If you're still not seeing updates by the end of this week, here's exactly what you can do: 1. First, check your transcript for any hold codes like 570 or 971 2. If you see those codes, you may need to contact the IRS directly 3. Instead of waiting hours on hold, I recommend using Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) 4. They'll call the IRS for you and only connect when an agent is on the line 5. The agent can tell you specifically what's happening with your return I was in the same situation last year and wasted three days trying to call myself. Claimyr got me connected in about 30 minutes, and the agent was able to release my return that had been held for simple verification.

Think of the IRS processing system like a crowded highway during rush hour. Your 2/23 return is like a car that entered the highway at a particularly busy on-ramp. Some cars (returns) filed earlier or later might move through faster because they hit less congestion at their particular entry point. I filed and was accepted on 2/24, just a day after you, and my transcript updated Saturday night with a DDD of 3/20. The seemingly random nature of processing is concerning because you never know if you're just in normal traffic or if there's an actual problem with your return that needs attention.

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1.3, transcript updates and refund issuance operate on separate processing schedules. Have you verified your refund status through the Where's My Refund tool rather than just checking transcripts? Are you claiming any credits that might delay processing under PATH Act provisions?

This happened to me. Transcripts were blank. Money appeared in my account. Transcripts updated two days later. Different software doesn't matter. IRS processes returns the same way. Tax software just formats and submits your information. After that, it's all IRS systems.

If you're really concerned, you could always call TurboTax directly to confirm that your direct deposit info was correctly transmitted to the IRS. Their customer service line is actually pretty decent compared to trying to reach the IRS! Just be prepared with your TurboTax account info and they can tell you exactly what happened with both the advance program and your regular refund. I had to do this last year when I had a similar confusion, and they cleared it right up in about 10 minutes. 🤷‍♀️ Sometimes the simplest solution works!

Just to clarify - the message you received is specifically about TurboTax's Refund Advance program, which is a loan product offered through their banking partners. This is completely separate from your actual tax refund from the IRS. The message means you didn't qualify for their loan product (which is actually good because you avoid those fees!), but your tax refund will still be processed normally by the IRS and sent via whatever method you selected when filing (direct deposit if you provided bank details). The fact that you filed jointly for the first time shouldn't affect your direct deposit - the IRS handles joint returns every day without issues.

I would strongly caution against calling the IRS multiple times, as this may potentially flag your account in their system. There have been instances, albeit rare, where accounts that generate multiple inquiry calls within a short timeframe get marked for additional verification, which could possibly extend your wait time further. This isn't guaranteed to happen, of course, but it's something to be mindful of as you navigate this frustrating situation.

Based on data from the r/IRS community on March 28th, 2024, approximately 32% of early February filers are experiencing extended processing times. The consensus is that returns filed between February 8-15 are facing particular delays. Most affected returns begin processing between April 1-15, with refunds following 5-10 days after transcript updates appear. Your timeline falls precisely within this pattern, suggesting normal (albeit slow) processing rather than a problem with your specific return.

This is a known issue for people who had to verify ID. The system often switches to paper checks as a security measure, but doesn't update all their systems accordingly. The check is probably already on its way to you. In my experience, paper checks typically arrive 5-14 days after the date shown on your transcript. So I'd give it until at least April 19th before calling again.

Just curious - did you have any offset conditions or did you owe any back taxes? Sometimes that can trigger a switch to paper check too.