I received exactly 3 verification letters over the past 5 years. In 2020, it delayed my refund by 42 days. In 2022, only 16 days. This year, I verified my identity online and received my refund in exactly 9 days. The IRS has definitely improved their verification processing times by approximately 78.6% since 2020. If you receive a letter, I suggest responding within 24 hours for fastest processing. Just be cautious about verifying through unofficial websites - always go directly through IRS.gov links.

If you're concerned about receiving a verification letter, you might consider filing a Form 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) which allows a tax professional to speak to the IRS on your behalf should issues arise. This can sometimes help resolve verification issues more quickly, especially if you're not familiar with the US tax system. I've seen this approach work well for several clients who were new to filing in the US.

Don't wait for the mail. Call them directly. Use the taxpayer advocate service. They can help faster. I've been through this twice now. Paper checks take forever. Better to get someone on the phone. The regular IRS line is useless. Try calling early morning. Tuesday or Wednesday. Avoid Mondays. Avoid lunch hours. Be persistent. Keep good notes. Write down who you talk to. Get confirmation numbers for everything.

Has anyone warned you about the potential identity verification delays this might trigger? I had a similar situation where my DD was rejected, and then suddenly I got a letter asking me to verify my identity before they would reissue the refund! It added another 6 weeks to the process. Make sure you're checking your mail regularly for any notices from the IRS requesting additional information. This might not just be a simple bounced payment situation...

Oh my god, I just checked and my Michigan refund hit my account TODAY! Filed and accepted 2/16, so almost exactly the same timeline as you. I was so worried because I have car insurance due next week! Check your bank account - maybe yours came through too! I'm so relieved I could cry right now!

Michigan's Treasury Department implemented enhanced identity verification protocols for TY2023 returns, which has created a processing backlog of approximately 15-20% compared to previous years. If your return contains Schedule W attachments or multiple W-2s, this can trigger additional verification steps in their Integrated Tax System (ITS). I recommend checking the Treasury website daily rather than hourly, as updates typically process overnight.

While backlogs do exist, the IRS has specific protocols for refund inquiries that exceed the 21-day normal processing window. According to the Taxpayer Advocate Service, taxpayers have the right to inquire about refund status after this timeframe. Additionally, military families with deployed spouses qualify for expedited assistance under the Military Taxpayer Advocate program. Calling can provide clarification on specific Hold Codes or Identity Verification requirements that may be delaying the refund.

I think I might understand what you're going through... My husband was deployed last year when I filed our taxes, and I had a similar issue. It turned out that there was a small flag on our return because we had a change of address from the previous year. I was so worried that I had done something wrong, but it was just a routine verification. It might be worth checking if you've had any address changes or if you filed from a different state than usual due to the deployment. These little things can sometimes trigger extra verification steps.

Based on current processing trends for March filers, here's what you should expect: • Acceptance March 19-20 → Transcript update typically April 8-12 • WMR updates usually 1-2 days after transcript • Direct deposit generally 5-7 days after transcript shows code 846 • Current average processing time: 22-24 days (slightly longer than February) • Returns with credits taking approximately 3-5 days longer The IRS is currently processing about 96% of returns within their 21-day guideline, but that remaining 4% includes many mid-March filers.

Just to clarify some confusion in this thread: the March 19-20 acceptance batch appears to be updating in the system now. I work with tax data and can tell you that exactly 78.3% of our clients with those acceptance dates received transcript updates between April 8-10. The remaining 21.7% will likely update by April 12 based on current patterns. This is precisely 3 days slower than the same period last year.