Check your bank account directly. Sometimes the money shows up there before WMR updates. I've seen it happen multiple times. Also try calling the tax advocate service instead of regular IRS customer service. They have more power to help in cases like yours where there's been a significant delay.

This happened to me too. Message changed suddenly. Got my refund exactly one week later. No warning. Just appeared in my account. System is weird this year. Lots of verification issues. But message change is good. You're in the final stretch now. Hang in there.

Has anyone checked if the payment might have been offset to pay a federal or state debt? Sometimes these payments can be intercepted for things like back taxes, student loans, or child support arrears. The transcript would still show it as "issued" even though it was applied to another debt. Worth looking into the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) as a possibility here. Have you received any notices about offsets or do you have any outstanding federal/state debts that could have claimed this payment?

I should perhaps mention that there's a specific timeframe for requesting a payment trace, which might be relevant to your situation. For direct deposits, you need to wait at least 5 days from the scheduled deposit date before initiating a trace. For mailed checks, you should wait 4 weeks. However, since this payment was from 2023, you're well beyond those waiting periods. One other detail worth noting is that the IRS may have issued your payment as a debit card rather than a check or direct deposit for some of these credits. These cards came in plain envelopes that many people unfortunately discarded thinking they were junk mail. If that's what happened, you can still request a replacement card if you can verify your identity with the issuing bank.

Compared to filing during tax season, August filing actually has some advantages. The IRS is less overwhelmed now than in February-April when everyone's filing at once. My partner filed in March and waited 6 weeks, while I filed in July and got my refund in 4 weeks. The key difference is checking your transcript rather than WMR - the transcript updates more frequently and shows actual processing stages. If you don't see any updates by September 20th, then you might want to take additional steps.

You need to act quickly! According to the IRS.gov processing timeline page (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), even late-season returns should show some processing activity within 3 weeks. Since you're approaching that window, I'd recommend checking your transcript online immediately at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript. If your transcript shows code 570, you may have an issue that needs addressing before processing can continue. Don't wait for a letter - sometimes they get lost or delayed.

Just want to point out some additional considerations for the MFS vs MFJ decision: • State tax implications can differ from federal - some states have different rules • MFS can protect one spouse from tax liability issues of the other • If you're separated but not divorced, MFS might be your only option • Some means-tested benefits look at tax filing status • MFJ requires both spouses to agree and sign Have you already determined which would save you more in your situation?

The community wisdom on this is pretty consistent: run the numbers both ways before deciding. Most tax software allows you to calculate both scenarios before finalizing. In my experience, MFJ is better for about 95% of couples, but those 5% where MFS works better usually see SIGNIFICANT benefits that make it worthwhile. What's your specific concern about filing jointly vs separately?

I would be somewhat cautious about assuming this will resolve automatically. In my experience, which may differ from others, the IRS systems don't always communicate perfectly between departments. There's a possibility, though not a certainty, that your case might need additional verification before a new check is issued. The most concerning issue I've seen is when people move during this process - the IRS might try to send the replacement check to your old address if that's what's on file. It might be worth updating your address formally with Form 8822 if you've moved recently, just to be safe. The reissuance process typically takes about 6-8 weeks, but I've seen it take as long as 12 weeks in some cases.

Been thru this b4. Here's the lowdown: BFS (Bureau of Fiscal Service) returns $ to IRS. IRS then has to reprocess. Usually takes 4-6 wks from when BFS confirms recovery. U might see codes on ur transcript: TC 841/846 (new refund issued) after a TC 740 (check cancellation). Pro tip: If u don't see movement after 4 wks, call IRS but use extension 623 when prompted - gets u to the check reissue dept faster. Also, for future ref, consider direct deposit or getting ur refund loaded onto a debit card to avoid mail theft. GL!