I was in the exact same situation on March 15th last year with my Credit Karma advance. The TPG status stayed on "unfunded" for almost 5 days after my WMR showed approved. Everyone else I knew had already updated to funded. I totally understand how stressful it is - I remember checking constantly! The community wisdom seems to be that Credit Karma advances specifically have longer processing times with TPG than other banks. Hang in there, it's probably just working through their system!

There's actually some additional information about this specific issue on the TPG help center. They're experiencing a synchronization delay with Credit Karma advances due to an API update that happened last week. Have you tried calling their automated status line instead of checking online? Sometimes the phone system has more updated information than the website. What date did your WMR change to approved? And does your transcript show code 846 with a direct deposit date?

Based on my experience last filing season, there's another factor to consider: the IRS has different types of ID verification letters. In 2023, I received a 5071C letter which required verification, but there are also 4883C, 5747C, and 6331C letters that all involve identity verification but have slightly different procedures. Looking back at my records from February-March 2023, the 5071C letter took exactly 11 days to arrive, which was faster than I expected. If you're facing a 43-day wait, something is definitely wrong.

Instead of waiting for the letter, you might want to try scheduling an appointment at your local Taxpayer Assistance Center. I did this when my verification letter never showed up. You'll need to call 844-545-5640 to schedule the appointment, but once you're there, they can verify your identity in person. Bring multiple forms of ID (passport, driver's license, social security card) and copies of your tax returns for the current and previous year. This resolved my issue in one visit without having to wait for mail delivery.

I understand the frustration with TPG, but there's actually a reason they're involved in the process. When you choose to have your tax prep fees taken out of your refund, TPG acts as the intermediary to make that happen. The IRS doesn't handle that fee processing directly. Have you checked if your tax preparer has any alternative ways to check your refund status? Sometimes they have access to different systems than what's available to us. Also, did you try accessing the site during non-peak hours? I've found 5-6am or late at night (after 11pm) often works better when their servers are overloaded.

I've been tracking TPG outages for the past three tax seasons using downdetector.com and their reddit community. This appears to be their third major outage this season, with previous ones on February 2-3 and February 28-March 1. According to several online resources, they're experiencing higher than normal volume this year due to increased e-filing rates. In my experience, their system usually updates overnight between 12am-4am EST. I've had success accessing the portal around 5:30am when most users aren't active. If you're using TurboTax, you can also check your order details page which sometimes shows refund status independent of the TPG system.

What you're experiencing is likely a result of the somewhat unusual timing in the ACH network processing schedule. TPG probably received what's called a "pre-notification" of incoming funds, which is essentially a heads-up that money is in transit. In most cases, though not all, these pre-notifications are indeed followed by actual deposits within 24-48 hours. I would suggest, perhaps, checking your bank account around mid-day tomorrow, as many financial institutions process incoming ACH transfers in batches throughout the business day.

Dealing with TPG is like trying to get a straight answer from a magic 8-ball sometimes. Last year they told me my refund was coming "tomorrow" for THREE DAYS IN A ROW. The money was basically stuck in financial purgatory between TPG and my bank. Each blamed the other. If I were you, I wouldn't count on that money until it's actually in your account. TPG is just the middleman taking a cut of your refund for the convenience of letting you pay your tax prep fees later. They're not exactly rushing to get your money to you - it's like expecting the toll booth operator to help you get to your destination faster.

I think we should be careful about making major purchases until the money is actually in our accounts. I've seen cases where the status changed or there was an unexpected delay. Usually it's fine, but it's better to wait until you can actually see the funds before spending them. I'm planning to put most of mine toward paying down some debt, but I'm waiting until I see the actual deposit before making any payments.

Mine said funded yesterday. Got it today! At 2am. Woke up to the notification. Paying off my credit card. Then saving the rest. First time getting a decent refund.