Warning from someone who learned the hard way: SBTPG showed my refund as "processing" for FIVE DAYS after my DDD! 😤 I kept checking their portal every hour like a crazy person. Then I called my bank (thinking maybe SBTPG sent it but it wasn't showing), and they said they had no pending deposits. Finally on day 6, it magically appeared in my account with no status change on SBTPG's site. Their tracking system is a joke! 🤣 My advice: add 3-5 business days to your DDD and try to forget about it until then. Watching the pot doesn't make it boil faster!

I've been tracking SBTPG patterns for three tax seasons now. They've actually gotten faster each year. In 2022, they averaged 3 days after DDD. Last year it was down to 2 days for most people. This year, I'm seeing lots of folks get their money just 1 day after DDD. I had my DDD on March 22nd and got my deposit on March 23rd around 3pm. My sister had her DDD on March 29th and got hers on April 1st (because of the weekend). The timing seems to depend on your bank too - credit unions tend to be faster than big banks in my experience.

Have your friend check if her Emerald Card is still active. This happens a lot - H&R Block deactivates cards after a period of inactivity. If she hasn't used it since last tax season, it might be deactivated. Also, did she get her taxes done at the same H&R Block office as last year? Sometimes when people switch offices, the new card doesn't get properly linked to their account. Has she tried calling the Emerald Card customer service line directly? What about checking if her address on file is current? Sometimes these simple things are the holdup.

Is anyone else noticing how these tax prep companies are essentially holding our money hostage? Why is it that direct deposits to regular bank accounts arrive within days of the DDD, but prepaid cards take weeks or months? Aren't these companies making enough from their exorbitant preparation fees? The real issue here is that the IRS considers their job done once they send the money, but there's zero accountability for these card issuers to process it quickly. Did you know H&R Block earns interest on pooled refund money while it sits in their accounts? Your friend should file a complaint with the CFPB - that's the only way these practices will change.

The timeline you're experiencing aligns with what I've observed in the 2024 filing season. Specifically, returns filed on Sunday, February 25th have been processing remarkably fast, with many receiving direct deposit dates by Tuesday, February 27th. This appears to be related to the IRS's new batch processing schedule implemented on January 29th, 2024. Returns submitted over weekends are now being processed in Monday morning batches rather than waiting for Tuesday as in previous years. This is a significant improvement over the 2023 filing season when weekend submissions typically weren't processed until Wednesday or Thursday of the following week.

Is there any way to know if you'll be one of the lucky ones with fast processing? I filed exactly 17 days ago and still have the dreaded "still processing" message with no transcript updates. Did you do anything special with your filing to get such quick processing?

I track tax return patterns every year (I'm a bit obsessive about it), and this is extremely common specifically for returns filed between January 29th and February 3rd this year. The IRS began a system update on April 2nd that's affecting WMR access for many early filers, especially those with amendments. Based on previous years, you should regain access by April 18th at the latest. I'd recommend checking your mail carefully - the IRS often sends notices on April 15th and 16th related to processing delays.

From what I've gathered from this community over the years, when WMR suddenly stops recognizing your information after previously working, it usually means one of three things: 1) Your return is in the final stages of processing, 2) Your amended return has caused a temporary processing delay, or 3) There's an identity verification issue brewing. Most people report regaining access within 5-14 days, and many see their refund approved immediately afterward. Have you received any letters from the IRS in the meantime?

According to the GoToBank FAQ section (https://gotobank.com/help/deposits), they process IRS refunds as soon as they receive them, which is typically 1-2 days before the official DDD. I've been with them for three tax seasons, and I've always received my refund early. The IRS Where's My Refund tool won't show any updates once it displays your DDD, but the GoToBank mobile app usually shows pending deposits about 24 hours before they post.

The Automated Clearing House (ACH) network that processes these transfers typically operates on a next-business-day settlement timeframe. Since your Direct Deposit Date falls on a Wednesday, there's a high probability that GoToBank will receive the ACH notification on Tuesday, potentially allowing them to credit your account early. However, I would caution that financial institutions have different policies regarding how they handle these pre-notifications - some make funds available immediately while others wait until the official settlement date.