Has anyone else noticed that the 'Where's My Refund' tool is about as useful as a chocolate teapot? 🍫☕

I totally feel your frustration! I'm in a similar situation - filed in January and got that dreaded 60-day review letter in March. It's now been way longer than 60 days and I'm still waiting too. The worst part is not knowing WHY they're reviewing it or what they need from me. From what I've learned lurking in forums like this, the IRS is massively backlogged and those 60-day letters are basically just buying them more time. Some people are waiting 6+ months even after getting that letter. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to wait this long for our own money back! I've been checking the "Where's My Refund" tool obsessively but it just says the same thing every time. At this point I'm considering reaching out to my local congressman's office since I heard they can sometimes help expedite things when the IRS is being unresponsive for this long. Hang in there - hopefully we'll both get some answers soon! 🤞

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Filed in late January, had to verify identity in person at the IRS office in early March, and just got that same "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message with Tax Topic 152 this week. My transcripts are still completely blank too. Reading through all these comments is actually really helpful - sounds like we're both making progress even though it doesn't feel like it. The fact that multiple people are saying 1-3 weeks for transcript updates after this message gives me hope. I've been checking daily but I think I need to follow the advice here and just check weekly on Fridays. Thanks for posting this - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one dealing with this frustrating situation. Hopefully we both see movement soon! 🤞

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed in early February, had to verify identity in person at the IRS office last month, and just got that same "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message with Tax Topic 152 yesterday. My transcripts are still completely blank too which has been driving me crazy. It's actually really reassuring to read all these responses - sounds like this is a normal part of the process after identity verification and that we should see transcript updates within the next few weeks. I've been obsessively checking every day but I think I need to take the advice here and just check weekly on Fridays. The waiting is so stressful when you're depending on that refund money, but it seems like once things start moving after this message, they move pretty quickly. Fingers crossed we both see some movement soon! Thanks for sharing your experience - it helps to know we're not alone in this.

Has anyone been able to get their amended returns processed faster by visiting an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person? I've heard mixed things about whether this actually helps or if they just tell you to keep waiting.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation as an international student! Filed incorrectly in 2020 using TurboTax before my 5-year waiting period was up, sent in my 1040X amendment in April 2021, and it's still showing "received" status with no progress. What I've learned from calling the IRS multiple times is that international student amendments often get routed to specialized processing units that have much longer backlogs. The agents I spoke with said these cases require manual review because of treaty benefits and residency status changes, which is why they take so much longer than regular amendments. For your 2022 filing, definitely go ahead and file normally based on your original 2021 return (not the amended version). I did this for my 2021 and 2022 returns while my 2020 amendment was still pending, and it didn't cause any issues. The IRS processes each year separately, so the pending amendment won't block your current year filing. One tip that actually worked for me: when you call the IRS, specifically ask to speak with someone in the "International Individual Processing Unit" rather than general customer service. They're much more knowledgeable about F-1 student tax issues and can give you better information about your case status.

Its literally easier to break into fort knox than get an IRS agent on the phone these days smh

I feel your pain! Here's what finally worked for me after weeks of trying: Call the Practitioner Priority Service line at 1-866-860-4259. You don't need to be a tax pro to use it - just say you're calling on behalf of yourself. They answer way faster than the main lines. Also, if you have a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, try walking in with an appointment. Sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get real help. Good luck! 🤞

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1.3(1), the 846 code indicates a refund issuance, while 971 refers to a notice or correspondence. Per IRM 5.19.1.4.10, when you have an outstanding tax liability, the IRS is authorized under IRC § 6402(a) to offset your refund to satisfy the debt, which appears to be what happened in your case. The February 25th date on the 846 code indicates when the refund was issued (after any applicable offsets), and the March 10th date on the 971 code indicates when they'll send formal documentation of this transaction. This is standard procedure when the IRS applies refund offsets to satisfy existing tax liabilities.

I just went through this exact scenario last month and can confirm what others are saying. The 971 code is basically the IRS saying "we're sending you paperwork" and the 846 is "money is coming your way." Since your 846 date was 2/25, you should check your bank account - the refund might already be there (minus whatever you owed). The timing makes perfect sense too - they process everything first, send the money, then mail you the explanation letter. It's like ordering something online and getting the package before the shipping confirmation email! One thing to watch for: the amount next to your 846 code will show exactly how much they sent you after taking out what you owed. So if you were expecting $1000 back but owed $200, the 846 should show $800. The 971 notice will just be a letter breaking down those numbers for your records.