This happens more often than people realize. Tax Topic 152 simply means your return is being processed normally. Nothing to panic about. Keep the check for now. Don't spend it. Wait for further instructions. The IRS will send a notice. They'll adjust your refund. The system works slowly but correctly. Document everything. Take photos of the check. Save all correspondence. Be patient.

Just to clarify what others have said - Tax Topic 152 is actually a good sign, not a bad one. It means your return is in normal processing and you're still due a refund (though possibly adjusted). If there was a serious problem, you'd see Tax Topic 151 instead, which indicates a tax offset or debt. I've been tracking my returns carefully for years, and the 152 topic appears on most normal returns at some point in processing.

If you're concerned about what's happening with your refund, I'd recommend checking your tax transcript using taxr.ai. The IRS transcript codes can be really confusing, but this tool breaks down exactly what each code means for your specific situation. I was worried about a TC 570 on my account, but taxr.ai explained it was just a temporary hold during processing and predicted my DDD accurately. It also shows you the exact refund amount that should be deposited after any adjustments, so you'll know if the IRS made any changes to your expected refund amount.

According to several online resources, including the IRS's own website (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), Chime itself doesn't take fees from tax refunds. However, if you opted to have your tax preparation fees taken out of your refund (sometimes called a Refund Transfer or RT), then those fees would have already been deducted before the money hits your Chime account. You can verify this by checking your tax transcript through the IRS website - the amount listed with code 846 is exactly what should be deposited to your account. If that amount is less than what you expected, it likely means fees were already taken out at the tax processor level, not by Chime.

Have you checked your tax transcript to see what's actually happening with your refund? Sometimes the WMR tool doesn't show the complete picture. I've had clients use taxr.ai to analyze their transcripts and it showed exactly why they were getting a paper check instead of direct deposit. Have you confirmed whether your banking information was rejected? Was there an offset that reduced your refund amount? Did you request a paper check without realizing it? The transcript would show all of this.

Just to clarify something important - are you working with an actual licensed tax preparer or a tax preparation company? Because if you're working with someone claiming they can "print your check," that would be concerning, right? Only the Treasury Department can issue IRS refund checks, and they have specific security features to prevent fraud. No legitimate tax preparer would suggest they could print an IRS check for you, would they?

Ever tried calling the IRS directly about your return status? I was in the same boat with TaxAct last month, and after getting frustrated with the lack of updates, I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an actual IRS agent. Why wait for weeks in uncertainty when you can talk to someone who can see exactly what's happening with your return? I was connected within 25 minutes instead of spending hours on hold or getting disconnected.

I've used TaxAct for exactly 7 tax seasons now. This year I filed on January 31st, 2024 and received my refund on February 21st, so it took 21 days precisely. Last year it took 18 days, and the year before that it was 24 days. From my experience, TaxAct itself doesn't affect processing time - it's more about when you file, what credits you claim, and whether your return gets selected for additional review. The software is just the messenger.

FINALLY some good news on this sub!!! I've been stuck in processing hell for 42 days now and was starting to lose my mind! 😫 So frustrating that the IRS can't just be transparent about these delays! Why do they make us guess what's happening?! Your post gives me hope that maybe, just MAYBE, I'll see movement soon too. This waiting game is absolutely BRUTAL when you're counting on that money!

Did you have any credits on your return? Last year I had a similar timeline but I claimed the Child Tax Credit. The year before that I had a simple return with no credits and it processed in just 14 days. I'm wondering if the tax topic disappearing is specifically related to certain credits being verified.