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Think of IRS verification like your bank's fraud detection system. When I used my credit card in three different states in one day while traveling, my bank immediately flagged it and froze my card. The IRS does something similar with tax returns. Your newly married status is like suddenly using your credit card in a new country - it's not necessarily suspicious, but it's different enough from your previous pattern to trigger a verification check. About 1 in 20 taxpayers get selected for verification, and first-time status changes like MFJ are common triggers.
I went through this exact situation last year after getting married! It was frustrating at first, but the verification process ended up being pretty straightforward. I used the ID.me online option and was verified within 15 minutes. My refund was delayed by about 2 weeks compared to my typical timeline from previous years. Interestingly, my spouse and I both had to verify separately even though we filed jointly. Have you checked if your spouse also needs to verify but maybe the letter hasn't arrived yet?
When they say April 5th, is that when they're sending it or when you should expect to receive it? This is an important distinction that often confuses taxpayers. The date they provide is typically when the IRS releases the funds to your financial institution, not necessarily when you'll see it in your account. Why does this matter? Because depending on your bank's processing times, you might not see the money until April 8th or 9th, especially if the 5th falls on a weekend or holiday.
OMG I'm so mad at the IRS right now!!! They told me March 15th and I STILL don't have my money!!! š”š”š” Maybe try calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service instead of just waiting? They sometimes can push things through faster if you have a financial hardship. The number is 1-877-777-4778. I'm going to try them tomorrow because this wait is ridiculous!!
I filed 2/11 and just got my deposit last week. No WMR updates at all until 2 days before the money hit my account. The IRS is seriously backed up this year - I heard they had staffing issues at several processing centers. Hang in there!
Check if you have any past due debts that might trigger an offset (student loans, child support, etc). Those can cause delays because your return gets routed through an additional review process. Also, if you filed by paper instead of e-file, add at least 6-8 weeks to the normal processing time.
I was in your exact situation last month - waiting on my refund and checking constantly. I tried calling the IRS for three days straight but kept getting the "high call volume" message. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my refund was just in normal processing and gave me a much more specific timeframe than the website. It cost a little bit but saved me days of stress and uncertainty.
Wait, you paid money to talk to the IRS? Couldn't you just keep calling for free? Seems like these services are taking advantage of people's desperation during tax season.
Having TT fees taken from your refund is like taking the scenic route instead of the highway - it might be convenient, but it definitely adds time to the journey. The refund has to stop at TurboTax's bank partner first, they take their cut, then send the rest to you. It's never going to be faster than direct deposit without the middleman. For cycle code 0605, think of Thursday as your "update day" - that's when you'll see movement on your transcript, but the actual money usually follows about a week later.
Anastasia Fedorov
Everyone's telling you to wait, but that's like telling someone with a broken leg to be patient while the bone heals - technically correct but not helpful. Try requesting a taxpayer advocate through Form 911. It's like having a guide through the IRS maze instead of wandering blindly. I'm skeptical of the "just wait" approach because these adjustments can sometimes get stuck in processing loops if not actively addressed.
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Sean Doyle
ā¢Does requesting a taxpayer advocate delay things further? I'm on a tight deadline with some bills coming due next month, and I'm worried that opening yet another process might reset some internal clock at the IRS. Has anyone had the advocate actually speed things up?
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Zara Rashid
ā¢I really appreciate this advice! I had a similar situation last year with my Earned Income Credit, and waiting did nothing for 2 months. Once I got a taxpayer advocate involved, my refund was processed within 10 days. It was like night and day compared to just sitting around hoping for the best!
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Luca Romano
Had the EXACT same sitch last yr w/ my CTC. Got the 971 code on March 5th, notice arrived March 12th, refund finally hit my acct April 2nd. No 846 code until like 3 days b4 the $$ showed up. Tbh the waiting is the worst part, but at least ur transcript updated which is a good sign. Mine was stuck on N/A for weeks. U think they'd make this easier by now, right?
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