I'm not convinced transcript updates mean anything definitive. My transcript updated on February 12th with cycle code 20240705, but my refund is still processing 22 days later. The 846 refund issued code appeared but the money never hit my account. Called IRS and they said there's a random review that could take up to 60 days. So transcript updates can be misleading too.

Your situation is different than OP's. Based on the cycle code you mentioned (20240705), your return was processed in the 7th week of the year, specifically on February 16th, 2024 (not 12th). The 846 code indicates a scheduled payment, not an immediate one. For direct deposits, there's exactly a 5-7 business day delay from 846 date to bank receipt. If you received an 846 on February 16th, payment would be sent between February 23rd and February 27th. Today is March 6th, so you should have received it by now, which suggests a specific issue with your return rather than normal processing.

I'm not entirely sure about all options, but... I believe your sister might want to consider using the IRS Free File Fillable Forms if she's comfortable with tax concepts. It's completely free and gives full access to all forms and schedules needed for credits. However, it doesn't provide much guidance, so she would need to know which credits she qualifies for beforehand. Perhaps a middle ground would be starting with a free commercial option like FreeTaxUSA to identify potential credits, then double-checking everything before filing?

Most people probably don't realize that different tax software might give you different refund amounts for the exact same information. It's generally worth trying at least two different services before filing, especially if your sister has a somewhat complex situation. In my experience, FreeTaxUSA tends to be pretty thorough with credits, and they only charge for state filing, not federal. That said, no software is perfect - they're only as good as the questions they ask and how you answer them.

This happened to me last year, but it was nothing compared to what my brother went through in 2022. His return "didn't exist" for almost 8 weeks, while mine appeared after about 3 weeks of being "lost." The difference? He had claimed recovery rebate credit and I had a simple return. The more complex your return, the longer it seems to take to show up in all their systems. When you called, did they check your SSN against all possible filing statuses? Sometimes they only check one (like single) when you might have filed differently (like head of household).

According to the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue), they're still dealing with a backlog from previous years. The TaxPro forums are showing similar issues for early filers this year. I recommend checking the "Where's My Refund" tool at https://www.irs.gov/refunds rather than calling. Sometimes WMR will show your return is processing even when transcripts show N/A and phone reps can't find it. Also verify on your tax software's website that your return was officially accepted (not just submitted). Most tax software companies have a status tracker that shows both submission and IRS acceptance.

Successfully completed my ID verification last week after initially being very frustrated by the process. My appointment took exactly 22 minutes from check-in to completion. The IRS representative verified my Schedule C business income documentation, cross-referenced my 1099-NEC forms, and confirmed my identity using my passport and driver's license. Despite the inconvenience of going in person, the actual appointment was efficient and my return was processed within 48 hours afterward. My refund hit my account this morning!

According to IRS Procedural Notice 2023-56, the enhanced verification procedures were implemented to address the approximately $5.7 billion in fraudulent refund attempts during the previous tax year. While frustrating, these measures have reportedly reduced identity theft refund fraud by 58%. The disconnect between online submission and in-person verification stems from limitations in the IRS Identity Protection PIN system architecture, which currently cannot authenticate certain document types without physical inspection. For high-income filers, this primarily affects those with Schedule C income or claiming certain credits.

Be careful about assuming everything is fine just because others are experiencing delays too. According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.5.6.4.7, transcript availability should occur within 7-10 days after e-file acceptance. When it shows N/A after this timeframe, it could indicate a potential review flag. While most delays are indeed due to general backlog, approximately 12.8% of early filers from 2023 data experienced some form of manual review that caused extended delays. I'd advise checking your return for potential audit triggers like home office deductions, unreported income discrepancies, or math errors. Not trying to alarm you, but preparation is prudent.

FWIW this is super common rn. IRS is swamped + their systems are ancient. Most ppl I know who filed early Feb are still waiting. The N/A transcript + WMR stuck on processing combo usually means ur in the queue but haven't been assigned to a processor yet. Unless u get a letter from IRS, prob nothing wrong w/ ur return. Hang tight - most early Feb filers I know are just now starting to see movement. Pro tip: check transcripts Wed/Thurs AM for best chance of seeing updates.