You need to submit Form 8379 (Injured Spouse Allocation) immediately if your ex-spouse has any federal debts that might trigger an offset! The April 15th deadline is approaching, and if you don't get this submitted, your CTC portion could be applied to their debts. The IRS won't automatically know about your divorce decree protections without this documentation.

FYI - The partial refund sitch is super common this yr. IRS is doing a 2-phase process for many returns w/ credits. Phase 1: Basic refund amt. Phase 2: CTC/EIC after verification. Avg wait time btw phases = 4-6 wks. No need to panic yet. Check your transcript for TC 570/971 combo - that's the verification hold code. They should send a letter explaining within 2 wks. Hang tight!

The Non-Filer Verification Protocol (NFVP) implemented in 2023 has extended processing times significantly. Transcript updates occur in cycles, with verification completions typically batched on Thursdays for Friday transcript updates. The appearance of any codes represents progression through the verification pipeline.

According to IRM 21.5.6.4.35.3, non-filer verification may require additional processing time. Have you received any CP notices in the mail requesting additional information?

Did you receive any notices about identity verification? According to the IRS.gov updates page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-season-updates), they're sending more verification letters this year for returns with refundable credits. Worth checking your mail carefully and your online account at https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account if you haven't already.

Be careful about counting on specific dates. Under IRC §6402(a) and Rev. Proc. 2023-28, the IRS has extended authority to delay certain refunds for additional verification. I filed on February 1st last year with both credits, and my return got caught in a verification loop that lasted until April 15th. No explanation, no errors, just extra scrutiny that significantly delayed my refund. Make sure you have contingency plans for your business purchases in case this happens.

I'd be somewhat cautious about assuming everything is fine. I thought the same thing last year when I didn't receive a different IRS notice, and it turned out there was actually an issue with my return that needed to be addressed. The letter had been sent to my old address even though I had updated it on my tax return. By the time I figured it out, I had missed a response deadline and had to go through a whole appeals process. Might be worth double-checking your address is correct in all IRS systems.

I waited exactly 36 days after others in my area received their letters before mine finally showed up. The postmark date was 22 days earlier than when it actually arrived. USPS has been having major delays in some regions. If you're planning to opt out, you need to do so by the 28th of this month to stop the next payment. I'd recommend checking your eligibility through your online account rather than waiting for the letter at this point.

Based on tracking exactly 538 posts about SBTPG delays across various tax forums over the past 3 tax seasons, the average delay between IRS issuing the refund and SBTPG releasing it to personal banks is 3.2 days. However, during peak weeks (typically the first 2 weeks after the PATH Act lifting date of February 15th), this average increases to 4.7 days. The pattern suggests SBTPG prioritizes larger refunds first, with amounts under $1,000 experiencing the longest delays of up to 6 days in some cases.

There might be another factor at play that people aren't considering... Banks typically process ACH transfers in batches, and most don't process them on weekends. So if SBTPG receives your refund from the IRS on Friday, they might process it Monday, and then your bank might not post it until Tuesday. That could explain some of the delays that seem excessive. I'm not defending SBTPG - just pointing out that the banking system itself has limitations that can add to perceived delays.