I'm not convinced calling actually helps speed anything up. In my experience: • Most agents just read the same information you can see online • They rarely have visibility into the verification review process • The 9-week timeline is deliberately conservative • The system works on automated queues that calling doesn't affect I've gone through verification twice in recent years, and both times my refund came between 3-4 weeks without any intervention. I think patience is honestly the best approach here.

Look, I know everyone's saying to be patient, but let me be straight with you - the 9 weeks is just the IRS covering themselves. I verified my ID on March 2nd and had my refund on March 22nd. Just 20 days. My neighbor waited 6 weeks. My coworker waited 2 weeks. There's no rhyme or reason to it that I can figure out. The military status might help, but don't count on it. Just plan for the worst (9 weeks) and hope for the best (2-3 weeks).

The 5071C verification process you underwent is part of the IRS's Taxpayer Protection Program (TPP), which is distinct from their Identity Theft Victim Assistance (IDTVA) program. TPP cases are processed through the Return Integrity Verification Operation (RIVO) and typically resolve much faster than true identity theft cases. Your timeline of verification-to-DDD is consistent with current RIVO processing metrics for the 2024 filing season. The medical changes you mentioned likely triggered the Dependent Database (DDb) scoring threshold, but since you verified successfully, you avoided the more intensive Automated Questionable Credit (AQC) review process.

For anyone else dealing with identity verification, the IRS has actually streamlined the process for 2024. They've added more appointment slots at TAC locations and improved their online verification system. If you receive a 5071C letter, you now have three options: verify online through ID.me, schedule an in-person appointment, or call the dedicated TPP hotline. The in-person route has been consistently the fastest based on data from this filing season. Also, bring both the requested documents AND your tax return information to your appointment - many people forget the latter and have to reschedule.

Here's what you need to do: 1. File Form 1040X for tax year 2021 to claim the enhanced Child Tax Credit - you have until April 15, 2025. 2. For the stimulus payments, you would have needed to claim those on returns for tax years 2020 and 2021. The deadline for 2020 was April 15, 2024, but you might qualify for an exception if you can show reasonable cause. 3. You'll need to provide documentation that your ex-spouse did not claim the child in those years. Request tax transcripts for your child using Form 4506-T. 4. If your ex truly hasn't filed since 2018, you're legally entitled to claim the child and all associated credits as long as the child lived with you for more than half the year. Don't wait any longer - the deadline for 2021 amendments is approaching.

Just to clarify something important - when you say your ex hasn't filed since 2017/2018, did you verify this through the IRS or are you just assuming? It's like assuming your car is out of gas when the gauge is broken - you really need to check. The IRS won't just take your word that your ex didn't claim the child. You need to request a wage and income transcript for the child's SSN to confirm no one claimed them for those years. Do this ASAP because if the deadline passes, it's like watching money float down the river that you can never get back.

Have you verified your transcript on the IRS website? Sometimes the Where's My Refund tool shows different information than what's actually in your account transcript. According to the IRS website, the transcript will show a transaction code 846 with the correct refund method and date. Might be worth checking to confirm if it really is being mailed.

I had the EXACT same thing happen to me in February. Selected direct deposit, had a partial offset for back child support, and suddenly my refund changed to a paper check. Called the IRS and they said once the Bureau of Fiscal Service processes an offset, they sometimes can't use the same direct deposit information for security reasons. The annoying part? The check actually arrived 4 days BEFORE the "mail by" date they gave me on WMR. So there's a chance you might get it earlier than expected.

I might be in the minority here, but I would suggest maybe holding off on calling the IRS just yet. In my experience, calling too early sometimes leads to them just telling you to wait longer anyway. I've seen cases where people who filed around your time suddenly had everything update all at once this past week. If you do decide to call though, be prepared with all your documents and specific questions, as they tend to be more helpful when you can point to exact issues.

My return was stuck like yours - filed 2/7, no movement until last Friday. It was like watching paint dry on a rainy day. Then BOOM - transcript updated, WMR changed, and refund hit my account Monday morning. The IRS system is like a black box where your return disappears for weeks then suddenly emerges fully processed. My advice: set up direct deposit alerts with your bank rather than checking WMR. The technical explanation is that your return is likely in the pre-assessment verification queue, which happens before transcripts even generate. Hang in there!