I work with tax professionals, and we've noticed a distinct pattern with in-person verifications this season. The IRS implemented a new verification protocol in January 2024 that requires multi-level authentication for in-person visits. While this enhances security, it creates a processing delay of approximately 9-12 business days for the verification flag to clear. The notification disappearing doesn't necessarily correlate with processing status - I've seen cases where refunds were issued while the notification was still active.

I might be overreacting, but I would perhaps consider calling them if it doesn't update within about two weeks or so. My brother-in-law waited almost a month thinking it was processing normally, but it turned out his verification wasn't properly recorded in their system. The IRS representative told him it happens occasionally when they're overwhelmed with in-person verifications during peak season.

I moved here from Australia in 2022 and had similar confusion! What worked for me was going to a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center instead of calling. You need to make an appointment first at 844-545-5640, but I got WAY better help in person than I ever did on the phone. The lady who helped me spent almost an hour explaining everything I needed to know about filing as a new resident.

Pro tip from someone who's been dealing with the IRS for years: Always ask for a reference number at the end of your call. That way, if you need to call back, you can reference the previous conversation. Saves you from having to re-explain everything and gives your case some continuity. The 800-829-1040 number is correct, but document EVERYTHING they tell you.

Check your transcript. Online account helps. Shows processing status. CP02 means identity verification. Normal procedure. Need patience. Try calling early morning. Better chances getting through. Keep checking WMR tool daily.

The CP02 is specifically part of the IRS Identity Protection Program, not an audit or review of your dependents. Have you verified your identity through the ID.me portal? Many taxpayers don't realize that until you complete that verification, your return won't continue processing. The IPPP (Identity Protection PIN Program) has expanded significantly in the last two years, and many legitimate returns are being held for verification as a precaution.

Here's what you need to know about student loan offsets in 2024: • The COVID-era protections that paused offsets officially ended in September 2023 • The "Fresh Start" program gave some borrowers a chance to exit default, but had deadlines • California residency doesn't protect against federal tax refund offsets • You can check your offset status by calling the Treasury Offset Program at 800-304-3107 • If you're married filing jointly, your spouse can submit Form 8379 (Injured Spouse) • Loan rehabilitation takes 9 months of on-time payments but can stop future offsets • Consolidation is faster (about 30 days) but doesn't help with offsets already in process Time is critical with these situations - each option has different timelines and impacts.

Instead of waiting to see if they take your refund, you might want to consider putting your refund on hold temporarily. You can file your taxes but request a hold on the refund by submitting Form 8379 even if you're not technically eligible for injured spouse relief. This buys you time to call the Default Resolution Group at 800-621-3115 and start loan rehabilitation. Once you make your first rehabilitation payment, ask them for a letter confirming you're in the program, then you can request the hold on your refund be released. This worked for me in 2022 when I was in a similar situation.

According to IRS Publication 5348, refund status updates can temporarily revert during the final verification process. If your refund was scheduled for today, I recommend checking your bank account directly rather than relying on the TurboTax tracker. Many financial institutions post deposits throughout the day, not just in the morning. If nothing appears by tomorrow, you can request your tax transcript online through the IRS website which will show the exact status with action codes.

This happened to me last year and I nearly had a heart attack! I was checking my account every hour like a crazy person. The status went back to pending around 6am, but the money actually hit my account around 3pm that same day. TurboTax never updated the status again - it still showed pending even after I had the money. Their tracking system isn't perfect, especially during high volume periods.