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.

I've tracked NJ processing times for exactly 6 years now. This season is actually 4.2 days FASTER than last year for e-filed returns. The average processing time is 28.7 days for simple returns and 41.3 days for returns with credits/deductions. Out of 112 data points from my tax preparation clients, 87% received their refunds within the expected window. The remaining 13% had verification issues that required additional documentation. The system is actually working as designed - it's just designed to be frustratingly slow.

Just to clarify something important here - what OP experienced is specifically for NJ state refunds, not federal IRS refunds. The processing systems are completely separate. I work with tax clients and see this confusion often. New Jersey has its own Division of Taxation with different processing timelines than the IRS. Back in 2022, I had a client who waited 7 weeks for their NJ refund but got their federal in 10 days. Another got federal in 6 weeks but NJ came in just 2 weeks. There's no correlation between state and federal processing speeds.

According to the IRS Refund Cycle Chart available on igotmyrefund.com, deposits with a DDD of 3/13 typically follow the standard 8-day processing cycle. The IRS usually transmits the funds to financial institutions 1-2 days before the DDD, but most banks hold them until the official date. Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase typically release exactly on the DDD, while some credit unions and online banks like Chime or Cash App might release 1-2 days early. The 846 code is the final step in the process and means your return has cleared all verification steps. Barring any last-minute offsets, you should be good to go!

I had a DDD of 3/6 and was counting on it for my car insurance payment. Transcript showed 846 code, everything looked perfect, but then my bank held it for 24 hours for "verification" because it was over $5,000. Not the IRS's fault, but something to be aware of if you have a large refund coming. Some banks place automatic holds on government deposits over certain thresholds, especially if you don't usually receive large deposits. Might want to call your bank ahead of time to ask about their policy on tax refund deposits to avoid any surprises.

Instead of waiting for WMR to update, I've had better luck checking my account transcript directly on the IRS website. The cycle codes tell you exactly when your return is being processed. For example, if you see cycle code 20240905, the 09 means it processed on the 9th week of the year, and the 05 means it's in the Thursday overnight cycle. Your deposit usually comes 5-8 days after that date. Much more accurate than the WMR tool.

Similar timeline here! My experience: • Filed 1/31 • Accepted 2/2 • WMR stuck on first bar for 6 weeks • No letters received • Called IRS on 3/8 after transcript showed 570 code • ID verified over phone • DDD appeared 4 days later The agent mentioned they're requiring more verifications this year due to increased fraud attempts. Glad you finally got your DDD!