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I don't want to be that person, but cycle codes aren't always reliable indicators. Last year I was cycle 05 and waited 9 weeks for my refund while everyone else seemed to get theirs in 3 weeks. The IRS told me they were "just backed up" but then I got a letter requesting additional verification. Would have been nice if they'd told me that when I called! š Sometimes these codes mean something and sometimes they're just random numbers to make us think there's a system, lol.
While I understand the frustration, cycle codes actually do have specific meanings within the IRS processing system. Cycle 05 indicates Thursday processing, which is different from cycle 01 (Monday) or cycle 03 (Wednesday). Compared to previous years, the current processing times are actually running more efficiently for most filers, though independent contractors often face additional verification steps. Your experience last year with the verification letter is unfortunately common, but the system itself is quite structured - just not always transparent to us on the outside.
I waited too long to call about this exact situation last year and regretted it. My 'as of date' kept changing for 8 weeks! When I finally reached someone, it turned out they needed a simple verification that could have been handled in 5 minutes if I'd called earlier. Have you checked if your address on file matches exactly what you submitted? Even small differences can trigger these review codes.
According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, Transaction Code 0605 indicates 'Additional Liability Pending/Unassessed Tax.' This appears when the IRS system has flagged your return for potential adjustment or review. The changing 'as of' dates indicate processing timeline extensions within the Integrated Automation Technologies system. This is standard procedure when certain verification protocols are triggered, particularly common with military families who have multiple state filings or overseas income considerations. Your return remains in the normal processing queue, albeit with additional verification steps.
Based on your Cycle Code 04 and the 846 refund issued date, you're exactly on the standard IRS processing timeline for non-complex returns. The Direct Deposit Date (DDD) shown on your transcript with code 846 is the official date the Treasury will release the ACH payment to your financial institution. The Automated Clearing House (ACH) typically processes these transactions within 24-48 hours, though weekends and holidays can extend this timeframe. Your bank's funds availability policy will determine when you can access the money after they receive it.
I'm so happy for you! š I was in the exact same boat last year - filed January 25th, accepted January 27th, and got my 846 code showing February 23rd deposit date. I was checking my bank account literally every hour! The money actually hit my account on February 22nd around 3pm. I was so relieved because I had been stressing about it for weeks! The waiting is the hardest part, but you're almost there! Just one more week to go!
Be careful with planning your finances around the exact date. On February 12th this year, I had a similar situation with an 846 code and DDD of February 15th, but my credit union didn't post the deposit until February 16th. Some banks hold IRS deposits for an extra day for verification purposes. Just something to keep in mind if you're cutting it close with bills due on the 14th.
I've been tracking IRS deposit patterns for exactly 3 years now, and I've noticed that the 846 date is accurate for 97.2% of direct deposits. The only exceptions I've seen were during holidays or weekends. Since March 14th is a Thursday, you should receive your deposit either on that exact date or potentially 1 day earlier if your bank processes government deposits early (like Chime or Capital One sometimes do). The WMR tool updates exactly 24-72 hours after transcript changes in most cases.
Keisha Jackson
Have you tried pulling your Account Transcript instead of just the Return Transcript? Sometimes the Account Transcript will show pending actions even when the Return Transcript is blank. I waited exactly 67 days last year for my business return to process, and the Account Transcript showed codes 570/971 for weeks before anything appeared on my Return Transcript. The IRS is currently processing returns filed on January 29th according to their operations page, so your February 5th filing is still within their processing window. I'd give it precisely 14 more days before taking additional action.
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Paolo Romano
Isn't it interesting how the IRS expects immediate payment from us, yet takes their sweet time processing our returns? I've been through this rodeo many times with my business returns. What you're experiencing is unfortunately normal, especially for business returns with Schedule C or Form 1120-S components. The real question is: have you received any mail correspondence from them? Often they'll send verification requests while the transcript still shows nothing. The system is designed to keep us in the dark, but don't worry - your return isn't lost, just working its way through their byzantine processing system.
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