Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! 😅 When this happened to me last year, I spent 3 days trying to get through to the IRS on their regular line. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in like 15 minutes. They explained it's just a display issue in their system and nothing to worry about. Apparently it happens more often with certain tax prep software - Credit Karma being one of them. Saved me from going gray over nothing!

Have you considered that this might actually be by design? The IRS has been modernizing their systems gradually, and perhaps they're streamlining some of the tracking elements that aren't essential for taxpayers. As long as you have your deposit confirmation from your bank and the refund amount matches what you expected, isn't that what really matters? You could always request a wage and income transcript as additional documentation if you're concerned about record-keeping.

I might be able to provide some helpful context here. My grandmother, who primarily relies on Social Security, encountered a somewhat similar situation. She didn't receive her second Child Tax Credit payment, which was possibly due to an address change we had submitted. We essentially had to file a 1040 for her, even though she normally wouldn't need to file. The process was relatively straightforward, but there were a few potential complications: 1. If your mom has dependent children still qualifying for the credit, you'll need their information 2. She might need to create an online account with the IRS to verify previous payments 3. The IRS might request verification of eligibility if this is a newer situation

I helped my uncle through this exact situation last year. The IRS actually has a specific process for non-filers who need to claim missing credits. I created an account on the IRS website, downloaded his tax transcripts, and confirmed which payments he had received. Then we filed a simple return claiming just the missing credit. It took about 23 days from filing to receiving the payment. One thing to watch for - if your mom has moved or changed bank accounts since the first payment, make sure to update that information on the return to avoid further delays.

Be careful about counting on refund timing. My brother got his deposit notification. Money showed pending. Bank put a 5-day hold on it. Then IRS pulled it back due to verification issues. Took 2 more months to resolve. Don't spend it until it's fully cleared your account and the hold period is over.

Did you have any credits that might have delayed processing? Step 1: Did you claim EITC? Step 2: Any Child Tax Credit? Step 3: Recovery Rebate Credit from previous years? Step 4: Education credits? I'm trying to figure out why some people get theirs so quickly while others wait months...

Here's what's actually happening with your early deposit: 1. The IRS assigned you a Direct Deposit Date of 2/26 2. They initiated the ACH transfer approximately 1-3 business days before that date 3. Your bank (Chime) received the pending deposit notification 4. Instead of waiting for the funds to fully clear, Chime fronted you the money This isn't actually your refund arriving early - it's your bank advancing you the funds based on the pending notification. Traditional banks will show the deposit on 2/26 because they wait for the actual settlement date. Some credit unions might show it a day early depending on their policies.

Have you noticed how the IRS seems to release refunds in batches by filing date? I filed on January 29th and got my DDD for 2/19, received via Chime on 2/17. My brother filed February 1st and got his DDD for 2/26 - same batch as you. Seems like they're processing weekly batches for straightforward returns. Did anyone who filed in early February get a different DDD than 2/26? Or is the pattern holding?

I waited 9 weeks last year, and when I finally got through to the IRS, they just told me it was "in process" and to keep waiting. This year I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent after waiting 5 weeks. Got connected in about 15 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. The agent was able to tell me exactly what was happening and when to expect my refund. Worth every penny to not sit on hold for 3+ hours.

Have you checked your account transcript on the IRS website? Sometimes that will show pending refund info even when WMR doesn't update. Look for an 846 code with a date - that's your refund date.