According to the IRS.gov website, the "Where's My Refund" tool showing "still being processed" with a blank transcript typically indicates one of several situations: https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions. In your specific case with the IP PIN rejection and resubmission, the system is likely still verifying your identity before entering your return into the main processing pipeline. This extra verification step is not always reflected in the online tools. The blank transcript doesn't necessarily indicate a problem - just that your return hasn't moved from verification to actual processing yet.

Think of your tax return like a package in transit. Right now, it's sitting at the sorting facility waiting to be scanned into the system. The blank transcript is like the tracking number showing "label created" but not yet in the carrier's possession. I had a similar situation last year with an IP PIN, and what I didn't realize was that my address on file with the IRS didn't match exactly what I entered on my return (I had "Avenue" vs. "Ave"). This tiny discrepancy triggered additional verification. When I finally reached an agent, they confirmed this was the holdup and manually approved it. Two days later my transcript populated and refund was issued a week after that. Double-check that all your information matches exactly what the IRS has on file.

From what I've observed analyzing the processing patterns this year: • Returns filed in early-mid February are experiencing longer delays than usual • Transcript updates often occur between 12am-3am EST on Wednesdays and Saturdays • Returns with status changes typically follow this sequence: - Transcript updates from N/A to available - Processing codes appear (usually 570/971 first) - WMR updates approximately 24-48 hours after transcript I'd recommend checking your transcript early Sunday morning as Saturday night updates are typically the largest batch of the week.

Did you receive any CP05 notices in the mail? I was stuck exactly 56 days with no movement when I finally received a verification letter requesting additional information. Many people don't realize the IRS often sends these notices without updating online systems.

WARNING TO EVERYONE: If your return is in the "errors department" DO NOT IGNORE THIS! I made this mistake last year and it cost me months of delays. The IRS sent a letter requesting additional verification on March 12th that I completely missed. My refund was held until I responded in June! If TurboTax or the WMR tool shows any unusual status, you need to be checking your mail DAILY and responding immediately to any IRS correspondence. The technical term for this department is Error Resolution/Reject Processing, and they handle everything from simple math errors to suspected identity theft cases. Time is absolutely critical if they're requesting information from you.

Has anyone actually called TurboTax to ask what specific error they're referring to? When I had this issue last year, I found out that TurboTax just uses generic status messages that don't necessarily reflect what's actually happening with your return. Sometimes they say "errors department" when it's actually just normal processing.

I just went through this exact scenario with my Schedule C filing. The Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBID) under Section 199A has specific thresholds and phase-outs that might be affecting your return. My federal refund was only $42.16 this year compared to $1,875.89 last year. The state gas question is almost certainly related to your state's Motor Fuel Tax Credit, which is separate from federal deductions. Make sure you're utilizing the correct business mileage rate of 65.5 cents per mile for 2023 (up from 62.5 cents for the latter half of 2022). This knowledge saved me hundreds!

Have you considered these possibilities: • Different income level putting you in another tax bracket • Last year you might have had excess withholding • COVID-related tax benefits expired • Business expense categorization differences • Missing the QBI deduction • Different depreciation method this year A refund is just the government returning YOUR money they held interest-free. A smaller refund with similar tax liability just means your withholding was more accurate this year. Check your actual tax liability line on both returns - that's the number that matters, not the refund amount.

Be careful with some of the lesser-known tax services too. I tried OnLine Taxes last year to avoid TurboTax/SBTPG, but they use River City Bank as their processor which held my refund for 8 days. It's like comparing cable companies - they all have similar practices. The only way to truly avoid it is to pay your preparation fees upfront with a credit card or from your bank account directly. Then the IRS sends your refund straight to you without any stopover at a third-party bank.

I've been using H&R Block for years and found that if you pay for their services upfront with a credit card, your refund comes directly from the IRS to your bank account. No SBTPG or any intermediary involved. It might feel better psychologically to pay from your refund, but you're essentially taking a high-interest loan when you do that. The processing fees can be $40-$50 just for the convenience of not paying upfront.