I monitored this exact pattern last tax season and documented all my cycle date changes. First showed Feb 2, then Feb 9, then Feb 16, and finally Feb 23. My refund arrived via direct deposit on Feb 26, just 3 days after that final cycle date. Did you claim any tax credits on your return? That typically causes additional processing time. Have you checked your account transcript to see if there are any specific codes like 570 or 971 that might explain the changes?

Changing cycle dates are much more common than unchanging ones, especially in February and March. Compare it to shipping estimates that adjust as your package moves through different facilities. I've seen returns with as many as 6 cycle date changes that processed without any issues. The final cycle date (March 3rd in your case) is typically the most accurate. If your WMR bars are still moving or your transcript shows codes in the 700-800 range, you're still in normal processing. This is actually reassuring compared to situations where the date stops updating entirely, which can indicate a review or hold.

Have you perhaps checked your employer's online portal, if they have one? Sometimes companies switch to electronic W-2 delivery and don't communicate it well. It might possibly be sitting in an employee portal you haven't checked. Or maybe they sent it to an old address? I'd suggest trying one more certified letter to your employer before involving the IRS, just to cover all bases.

When I had this problem in 2022, I discovered that my employer had actually filed the W-2 with the IRS but never sent me a copy. I was able to create an account on the IRS website and access my wage and income transcript, which showed all the information that would have been on my W-2. This saved me from having to file Form 4852. The transcript was available by mid-February, so it might be worth checking if yours is available online before going through the phone process.

I had almost the identical situation last year. My transcript showed 570/971 codes for about 3 weeks, and I was using the TurboTax card for the first time. I was worried sick because I needed that money for my mom's care. Here's what happened: the IRS adjusted my refund amount slightly (reduced by $127), then processed the deposit to my TurboTax card about 8 days after the 971 notice date on my transcript. TurboTax did automatically take back their advance from my refund. The card worked perfectly fine - I was able to transfer the remaining funds to my new bank account the same day. Don't panic about the closed bank account unless that's where you directed your current year's refund.

I received TC 570 and TC 971 on my Account Transcript exactly 14 days apart last filing season. The 570 (Additional Account Action Pending) appeared on cycle date 20230805, followed by 971 (Notice Issued) on 20230819. My refund was released precisely 21 days after the 971 code appeared. The TurboTax Refund Advance is structured as a 0% APR loan against anticipated refund proceeds, and per their Terms of Service (Section 4.3), they will deduct the advance amount automatically upon receipt of your actual refund. I verified this with TurboTax customer service before accepting my advance last year. I'm relieved to report they handled everything correctly without any manual intervention required from me.

I think I might have some insight that could possibly help. When I filed an amended return last year, my transcript showed nothing for about 5 weeks. I was perhaps a bit too cautious, but I decided to mail a polite inquiry letter to the IRS service center where my return would have been processed. I'm not entirely sure if this made a difference, but within 10 days of sending that letter, my transcript suddenly updated and showed both my original and amended returns. Maybe it was just coincidence, but it seemed to possibly trigger someone to look at my account?

Just to give you a data point - I filed an amended return on February 12, 2024, and my transcript showed 'no tax return filed' until April 3, 2024. Then it suddenly updated with all the information including my original return (filed January 29, 2024) AND the amended return. The cycle code 20241405 appeared, followed by a 971 notice code dated April 15, 2024. My refund was deposited exactly 9 days after the transcript updated. The key technical detail most people miss is that amended returns go through the Error Resolution System (ERS) even when there are no errors, which adds approximately 30-45 days to processing time.

This verification date discrepancy is like when your GPS says you've arrived but you're still three blocks away from your destination. I was caught in this same loop last month and found https://taxr.ai incredibly helpful for decoding my transcript once it finally appeared. It's like having an IRS decoder ring - it explained every code and notice, showed me exactly where my return was in the process, and even predicted when my refund would hit my account. Think of it as a translator for that cryptic IRS language that makes no sense to normal humans!

The IRS identity verification system has been plagued with synchronization issues since they upgraded their infrastructure in 2022. I experienced this exact scenario last year with a client's return. The phone verification doesn't properly update in their master file until the online verification is complete, but even then, their internal date tracking is inconsistent. In my experience with over 50 client verifications, the average processing time post-verification (using their system date) has been 9 business days. I'd recommend calling again next Wednesday if you don't see movement, as their weekend processing can sometimes create additional delays.