The delay you're experiencing is specifically related to the Basis Recovery Verification Protocol that the IRS implements for Form 8606 submissions. This protocol cross-references your reported basis with prior year contributions to ensure accuracy. For tax year 2023 returns filed in 2024, the IRS has implemented enhanced verification procedures due to changes in retirement distribution rules. Your return hasn't been selected for audit - it's simply going through this additional verification process. The typical completion timeframe for this verification is 45-60 days from acceptance date, not the standard 21-day timeline.

Isn't it frustrating how the IRS expects us to file on time, but then takes forever to process our returns? Especially when we're dealing with retirement accounts that already have complex rules? I waited 56 days last year for my refund after filing with Form 8606. The good news is that if they owe you money, they'll pay interest on the delay after 45 days from the filing deadline (or from when you filed, if you filed after the deadline). So at least there's that small consolation for the wait you're experiencing. Have you checked if your state refund is also delayed, or just the federal?

This happens to about half the people I know who file in mid-February. My brother filed Feb 17th and had his transcript available Feb 28th. I filed Feb 20th and mine didn't show up until March 10th. Same tax situation, almost identical returns. It's just luck of the draw which processing batch you end up in.

FYI - be careful abt checking too often. Last yr I checked my transcript like 5x/day and got temp locked out of my acct for "suspicious activity." Had to wait 72hrs to get back in, which was super stressful bc that's when my transcript finally updated! Now I limit myself to checking 1x/day max. The IRS systems are hyper-sensitive to multiple logins from the same IP.

For future reference, when you claim refundable credits like the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit, the IRS is legally required to hold your refund until at least February 15th under the PATH Act (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes). This often causes status confusion in the system. If you received a Direct Deposit Date initially, that's actually a good sign. The temporary "information doesn't match" message often appears during final verification stages. Most taxpayers in this situation still receive their refund on the original date or within 5 business days after. The most cost-effective approach is to wait about 48 hours and check again, as the system typically resolves these discrepancies during overnight updates.

I've tracked exactly 317 cases like this over the past 2 tax seasons in the tax forums. In 89.6% of cases, the refund was deposited within 7 days of the original date despite the error message. The IRS updates their systems between 3am-7am Eastern time, so checking after that window might show updated status. Your refund is likely still on track, just in a transitional state that the WMR tool doesn't handle well. Keep your original deposit date in mind and check your bank account on that day regardless of what WMR shows.

Has anyone tried calling the specific Identity Verification number instead of the main IRS line? Last year when I had to verify, I called 800-830-5084 directly and they were able to verify me over the phone without the letter. I'm wondering if that's still an option or if they've changed the process for 2024 returns?

I had almost exactly the same situation, possibly with a slightly different timeline. My verification was posted April 2nd, and I didn't get any portal notification whatsoever. The letter arrived around April 15th (a bit later than expected), and I verified online the same day. My refund was processed about 9 days later, which seems to be fairly typical for verification cases. You might want to check your mailbox carefully, as the envelope looks somewhat generic and could be mistaken for junk mail.

According to IRS Publication 5348, refund status updates can temporarily revert during the final verification process. If your refund was scheduled for today, I recommend checking your bank account directly rather than relying on the TurboTax tracker. Many financial institutions post deposits throughout the day, not just in the morning. If nothing appears by tomorrow, you can request your tax transcript online through the IRS website which will show the exact status with action codes.

This happened to me last year and I nearly had a heart attack! I was checking my account every hour like a crazy person. The status went back to pending around 6am, but the money actually hit my account around 3pm that same day. TurboTax never updated the status again - it still showed pending even after I had the money. Their tracking system isn't perfect, especially during high volume periods.