Did you file electronically? Or paper? Makes a big difference. Independent contractor status might be the issue. IRS scrutinizes those more carefully. How long has it been exactly?

According to the IRS.gov refund status page (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), mailed refunds are taking an average of 6-8 weeks from the scheduled mail date to arrive this year. I checked the Reddit megathread on r/tax and found that people with mail dates between March 25-April 5 are just now reporting receiving their checks. The USPS Informed Delivery app can also help you track when the envelope will arrive - it shows images of mail that's scheduled for delivery to your address that day.

Have you considered checking your state refund status as well? Sometimes your state refund will process even while federal is held for verification. I speak cautiously about this, but many people don't realize the two systems are separate. My federal was held for 6 weeks after verification last year, but my state processed normally and I received it within 2 weeks.

FWIW, the community wisdom on this is pretty clear: the 9wk timeline is the IRS's CYA estimate. Most ppl see movement way before that. ID verify adds ~3-4wks to processing on avg. If u filed w/ dependents or EITC/CTC, add another week or so. The real trick is checking transcripts not WMR. WMR is notoriously slow to update. Transcript will show codes 570/571 when things are moving again. Hang in there!

I can clarify what's likely happening here. The IRS verification process has multiple stages: 1. Initial submission verification (basic identity check) 2. Income/wage verification (comparing what you reported vs. what employers reported) 3. Credit verification (for certain credits claimed) You likely completed step 1 online, but now they're asking for step 2 or 3. Here's what to do: 1. Check the letter number (top right corner) 2. Respond to the new letter exactly as instructed 3. If calling, mention you already completed the online verification 4. Ask specifically which verification this new letter is for Don't worry - this is frustrating but normal this year. Your refund isn't lost, just delayed.

According to IRS Publication 5027 on Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers, you should respond to each verification request separately. As a contractor myself, I've found we get extra scrutiny because our income reporting is more complex. The IRS has been implementing new verification procedures under IRC §6103(c) which allows for multiple verification steps. I suggest keeping copies of all verification confirmations and requesting a Taxpayer Advocate if this continues beyond the second verification.

According to what I've seen on igotmyrefund.com and the r/IRS subreddit, your cycle ending in "04" means you're on a weekly processing schedule. The transcript update is definitely a good sign! Check the WMR tool again tomorrow morning - it usually updates overnight between Wednesday and Thursday for weekly cycles. The IRS2Go app sometimes updates even faster than the website.

I think I might be in a similar situation to yours... I had a small balance due but should still be getting something back. My transcript updated last week with almost the same pattern, and I'm cautiously optimistic that my refund might be coming soon. For me, it's going to help with some unexpected car repairs I've been putting off. Just hoping nothing else comes up to delay it further.

I've tracked this pattern for three years now. In 2022, I had a February 16th 'as of' date and received my refund on March 1st. In 2023, I had a February 22nd 'as of' date and still received my refund on February 28th. This year, I have a February 14th date, but based on previous experiences, I'm not expecting it any earlier than February 27th. The PATH Act mandates the IRS hold refunds until February 15th, but their actual release schedule typically begins the following week. I've found the cycle code on your transcript (usually near the top, formatted like 20240805) is a much better indicator of when you'll get paid than the 'as of' date.

Let me clarify something important about these dates. The 'as of' date on your transcript is NOT a refund date or even a processing completion date. It's simply the next scheduled date when the IRS computer system will run automated checks on your account. The difference between February 14th and February 21st is primarily related to which processing batch your return was assigned to during initial processing. PATH Act returns (those claiming EITC, ACTC, etc.) are subject to the February 15th hold regardless of 'as of' date. After February 15th, the IRS typically begins releasing these refunds in waves, with the first direct deposits hitting accounts around February 27th-March 1st. Your actual refund date will be indicated by a Transaction Code 846 on your transcript, not by the 'as of' date.