Did your return include any foreign tax credits via Form 1116? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if that specific form triggers additional review cycles? My tax preparer mentioned something about FATCA compliance checks for international filers, but wasn't clear if that applies to all non-resident returns or just those with foreign financial assets above the reporting threshold?

What most people don't realize about March filings is they hit during the IRS's peak processing period. You think you're avoiding the early February rush, but you're actually landing right in the middle of their busiest time, aren't you? International returns add another layer of complexity. I've been filing with international components for years, and I've learned to expect my refund approximately 14-21 days later than the standard timeline. The 1042-S form specifically routes your return through the Specialized Processing Unit in Austin, which has been running about 3 weeks behind schedule this year based on what I've seen.

I think I might have a solution that could possibly help you get some answers. After waiting about 6 weeks with the PATH Act message still showing, I tried calling the IRS regular number and couldn't get through to anyone. I eventually used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which seems to help people connect with an actual IRS agent instead of waiting on hold forever. It might be worth considering if you really need to know what's happening with your return, especially with your medical appointments coming up. The agent I spoke with was able to tell me exactly why my refund was delayed and when I could expect it.

Just had my PATH Act message finally change yesterday! Timeline for reference: • Filed Jan 31 with EITC • PATH Act message until April 5 • Transcript showed 570 code on March 15 • 571 code appeared April 3 • Refund approved April 5 • Deposit scheduled for April 10 I was shocked by how long it took! Four weeks longer than last year for basically the identical return. The IRS seems completely overwhelmed this season.

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.2, amended returns undergo a preliminary review within 30 days of receipt, during which time your transcript may display various temporary status indicators. Per IRM 3.11.6.2, the 'Pending' designation specifically indicates your return has been accepted into the Amended Return Processing System but awaits assignment to a tax examiner. You might consider using the 'Where's My Amended Return' tool which operates on a separate database and may provide more consistent status information during this transitional period.

Went thru this last yr w/ my amended return. The 'pending' status is NBD tbh. It's just their sys updating internally. My TT showed 'pending' for ~10 days, then went back to normal. The whole process took about 16 wks total from submission to refund. Don't stress too much about the status changes - they happen all the time during processing. Just make sure you're checking the right tool (WMAR not WMR) for amended returns.

I think you should be checking for a very specific pattern of updates. Based on my experience with an amended return that required verification on March 4th, 2024, the transcript updates happened on March 18th, 2024 - exactly 14 days later. However, the actual processing didn't resume until March 25th, 2024. The verification confirmation doesn't always show up as a separate entry - sometimes it's just implied by the removal of freeze codes. If you don't see any update by April 30th, 2024, I'd be concerned that something might have gone wrong with your verification. The implications of a failed verification could mean starting the entire process over again, which would push your timeline into late May or even June.

I believe I can offer some reassurance here. I had a similar situation with an amended return that required identity verification. It may take approximately 2-3 weeks, possibly longer, for your transcript to reflect the verification was completed. This is not necessarily cause for concern, though I understand the anxiety it can create. In my case, there was no explicit "verification complete" indicator - rather, the processing simply resumed with new transaction codes appearing. The system worked as intended, albeit slowly. My amended return was ultimately processed correctly about 5 weeks after verification, which is within normal parameters for amended returns with verification holds.

Calling the IRS is like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon - technically possible but extraordinarily inefficient. Instead of the main line, try the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. They're like the customer service department for the IRS itself. Alternatively, schedule an appointment at your local IRS office through irs.gov/help/contact-your-local-irs-office. For Schedule C questions specifically, the Small Business Tax Workshop recordings on their site might address your question without the hold music soundtrack.

I called on March 14th at exactly 7:01am Eastern and got through in 17 minutes. Called again on March 21st at 4:45pm and waited 2 hours and 23 minutes. The IRS staffing patterns follow predictable cycles, with Mondays and Tuesdays being the worst days to call. Their fiscal year funding determines agent availability, and we're currently in a period of reduced staffing compared to the post-filing deadline period when wait times typically decrease by approximately 40%.