Try checking transcript at night. IRS systems update overnight. Different databases. WMR updates first. Transcript updates later. Normal process. Check account transcript. Not return transcript. Different information. Be patient. Peak filing season creates delays. Independent contractors often face additional verification. Nothing to worry about yet.

Last year I had the same thing happen - accepted February 12th, WMR said processing, but transcript showed nothing for weeks. I kept checking daily and driving myself crazy! Then I learned about cycle codes and processing patterns. Turns out my return got stuck in the identity verification queue even though I never got a letter. When I finally called on day 35, they asked me to verify my identity and then processed my return within 48 hours. The lesson I learned is that sometimes there ARE issues that need addressing but the IRS notification system doesn't always work properly.

I had almost the exact same situation but found a solution! Filed Jan 28th, rejected Feb 1st, refiled Feb 2nd. After 10 days of nothing, I contacted my tax preparer who suggested I check my return for common errors. Did you verify that your AGI from last year matches exactly what the IRS has on file? Did you double-check that your names match your social security cards exactly? What about your bank account info for direct deposit?

I'm probably just being paranoid, but I waited about 14 days for acceptance after resubmitting my rejected return. It seems like the IRS might be doing somewhat more thorough checks on resubmitted returns, especially for newly married couples filing jointly for the first time. There's possibly a verification process that happens behind the scenes that we don't see. In my case, everything worked out fine eventually, though the waiting was definitely stressful.

Let's be clear - the PATH Act isn't some conspiracy. It was a bipartisan bill that made permanent several tax provisions while adding fraud prevention measures. The IRS processes over 150 million returns annually, and fraud in EITC/ACTC claims alone costs billions. The February 15th hold gives them time to match W-2 data with claimed credits. For investors, it's actually beneficial because it helps maintain the integrity of the tax system overall.

According to Internal Revenue Code §6402(m), as established by the PATH Act amendments, the IRS is prohibited from issuing refunds before February 15th for returns claiming EITC or ACTC. However, there is an alternative processing pathway for taxpayers with investment income who don't claim these credits. Have you considered filing Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation) if only one spouse qualifies for the credits? This might allow partial refund processing outside the PATH Act restrictions.

Just a word of caution from someone who's been through this: make sure you're checking the official state website for your refund status. According to the IRS.gov site, there are several scam websites that mimic state tax department sites and try to collect your personal information. For Arizona specifically, you'll want to use https://www.aztaxes.gov and look for their "Where's My Refund" tool. You'll need your SSN, filing status, and refund amount to check. Also, be aware that many state systems only update once per day (usually overnight), so checking multiple times per day won't show different results. This is different from the federal system which can sometimes update throughout the day.

I actually just went through this exact PATH Act situation and got my refund last week! Filed January 18th, transcript showed nothing until February 21st, then suddenly everything updated at once. My refund was deposited exactly 8 days after my transcript updated. My state (California) processed completely separately and actually came through about 10 days before my federal refund. The systems are totally independent - I had to check two different websites to track each one. Have you checked your state tax agency's website yet? They should have their own tracker similar to the IRS Where's My Refund tool.

H&R Block takes their fees from federal returns. They do this because federal returns are usually larger and processed through their central system. State returns are handled differently and they avoid taking fees from them unless absolutely necessary. If you're concerned about this, you can always ask them directly before completing your filing. They should be able to tell you exactly how the fees will be handled in your specific case.

Most of us here have found that H&R Block takes fees from federal refunds, not state. In my 7 years using them, they've always taken exactly $139.99 from my federal return and left my state refund untouched. The consensus seems to be that this is their standard practice, though as others have mentioned, there might be exceptions if your federal refund is delayed or too small to cover their fees. The smartest approach is to just ask them directly when you're filing - they'll tell you exactly which refund will be affected.