Just checked my account and the money is there! 🎉 Filed through Credit Karma on Feb 1st, got my DDD of 2/25 last week, and Chase just deposited it tonight (2/24) around 8pm. The IRS "deposit date" is more like a "by this date" promise rather than an exact time. Feels like waiting for a package that says "delivery by Thursday" but sometimes shows up Wednesday evening! So relieved this came through - was starting to think I'd have to subsist on ramen until next week!

Different banks. Different times. Credit unions often faster. Big banks sometimes hold longer. Check your bank's policy. Some release government funds early. Others wait until exact DDD. Call your bank directly. Ask about ACH processing times. Specifically for government deposits. Don't rely on general customer service. Ask for ACH department.

Think of the tax filing sites like those "free" mobile games - they let you start for free but then hit you with in-app purchases to continue. The key is accessing the truly free options through the IRS portal. The commercial sites create nearly identical-looking pages to confuse people, like how some stores create knock-off products with similar packaging.

OMG how is it so complicated just to file taxes for free?? 😫 Do I need to create accounts on multiple sites to find one that works for my situation?

I had this happen with a $3.42 check from 2019 that randomly showed up in 2023. The IRS agent explained they found a calculation error related to a rate change that affected thousands of returns, so they did a mass correction. The 570 froze my account briefly while they calculated the adjustment, then the 971 was generated when they issued the notice explaining the change. The whole process took about 3 weeks from codes appearing to check arriving. Did your check come with any explanation letter?

According to Internal Revenue Code §6402(a), the IRS is required to issue refunds for overpayments regardless of how small the amount. While many taxpayers worry when seeing these codes, Treasury Regulation 301.6402-1 clarifies that these administrative adjustments can be processed up to 3 years after the original return filing. I would recommend checking the specific date of the 971 code - it should be approximately 7-10 days before you received the physical check, per standard IRS processing timelines.

I made this exact mistake with FreeTaxUSA last year! The system doesn't catch that the routing and account numbers are identical during submission. My refund was rejected on the deposit date, then 19 days later I received a paper check in the mail. No need to do anything - the IRS handles it automatically. Have you checked your informed delivery from USPS to see if there's anything coming from the Treasury?

Just to clarify what happens technically: When the ACH transfer fails due to invalid routing/account info, the IRS system automatically flags your refund for paper check issuance. Unlike other tax issues that require amendments or forms, this process is handled entirely on their end. The timeline is typically 2-3 weeks longer than your original direct deposit date. For comparison, address changes require Form 8822, but banking errors are handled without any action from you.

Just wanted to share my success story - had the exact same situation with Credit Karma filing and TT line vs WMR discrepancy. I verified my AGI matched exactly between years and ensured my Routing/Account numbers were input correctly. The return hit my account 4 days after the TT line went solid, despite WMR never showing bars. The Transaction Code 846 is what you want to look for on your transcript - that's the Direct Deposit authorization code.

Have you tried checking your account transcript instead of just the TT line? It's like looking at the engine instead of just the dashboard lights. Sometimes the account transcript will show a pending 846 code (refund issued) even when WMR is completely blank. The IRS systems are like an old house with new additions - sometimes the wiring doesn't connect properly between the old and new parts.