The IRS has been dealing with staffing shortages across their processing centers this tax season. They're approximately 18% understaffed compared to their target hiring goals according to the National Taxpayer Advocate's report. This has created cascading delays in their processing pipelines. Most returns are still being processed within the standard 21-day window, but the exact timing within that window is less predictable than previous years. Have you checked if your bank shows any pending deposits? Sometimes they receive the funds before posting them to your account.

Are you claiming any credits like the Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit? Those returns are subject to the PATH Act which requires additional verification and can cause these kinds of date shifts. I've seen several cases where people claiming these credits had their DDDs shift multiple times before receiving their refunds.

After waiting 5 weeks with no updates, I used Claimyr.com to get through to an IRS agent. Got connected in about 15 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. The agent told me my return was just in the verification queue because I claimed CTC, and there wasn't anything wrong with it. Got my deposit exactly 8 days after that call. Worth every penny to finally get answers and my refund! https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Check your transcript codes if you can access them. If you see code 570 (refund hold) followed by 971 (notice issued), they might be requesting additional verification. I had this happen last year and had to send in documents proving my kids lived with me.

Be prepared for exactly how long this process can take. I applied for a Taxpayer Advocate on January 17th this year and didn't get assigned one until March 3rd - that's 45 days of waiting. And then it took another 37 days to resolve my issue. The TAS is severely understaffed right now with a 200,000+ case backlog. If you're facing penalties or interest that are accruing daily, make sure to request that they freeze those while your case is being reviewed. I didn't do this and ended up with an additional $843 in penalties that could have been avoided.

The community wisdom I've gathered from helping my parents through this last October: call your local Taxpayer Advocate office directly rather than the national number. The wait times are usually shorter. Also, if you're over 65, mention that when you call as they sometimes prioritize seniors. And if you've already submitted documentation twice as you mentioned, make sure to get certified mail receipts for everything going forward - the IRS has been losing paperwork like crazy since the pandemic. Time is of the essence with these matters; if you don't hear back within 5 business days of contacting TAS, follow up immediately. Good luck!

Here's exactly what you need to do - it's like being locked out of your house but knowing there's a spare key somewhere: 1. Call the IRS main number (800-829-1040) first thing in the morning (7am EST) when wait times are shortest 2. Request they resend the letter to your verified address 3. Ask for a 30-day extension from the date you receive the new letter 4. Get the name and ID number of the representative you speak with 5. Ask specifically what documentation you'll need to prepare I've seen this happen to 8 different people this tax season alone. The mail system has been particularly problematic with IRS notices. Don't stress - this is fixable as long as you're proactive.

Success story here! The exact same thing happened to me in February. According to the IRS.gov FAQ section on missing notices, I requested a reissued letter, received it within 10 days, and responded immediately. My refund was processed 16 days later. Make sure to check your address is correct in the IRS system - I discovered mine had an incorrect apartment number which is why I never got the original notice.

This happens every year! My credit union holds my refund for exactly 3 days after it appears pending. Last year I called them 5 times trying to get it released early when I could see it sitting there. They gave me the exact same explanation - that the Federal Reserve settlement date is binding and they can't release it until then. I'm worried this year about timing because I have a mortgage payment due exactly 1 day after my scheduled deposit date, and if there's any delay I might get hit with a $58.43 late fee.

Switch banks next year! 😂 Seriously though, some banks release IRS refunds immediately while others hold them until the official date. I use Capital One and they've always given me access to my refund as soon as it hits my account as pending. Maybe worth considering a different financial institution if this is a major inconvenience for you. At least the PATH delay is over and refunds are flowing now!