I believe I might be able to provide some helpful insight. I successfully navigated this exact situation about 3 weeks ago. After completing the online verification, I received an email confirmation, and approximately 12 days later, my tax transcript updated showing that processing had resumed. It seems that, in most cases, the online verification is sufficient, though there may possibly be certain circumstances where additional phone verification is necessary. My refund was deposited exactly 17 days after my transcript updated, which was a pleasant surprise given the typical processing timelines we often hear about.

Has anyone actually read these verification letters closely?! They're SUPER clear about whether you need to call OR verify online! I got so frustrated with this last year. The letter will say one of these things: 1. "Verify your identity online OR by phone" (either option works) 2. "Verify your identity online AND call the number below" (need both) 3. "Call the number below to verify your identity" (phone only) Look at your exact letter wording. 90% of these letters are type #1 where online verification is completely sufficient. The IRS isn't going to waste their limited phone resources if they don't have to!

It appears there might be some confusion between the temporarily expanded Child Tax Credit from 2021 and the current version. For tax year 2024 (filing in 2025), the Child Tax Credit is generally $2,000 per qualifying child under 17, though this could potentially change if Congress passes new legislation. The credit may be partially refundable up to $1,600 per qualifying child, depending on your earned income. California doesn't currently offer a state-level supplement to the federal CTC, although there are other California-specific credits you might qualify for, such as the Young Child Tax Credit if you have children under 6 and qualify for CalEITC.

Quick q - are you asking about monthly CTC pmts like we had during COVID? Those aren't happening rn for 2024. The current CTC is $2k per kid under 17, and you'd get it when you file your taxes (not in advance). Cali doesn't have its own version of CTC, but def look into CalEITC and Young Child TC if your income qualifies. Btw, has your refund been delayed or are you just planning ahead?

I had a similar situation last month. Here's what I learned: 1. SBTPG updates to "funded" when they receive money from IRS 2. They then process the payment to remove tax prep fees 3. They initiate an ACH transfer to your bank 4. Your bank then processes the incoming ACH The trace number is internal - you won't see it. What a relief when I finally understood this! Mine took exactly one business day after showing funded. If your bank processes same-day ACH (many do now), you might see it today. Otherwise, tomorrow morning is likely.

According to the SBTPG FAQ page (https://www.sbtpg.com/FAQ), once your account shows as funded, the money has been received from the IRS and is being processed for disbursement to your bank account. The trace number is an internal reference not visible to customers. Most major banks process these transfers within 1-2 business days, though some credit unions may take longer. If you have online banking set up with alerts, I'd recommend setting up a deposit notification rather than constantly refreshing. The SBTPG customer service portal also has a message center where you can check for any holds or verification requirements.

I think there's another approach worth considering that's helped me get consistently fast refunds. Instead of focusing on when to file, I've found that how you file makes a bigger difference. For the past three years, I've used professional preparation services rather than DIY software, and my refunds (with EITC/CTC) have arrived within 14-21 days regardless of filing date. Yes, I paid a bit more upfront, but the peace of mind and faster access to my money was worth it. My tax preparer explained that professional software includes additional compliance checks that reduce the likelihood of delays.

I... um... might have some insight here. I've been tracking my refund timing for the past 5 years, and I noticed a similar pattern. In 2022, I waited until March 1st to file (instead of my usual January filing) because I was waiting for a corrected 1099. To my surprise, I received my refund in just 9 days, even with EITC. So for 2023, I purposely waited until February 22nd, and again - refund in 12 days. I think there might be something to your theory, though I'm hesitant to say it's guaranteed. Perhaps the verification systems are less congested by mid-February?

Last year I had a similar situation with the 570 code and missing wage transcript. I waited patiently thinking it would resolve itself, but after 6 weeks I discovered my employer had reported my wages under an incorrect SSN. The verification process caught this, but I wish I had been more proactive. Once I contacted my employer and they submitted a correction, it took another 3 weeks to process. If I had addressed it earlier, I would have received my refund much sooner. Don't make the same mistake I did by assuming the system will fix itself.

I'm currently on day 42 with a 570 code. My wage transcript finally appeared on day 35, and 2 days later I got a 571 code (release of hold). The IRS was verifying my income because I had exactly $24,650 in gig work income this year alongside my regular W-2. They wanted to make sure all my 1099s were properly reported. My refund was deposited exactly 5 business days after the 571 code appeared. The verification added exactly 37 days to my processing time compared to last year.