Idk if this FedNow thing is legit tbh. Been waiting 9 days since my WMR updated w/ the "5 days early" msg. Nothing yet!! Called my bank 2x and they don't see ANY pending deposits. Cross River isn't even responding to emails. Seems like just another way to get our hopes up for nothing. Anyone ACTUALLY received $ through this system yet this yr?? Need this $ ASAP for car repairs!!

Isn't it interesting how the IRS can tell us we'll get our money "5 days early" but then can't actually deliver on that promise? Why even give us that notification if they can't control when the funds are actually released? I've been through this rodeo before, and honestly, the Cross River Bank/FedNow system does work - but only after the IRS actually releases the funds. The real issue isn't with Cross River or FedNow, it's with the IRS processing times. Have you checked your tax transcript to see if there are any codes that might explain the delay?

Think of your tax return like a package in the mail system. Right now, your package has been accepted at the post office (the acceptance confirmation), but it hasn't been scanned at the regional distribution center yet (transcript update). Sending a second package (paper return) won't make the first one arrive faster - it just creates confusion about which package to deliver. The transcript database and the processing system are separate, like how the USPS tracking system is separate from the actual delivery trucks. Sometimes your package is already on the truck even when the tracking hasn't updated. January filers are starting to see mass updates now as the IRS works through the backlog. The system often updates in batches, so you might go from nothing to a complete transcript overnight.

I might be able to provide some insight based on my experience from last year. I filed on January 23rd, 2023, and had essentially the same situation - accepted but no transcript data and WMR showing only the first bar. I possibly made a mistake by sending a paper return on February 20th, thinking it would help. What actually happened was that the e-filed return processed normally on March 2nd, but then my paper return created a duplicate filing issue that took until July to resolve. The IRS had to manually review both returns, verify they were identical, and then suppress the paper return from processing. It definitely, definitely delayed my refund by several months.

The 2-24-25 date is almost certainly a Transaction Date Code anomaly. The IRS maintains separate databases for return acceptance, processing, and refund issuance, and they don't always synchronize correctly. What's concerning is that your processing date moved from March to April. This could indicate your return has been selected for the Integrity Verification Operation (IVO) review, which is a fraud prevention measure. I'd recommend monitoring your transcript for a TC 420 code, which would confirm this theory.

Check account transcript. Not return transcript. Look for code 150. That's your return processed date. Check for 846 code. That's your refund issued date. Future date is normal. System quirk. Don't panic. Watch for updates weekly.

I'm a bit cautious about these "early refund" features. It's kind of like those payday loan places that give you money a few days early but with hidden fees. Sometimes they're actually refund anticipation loans that can come with interest charges if you read the fine print. Not saying that's what happened in your case, but it's like ordering an expensive drink and not checking the price until the bill comes.

Navy Federal is great. They do this every year. It's not a loan. It's actual direct deposit. I got mine yesterday too. No fees involved. Just early access. Same thing happens with paychecks. Very reliable. Been with them for 10 years.

According to IRS Publication 1345 (Rev. 2-2023), tax preparers who offer Refund Transfer products must provide clients with a method to verify fee payment status. Liberty Tax satisfies this requirement through their MyLiberty portal under Section 7216 compliance guidelines. I successfully verified my fee payment by downloading my Liberty Tax receipt from the Documents section of MyLiberty. The document clearly showed my preparation fees ($189), filing fees ($44.95), and the date payment was processed. Their system is fully compliant with IRS requirements.

For anyone dealing with this issue in the future: always keep copies of your fee agreements. Unlike H&R Block or TurboTax which have transparent fee tracking, Liberty's system is less intuitive. Their customer service improves dramatically after April 15th. If you're filing next year, consider asking about their fee tracking options before choosing them as your preparer. Most importantly, calculate your expected refund amount before fees so you can verify if the correct amount was deducted.