omg I literally JUST went thru this exact thing!! my transcript updated last Thurs showing DD date of 4/24 but WMR still showing first bar like nothing happened 🙄 called IRS after trying for like 3 days straight (busy signals FTW) and they confirmed my refund is actually processing and the $ should hit my acct on the date shown on transcript. WMR is basically useless rn tbh. hang in there!!

I've been tracking refund patterns this tax season, and I'm seeing a clear trend of transcripts updating 3-5 days before WMR updates. What specific codes do you see on your transcript? Have you checked for a 570 code (indicates a temporary hold) or a 971 code (notice issued)? If you only see the 846 code with a future date, that's very promising. Did you claim any refundable credits like the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit that might trigger additional verification?

I had my baby in December last year and here's what I learned about maximizing tax benefits: 1) Get the Social Security card application done at the hospital if possible. 2) Update your W-4 with your employer immediately to reduce withholding. 3) Keep track of all medical expenses for both mom and baby - they might exceed the threshold for medical deduction. 4) If you're paying for childcare so you can work, start documenting those expenses for the Child and Dependent Care Credit. 5) Look into FSA accounts through your employer for next year to pay medical expenses pre-tax.

Does your income fall within the phase-out limits? The full Child Tax Credit starts phasing out at $200,000 for single filers and $400,000 for married filing jointly. Just want to make sure you're planning correctly!

It might be helpful to understand that the verification process is sort of a reset button for your return processing. Once you verify, your return essentially goes back into the processing queue, possibly with some priority, but not always. The timeline varies quite a bit depending on your particular tax situation, what credits you claimed, and frankly, just random IRS workload distribution. I was somewhat surprised when mine took only 3 weeks after verification, while my sister's took nearly 7 weeks despite having a much simpler return.

Heads up - the verification process might be diff than u expect. My letter had a QR code that took me to ID.me but others get sent to the IRS portal directly. IME the avg wait was ~5 wks but that was b4 the April rush. Rn the IRS is slammed w/ returns so prob longer. Def call if it goes past 6 wks. Also check ur transcripts not WMR - transcripts update 1st and WMR is often behind by days.

OMG I was FREAKING OUT about this exact same thing last week! The one-bar to "processing" change is actually a GOOD sign! It means they've finished the initial verification and are now preparing your refund. I was so relieved when I figured this out! The IRS system follows a specific pattern: 1. Return Received (one bar) 2. Still Processing (verification complete) 3. Approved (final stage before deposit) Most people see their deposits 2-7 days after hitting the "Still Processing" message. You're almost there!

Instead of just relying on WMR, I'd recommend checking your tax transcript directly on IRS.gov. When I had this exact situation, my transcript showed code 846 (refund issued) even while WMR was stuck on "processing". The transcript is the actual backend system and updates more reliably than the WMR tool. Look specifically for TC 150 (return filed), 570 (additional review if present), and 846 (refund issued). Such a relief when I finally figured out how to interpret these codes!

I had a client on March 15, 2023 who didn't check before filing. Their $5,400 refund was completely offset for child support. They filed on January 28th and didn't find out until February 22nd when their refund was significantly less than expected. By April 10th, they had to postpone their home purchase because they were counting on that money for closing costs. Don't make the same mistake - call 1-800-304-3107 BEFORE you file so you can plan accordingly.

From what I've seen in this community, there are three key things you need to know: 1. Call the Treasury Offset Program at 1-800-304-3107 for federal offsets 2. File Form 8379 (Injured Spouse) to protect your portion of the refund 3. Contact your state's child support enforcement agency for the most accurate balance information The consensus here is that you should check BEFORE filing your return so you can make an informed decision about filing jointly vs. separately.