I'm curious - did any of the IRS representatives specifically mention the need for identity verification? Or did they just say you were under review? There's an important distinction between the two processes.

This is such a frustrating situation, and I completely understand your rollercoaster analogy! I went through something similar last year and the waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking. From what I've learned, the 570 code with a 3/4 date means your refund is on hold as of that date. The key thing to watch for is whether you get a 971 code on your transcript - that usually indicates a notice was generated and mailed to you. If you haven't received any letters requesting identity verification (like the 5071C letter), then you're likely just in the standard review queue. The "random selection" is usually their fraud detection algorithms flagging something - could be income changes, new deductions, or even just bad luck. My advice: give it another week or two for any potential letters to arrive, then call the main IRS number to get clarification on exactly what type of review you're under. The wait is brutal, but most of these resolve within 6-8 weeks from the 570 date. Hang in there!

I filed 3/25 and my transcript updated this morning with a DDD of 4/8, so that'll be 14 days total. I claimed EIC too, so I was surprised it moved so quickly. I think they're catching up on the backlog from earlier in the season.

Filed 3/29 here and still showing "received" on WMR. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like there's really no rhyme or reason to the timing this year! Some getting it in 8 days, others taking the full 21. I have a pretty straightforward return - just W-2 and standard deduction, no kids or credits - so hopefully I'll be on the faster side. Thanks for sharing your timelines everyone, it helps to know I'm not the only one obsessively checking every morning!

Question about the TFSA distribution - if I closed my account and transferred everything to a US account like OP did, do I need to report this on Form 3520 every year going forward, or just for the tax year when I made the transfer? I'm thinking about doing the same thing to simplify my tax situation.

I went through a very similar situation with my Canadian TFSA last year and can confirm what others have said about the extension. Form 4868 does automatically extend Form 3520 to October 15th - you don't need to file a separate extension form. For your specific TFSA situation, the IRS generally treats Canadian TFSAs as foreign trusts (unlike RRSPs which have treaty exceptions). Your $28,000 distribution in January 2024 would likely need to be reported on Form 3520 as a distribution from a foreign trust. The good news is that if you're filing under extension, you have until October 15th to get everything sorted out. One piece of advice - consider getting professional help with this if the amounts are significant. The Form 3520 penalties are severe (the greater of $10,000 or 35% of the trust distributions), so it's worth making sure you get it right. The complexity of foreign trust reporting combined with the harsh penalty structure makes this one area where professional guidance often pays for itself.

wait we're supposed to check our transcripts? where do you even do that lol

This is such a relief to hear! I've been seeing so many horror stories about 971 codes that I automatically assumed the worst when mine appeared yesterday. Thanks for sharing the positive outcome - gives me hope that mine might just be a routine adjustment too. Did you get any indication on your transcript about what caused the increase?

Watch out for scammers during this waiting period! I had someone call me claiming to be from the IRS saying they could "expedite" my paper check for a fee. Total scam! • Never pay anyone who claims they can speed up your refund • The IRS never calls about refunds without sending a letter first • Don't give personal info to anyone who calls claiming to be IRS • The only legitimate way to check status is through irs.gov/refunds My paper check took 23 days after bank rejection. No way to speed it up despite what scammers claimed.

I went through this exact situation in January! My bank rejected the direct deposit due to a closed account, and I was stressed about the timing too. Here's what actually happened: • Day 1: Bank rejection occurred (I found out through my bank app) • Day 3: Where's My Refund updated to show "refund sent to bank" changed to "processing" • Day 12: Status updated to "refund mailed" with a date • Day 16: Check arrived in my mailbox Total time was 16 days from rejection to receiving the physical check. The IRS customer service rep I eventually reached (after a 2-hour wait) told me 2-3 weeks is standard, but mine came on the earlier side. Pro tip: Keep checking Where's My Refund daily - it will update with the exact mailing date once your check is processed, which helps with planning. Also double-check that your current address matches exactly what's on file with the IRS! Hope this helps with your contractor expense planning - 16-23 days seems to be the realistic range based on recent experiences shared here.