According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1.4, the 846 code indicates that the refund has been scheduled but not necessarily released. Per IRS Publication 5486, when a taxpayer elects to have fees deducted from their refund, the funds follow a specific path: Treasury → Third-Party Processor → Financial Institution → Taxpayer account. Treasury regulations require each entity to process within 24 hours of receipt, but weekend and holiday delays can extend this timeline. In my case last year, my 846 date was 3/15, SBTPG updated on 3/17, and funds were in my account on 3/18.

I think we've all been through the SBTPG waiting game at some point! From what I've seen in this community over the years, it seems like their system usually updates within about 48 hours of your transcript showing the 846 code, but sometimes it can take a bit longer, especially if your DDD falls around a weekend. I wouldn't worry too much yet - having both WMR and your transcript showing the same DDD is usually a pretty reliable sign that everything is on track! 😊

I received my verification letter on March 15th after filing on February 23rd. Exactly 20 days. I verified online that same day, and my refund was approved on March 29th with direct deposit hitting my account on April 3rd. The letter had very specific instructions about going to the ID.me verification portal. Make sure you have a smartphone handy because they required a selfie verification when I did mine.

Got mine last week after waiting about a month! The whole process was actually pretty smooth once I had the letter. I was worried because last year I had issues with my stimulus payment verification and it was a nightmare. This time I verified online using the 14-digit code, and my transcript updated within 48 hours showing my refund was processed. My advice is to check your mailbox daily - the envelope looks pretty plain and could be mistaken for junk mail!

I maintain a comprehensive timeline database of IRS processing patterns each year, and this is absolutely typical for the current filing season. The Transcript Database Integration (TDI) often lags behind the Return Processing Pipeline (RPP) by 21-35 days during peak volume periods. My analysis of 142 early filers this season shows that returns submitted between February 1-15 are experiencing an average 28-day delay before transcript visibility, regardless of refund status. I wouldn't be concerned until you reach the 45-day mark without transcript updates.

Think of your tax return like checking luggage at the airport. The "accepted" message is just the baggage tag being printed - it's in the system but hasn't even been loaded onto the conveyor belt yet. Your transcript showing nothing is like the tracking app not showing your luggage location - it doesn't mean your luggage is lost, just that it hasn't been scanned at a tracking point yet. I filed on February 5th, transcript showed nothing until March 2nd, then suddenly everything appeared at once and my refund was deposited on March 8th. The system is like a pipeline that's completely full - things only move when something comes out the other end.

States are overwhelmed this year. Budget cuts. Staff shortages. New systems. I called my state four times. Got different answers each time. One rep told me they're prioritizing returns by filing date. Another mentioned they batch process certain types of returns. Very confusing.

Here's what's happening with state returns this year based on my research: States are implementing additional identity verification steps that weren't used in previous years. For example, if you have investment income like you mentioned, many states are now cross-referencing those amounts with third-party reporting which adds 2-3 weeks to processing. When you called, check exactly what department you reached - if it was collections saying "you don't owe anything," that's different from the refund department confirming your return is processing. Try this specific approach: call early morning (8:00-8:30am) and specifically ask for the "refund status department" rather than general inquiries. Ask them to check if your return is in the regular processing queue or if it's been flagged for additional review.

Holy tax code, Batman! 🦇 I had NO idea this was a thing! Been sitting here for 3 weeks refreshing WMR like it's social media. Called this morning after seeing this post and guess what? Yep, needed to verify! The agent said they don't even send notices about this anymore. Just quietly hold your refund hostage until you call them. Tax season: 10/10 for drama, 0/10 for communication.

While verification can resolve some cases, be aware that calling can sometimes create additional delays. In the 2023 filing season, I observed multiple instances where taxpayers who called unnecessarily had their returns flagged for additional review due to the contact. The IRS authentication protocols sometimes trigger secondary reviews when verification is attempted for returns not actually requiring it. Proceed with caution and only call if your return has been in processing status for more than 21 days.