Have you checked whether your return had different elements than your husband's? Like did one of you claim education credits or have self-employment income while the other didn't? I've noticed that compared to my friends with simple W-2 income, my returns with Schedule C always get extra scrutiny and verification steps. Could that explain the different treatment?

This happens more than you'd think. The community wisdom on verification letters: • Respond to verification letters IMMEDIATELY • Use the exact method they specify (online, phone, or mail) • Have all requested documents ready before starting • Take screenshots/notes of your verification completion • Check your transcript 4-5 days after verifying • Expect 9-21 days for processing after verification I'm still surprised how many people don't realize that married couples filing separately are treated as completely independent taxpayers by the IRS systems!

I got my second verification notification through the IRS2Go app. It appeared as an alert. This was unexpected. Most people don't know this option exists. The app notification came five days after my first verification. I completed it online immediately. My refund processed within a week after that. No letters needed. No phone calls required. The digital process was efficient.

Check the IRS verification requirements page (https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification-for-irs-letter-recipients) regularly! I verified once through ID.me and thought I was done. Didn't check my spam folder for THREE MONTHS. Found a second verification letter there that was already expired. Had to start my entire return processing over from the beginning. Lost my place in the processing queue. According to the IRS Operational Status page, they're currently processing returns from early March while I'm now back at the end of the line.

Is anyone else concerned that this verification process might automatically trigger an audit for the unfiled year? I've read that Form 5071C is specifically for identity verification, but couldn't this review process lead them to examine why you didn't file for 2023? Especially with business income involved, wouldn't they question the non-filing status?

I went through this last year and it was nowhere near as complicated as people make it sound. I hadn't filed in 2022 because I was overseas, then filed in 2023 and got the verification letter. Called in, answered some questions about my old addresses and previous refund amounts, and was done in 15 minutes. Refund came three weeks later. The IRS just wants to make sure it's actually you filing.

I was in this exact situation last month! According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), system maintenance doesn't affect processing - just your ability to check status. My refund was approved during a period when the WMR tool was down for nearly 24 hours. I only found out when I got the direct deposit notification from my bank. So keep an eye on your account too!

You might want to try checking your account transcript instead of the WMR tool. It's usually a bit more reliable, though somewhat harder to interpret. The WMR tool is essentially just a simplified interface that pulls from the same database, but it seems to update less frequently, possibly to reduce server load during peak times. I believe they prioritize actual processing over updating the status tools.

Are you checking account transcript or return transcript? Big difference. Account transcript shows processing. Return transcript just shows what you filed. Many people check wrong one. I made this mistake too.

Let me walk you through what's happening and what to expect: Step 1: When you e-file, your return is assigned a submission ID and acknowledged in the WMR system (this is what you're seeing). Step 2: Your return enters initial processing where it's checked for basic errors and identity verification. During this phase, it won't appear in transcripts yet. Step 3: Once initial verification is complete (typically 7-21 days after filing), your return enters the main processing queue and will start appearing in transcripts. Step 4: When transcripts become available, look for Transaction Code 150 - this means your return has been processed. Then watch for codes 806 (tax withheld), 826 (prior payments), and ultimately 846 (refund issued). Since you filed on 3/16 and it's a first-time single filing after previously filing jointly, I'd expect your transcript to become available between 3/30-4/6. If nothing appears by 4/10, then it might warrant further investigation.