I've seen this question come up frequently over the past three filing seasons. Back in 2022, nearly everyone had to call after online verification. In 2023, they improved the system so only about 30% needed to call. This year, I've observed that fewer than 15% of filers need that secondary verification call. I'm curious - did you receive any specific message after completing the online portion? Sometimes there's a subtle indicator that additional verification is needed.

I verified online only on February 14th and got my refund March 8th. No phone call needed! The IRS system actually works sometimes... I know, shocking revelation, right? 😂 Just make sure you completed ALL the steps in the online verification - there are several screens and it's easy to think you're done when you're not. The final confirmation page should explicitly state whether your verification is complete or if additional steps are needed.

According to the IRS2Go app and the official IRS processing timeline (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), most electronic returns should be processed within 21 days. However, the IRS Operations page shows they're currently working through a significant backlog. Your son's return might be caught in what they call the "Error Resolution System" which doesn't necessarily mean there's an error - just that it requires manual review.

My return was stuck. No updates. Filed February 10th. Called March 15th. Got simple explanation. Return flagged for review. No letter sent yet. Issue resolved during call. Refund received March 22nd. Total processing time: 40 days. No action needed from me.

According to the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing returns filed in early March. What's happening is normal but poorly communicated by the IRS. Your return is in what's called the "processing pipeline" but hasn't reached the "posting phase" where it appears on transcripts. You can verify this by checking your Account Transcript (not Return Transcript) where you might see a TC 971 code with no corresponding 150 code yet. This is definitive proof your return is being processed even if the main account page doesn't show it. The WMR tool pulls from the initial intake database while the account page pulls from the master file - which only updates after processing is complete.

I think I might have some relevant experience to share here. Last tax season, I filed around the same time (early March) and experienced something sort of similar. My transcript didn't show my return for about 3 weeks, but WMR did show processing. It seems like, in many cases, this is possibly just a timing issue with their systems. When I eventually got my transcript, it showed that they had actually been working on my return the whole time, even though the account page didn't reflect that. I'm a little worried that processing times might be longer this year based on what I'm seeing in this community, but your situation doesn't necessarily indicate a problem yet.

Paper returns received on February 19th, 2024 are currently running about 6-8 weeks for initial processing. Deceased taxpayer returns typically add another 2-3 weeks to that timeline. March 15th is when they usually start the first batch of manual reviews for these types of returns. April 30th is when most February-filed deceased returns complete processing. June 1st is typically when refunds are issued if no issues are found. This is all normal and expected.

I've been through this twice before, and yes, WMR does update for deceased taxpayer returns. However, in my previous experiences, I noticed it takes about twice as long as regular returns. Last time I filed one in 2022, my regular return was processed in 3 weeks while the deceased family member's return took almost 7 weeks to show up on WMR. The system works the same way, but the timeline is extended because they have additional verification procedures.

FYI - the rejected DD process is pretty standard. Bank rejects the $ within 24-48 hrs, then it goes back to IRS. They'll auto-convert to paper check w/o you needing to do anything. BUT it does add time. My roommate dealt w/ this in Feb and it took ~3 wks from DDD to getting the check. Pro tip: sign up for informed delivery from USPS so you can see when the check is coming in your daily mail preview emails!

I successfully navigated this exact situation last month! My DDD was March 8th, bank rejected it on March 9th (closed account), and I received my paper check on March 29th. Unlike dealing with amended returns which can take 16+ weeks, this process is actually pretty efficient in comparison. Just make sure your address is current with the IRS. I was worried too, but the system worked exactly as designed.