I need to caution you about something important. On March 12th, 2024, I was in an identical situation - WMR showing processing but transcript showing nothing. I assumed it was normal and waited. By April 2nd, I discovered my return had been flagged for identity verification, but I never received the letter (which was apparently mailed on March 15th). This delayed my refund by an additional 9 weeks. If you don't see transcript movement by March 25th (7 weeks after filing), I strongly recommend contacting the IRS to verify there are no holds on your account that require action from you. The system doesn't always notify you properly when there's an issue.

I'm currently going through the exact same thing and wanted to outline the steps I've taken so far: 1. Filed and accepted on February 3rd 2. WMR showed "processing" for 3 weeks 3. Checked transcript - showed "no return filed" 4. Called IRS main number on February 28th (couldn't get through) 5. Checked transcript again on March 7th - finally updated 6. Refund deposited on March 12th The key thing I learned is that the transcript update is often the last step before your refund is approved. Have you checked your transcript again today? Sometimes they update overnight and you might see movement.

Let me clear this up for you. Yes, it still goes through SBTPG. The free edition only means you don't pay for tax preparation - it has nothing to do with how the advance works. When you take an advance, you're essentially taking a loan that gets repaid when your actual refund arrives. SBTPG is the middleman that handles this transaction. They front you the money now, then intercept your refund later to recoup their costs. This happens regardless of which edition you used or where your final deposit is going. It's all about the advance, not the software version.

Here's what you need to do: • Create an account on SBTPG.com using the same info from your tax return • Track your refund there AND on the IRS Where's My Refund tool • Call SBTPG directly at their customer service if nothing shows up after your WMR says refund sent • Consider opting out of advances next year - they're convenient but add complexity • Remember that "free edition" just means free preparation, not free financial products The advance is essentially a loan against your expected refund, so yes, it MUST go through the third party regardless of which edition you used.

I was in exactly your situation last year. Filed January 22nd with two dependents, got accepted January 23rd, then nothing happened until March 1st. Meanwhile, my sister who filed February 10th without dependents got her refund on February 20th. The PATH Act creates this weird situation where filing earlier can actually mean waiting longer compared to simple returns filed later.

Here's what's happening with your return, step by step: 1. Your return was accepted on January 21st and entered the processing queue 2. Because you claimed dependents, it falls under PATH Act provisions 3. The IRS cannot release refunds with certain credits until after February 15th 4. After February 15th, your return enters the regular processing queue 5. Tax Topic 152 simply means you're getting a refund, not that there's an issue 6. The one bar on WMR means your return is in the system and processing 7. Many PATH Act returns don't update on WMR until just before deposit 8. Current processing time for PATH Act returns is averaging 4-6 weeks after February 15th This is completely normal. No need to worry unless you receive a specific notice from the IRS or your WMR shows an error message.

The TC 152 on WMR is actually a Transaction Code indicating normal processing. Your return is likely in the Return Processing Pipeline (RPP) but hasn't yet reached the Transcript Database Integration (TDI) phase. This is a normal sequence during peak filing season when the IRS is processing high volumes. Have you verified that your e-file was accepted with a formal acknowledgment code? That's the most critical confirmation at this stage.

Maybe try checking your Account transcript instead of your Return transcript? Sometimes the Account transcript will update first and show that your return was received, even when the Return transcript still says N/A. It might be worth a look, if you haven't tried that already. I think a lot of us get anxious during tax season, especially when we're counting on that refund.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can request an installment agreement with Michigan directly. Under their Fresh Start initiative (similar to the IRS program), taxpayers with balances under $5,000 can often qualify for streamlined installment agreements with minimal documentation requirements. This would allow you to keep your federal refund intact while addressing the state liability over time. The interest rate Michigan charges (currently 5.65% annually) is often lower than credit card rates, making this a potentially viable option if you need the refund for other purposes.

From my experience with a similar situation, here's what typically happens compared to other scenarios: 1. State tax debts move slower than federal ones 2. Michigan typically sends 3-4 notices before taking serious collection action 3. You usually have 30-60 days to respond to each notice 4. The certification to TOP (for federal refund offset) usually happens after 90+ days of non-response 5. Setting up even a minimal payment plan stops the certification process Compared to IRS collections which can move quickly, state tax authorities often have longer timelines but fewer payment options. Your summer vacation plans for July should be fine if you address this now, even if it's just setting up a payment plan.