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According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.4.1.3, "Where's My Refund" tool errors can occur during batch processing updates. Have you tried checking your tax transcript instead? Per IRS guidelines, PATH Act reviews should be completed within 45 days of February 15th, though most are resolved much sooner. What was the last status you saw before the error appeared?
Error message today? Might be good. System updating? Try again tomorrow. Filed early? Should process soon. PATH delay normal. Error could mean money coming.
According to the latest data from the IRS (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/filing-season-statistics), the average refund this year is about $3,011, and most direct deposits are being issued within 21 days. Credit Karma's advance is essentially a no-fee bridge loan, which is rare in financial products. One thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned: if you're eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, your refund will be delayed until at least mid-February due to the PATH Act regardless of when you file. In those cases, an advance might make more sense since there's a mandated delay.
Let me share my cautionary tale from 2022. I took the Credit Karma advance, got $1,500 on their card, and then my actual refund was adjusted down by the IRS due to a math error. CK had already given me the advance based on my expected refund, so when the actual refund came in $800 lower, they still took back the full advance amount from what the IRS sent. I ended up owing them the difference, which they eventually wrote off, but it created a big headache. Just remember that if anything changes with your refund amount after you take the advance, it can create complications.
I've been tracking IRS processing patterns for several years, and here's what I can tell you about your situation: ⢠Early-season filers (Jan 29-Feb 10) are currently seeing 17-23 day processing times ⢠Returns without dependents are processing 30% faster on average ⢠Transcript updates often lag 1-4 days behind actual refund issuance ⢠The WMR tool updates more frequently than transcripts during peak season ⢠Gig worker returns with multiple 1099s but no complex deductions typically fall in the "standard" processing timeline Based on your January 31st filing date, I'd expect your refund to arrive between February 17-24, potentially before your transcript shows any update. This is completely normal and matches the patterns we're seeing this tax season.
Same thing happened to me. Transcript didn't update. Refund showed up anyway. IRS systems don't talk to each other well. Nothing to worry about. Check your bank account daily. That's more reliable than transcripts this time of year.
I might be able to provide some insight, though I'm not an expert by any means. My return was stuck in "preparing" for about 18 days, which was making me pretty nervous since I'm trying to catch up on some bills. From what I understand, the IRS is dealing with staffing shortages and a larger than usual volume of returns this season. When I finally got through to someone on the phone (took several attempts), they explained that my return was selected for a random review - nothing was wrong, just part of their fraud prevention measures. The agent mentioned that many returns are taking the full 21 business days (not calendar days) to process this year, and some are taking even longer. So it's possibly normal, but definitely frustrating when you're counting on that money.
Just wanted to share a positive outcome - I was in exactly your situation three weeks ago! Filed in early March, stuck on "preparing" for 17 days straight. I was checking WMR obsessively every morning. Then suddenly last Tuesday, it jumped straight to "refund approved" and the money was in my account the next day. No explanation for the delay, no interim status updates. My theory is that they batch process certain returns, especially during peak season. So hang in there - sometimes these things resolve themselves without any action needed on your part. The system is definitely backed up right now with the April rush, but it's still working... just slowly.
GalacticGuardian
Have you considered what your transcript might look like if you were to check it tomorrow? The weekly update patterns are fascinating when you analyze them closely. Your cycle code 20240704 indicates you're on the weekly update schedule, which typically updates overnight between Thursday and Friday. The last digit '4' is the key identifier here. What's particularly interesting about your situation is the gap between your 'as of' date (02/19) and your 570 code date (03/04). This suggests the IRS computer system flagged something for review, but the actual review might not have started until March 4th. Did you claim any credits that might trigger additional verification? Or perhaps the filing status change from your divorce triggered a verification step? Either way, without a notice, this is likely just part of their normal verification process rather than something requiring your intervention. The good news? Most 570 codes without notices resolve within 1-2 weekly cycles.
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Dmitry Smirnov
TC 570 followed by TC 571 is the standard sequence for many returns this year. I successfully navigated this exact situation in February. My transcript showed a 570 dated 02/12/2024 with cycle code 20240605. Exactly 9 days later, it updated with a 571 (release of hold) and an 846 (refund issued) code. The key indicator was that no notice was issued - this signaled an automated verification rather than an actual problem. The IRS has implemented enhanced verification protocols for returns with filing status changes (like post-divorce returns) and certain credits. The system automatically places a hold (570), verifies the information through internal databases, then releases the hold (571) once verification is complete. Check your transcript tomorrow - with cycle code 20240704, you're on the Thursday night/Friday morning update schedule. Most likely you'll see either continued processing or the 571 release code.
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