You need to act NOW rather than waiting for that notice! This is much more urgent than people realize. Compared to other verification issues, ID verification can delay your refund by 9-12 weeks if not addressed immediately. I've seen cases where people waited for the letter and ended up with their returns being suspended entirely, requiring them to refile. At minimum, you should try to get through to the dedicated Identity Verification line at 800-830-5084 rather than the general IRS number. If you can verify now, you might get your refund in 2-3 weeks, whereas waiting could push it into July or August.

SUCCESS UPDATE! After reading all your advice, I finally got through and completed my verification! Here's what worked: • Called the specific ID Verify number (800-830-5084) not the general line • Called at 7:02am exactly when they opened • Had ALL my documents ready: last 2 tax returns, W2, divorce papers, SSN card • Asked specifically for ID verification specialist • Stayed super polite even when frustrated The agent confirmed my identity and said my refund should process within 9 business days! Such a relief after 3 months of stress. Thanks everyone for your help!

I filed on February 3rd this year and got the identity verification request on February 12th while my transcript still showed N/A. After completing verification on February 13th, my transcript updated on February 22nd, and I received my refund on February 26th. The key dates to watch for are the 'As of' date on your account transcript and the cycle code once it appears. Those will tell you exactly when your weekly processing occurs.

You know what they say - the IRS works in mysterious ways! 😂 But seriously, don't stress about this. The verification is actually a good sign that your return is moving through the system. If they weren't processing it at all, they wouldn't bother with verification. The transcript updates and WMR status often lag behind what's actually happening with your return. Just complete the verification and be patient for about 2 weeks - the updates will start flowing after that.

Did you claim any other credits besides EITC? I'm wondering if having multiple credits changes how the PATH Act message appears.

I work at a tax preparation office, and I've noticed this pattern with early filers this year. About 30% of our clients who filed before January 20th with EITC didn't get the PATH message but still had the expected delay. One interesting case: a client filed January 17th with identical circumstances to someone who filed January 25th. The later filer got the PATH message, the earlier one didn't, but they received their refunds on the exact same day in February. The messaging system seems inconsistent, but the actual processing follows the same timeline regardless.

Be careful about assuming everything is fine. On January 25, 2023, I filed electronically and had a similar 'no return filed' message. I waited until February 28th before taking action, and discovered my return had been rejected on January 26th due to an AGI verification issue. The rejection notice went to my spam folder, and by the time I resubmitted, I had missed the deadline for a business tax credit. The IRS doesn't always proactively notify you when there's a problem - as of March 15, 2024, I'm still dealing with the fallout from last year's issue.

Can you check if your return included any special forms or schedules? For example, I had a client who filed on January 31st with a Schedule C, Form 8949 for crypto transactions, and Form 8962 for premium tax credits. His transcript showed nothing for 24 days, then suddenly appeared complete. Some forms trigger additional verification processes that aren't visible to us as taxpayers.

I used Claimyr on February 15th after trying to call the IRS for two solid weeks without success. It cost me $24.99 but saved me literally hours of frustration. The agent confirmed my amended return was in the system despite nothing showing on my transcript until March 23rd. Sometimes paying a small fee to save hours of your life is completely worth it.

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.3.4.6.1, amended returns require manual processing by IRS employees, which significantly extends processing timeframes. Per the current IRS operations page, amended returns filed in 2024 are experiencing delays of 20+ weeks rather than the standard 16 weeks outlined in Publication 556. Transcript visibility typically occurs after initial intake processing, approximately 3-4 weeks after acceptance.