notice issued) I filed Jan 31st and my Return Transcript shows N/A, but my Account Transcript shows my return was received. It's not much, but at least confirms they have it. Has anyone else tried this approach to see if it works for them?

I was in the exact same situation - filed January 30th and was stuck with N/A transcripts for weeks while watching later filers get processed. According to IRS Publication 5344, the IRS uses a multi-batch processing system that occasionally creates processing anomalies for specific submission date ranges. Last Thursday, my transcript suddenly updated and my refund was deposited yesterday! No explanation for the delay, just suddenly processed. If your return has been accepted (confirmed by your tax software), it's almost certainly just in their backlogged queue. The good news is they seem to be working through our batch now, so I expect many of you will see movement this week.

I dealt with this same verification issue this year. Here's exactly what worked for me: 1. I received my verification letter on February 18th 2. Called the number on the letter that same day 3. Answered all their security questions (have your previous tax return handy!) 4. Agent confirmed my identity over the phone 5. Was told to wait 9 weeks for processing 6. Transcript updated after just 3 weeks 7. Refund deposited 4 days after transcript updated The key was calling rather than mailing back the form. Phone verification is processed much faster in my experience.

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.

Has anyone who filed with dependents received their refund yet? Last year when I claimed my son, I remember it took about 3 days longer than my coworker who had the same DD date but didn't have dependents. Just wondering if that's still happening this year?

If you're still waiting, the IRS2Go app updates more frequently than the website according to the IRS.gov FAQ. Also, transcripts usually update overnight on Thursdays, so you might see movement there before WMR shows anything.

WARNING: Be extremely cautious with relying on SBTPG's estimated deposit dates. According to IRS Pub. 1345, they're required to disburse funds within one business day, but their Terms of Service (section 5.3) actually gives them up to 5 business days to process your refund. Last year, my deposit date was March 15th, SBTPG received my funds on March 14th, but I didn't see the money until March 21st. When I called, they cited "additional verification procedures" as required by Regulation Z of the Truth in Lending Act. They can essentially hold your money with minimal explanation. I recommend checking their portal twice daily and documenting everything.

Just to clarify something that often causes confusion: SBTPG isn't actually part of the IRS or your tax preparation company - they're a completely separate financial institution that processes refund transfers. When you opted to pay your tax preparation fees from your refund, you essentially authorized SBTPG to receive your refund, deduct their fees (plus the tax prep fees), and forward the remainder to you. This is different from getting a direct deposit straight from the IRS. In comparison, direct deposits from the IRS typically arrive on the exact date shown on your transcript, while refunds through SBTPG can take 1-3 additional business days after that date.