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.

If I understand correctly, this might be related to the software provider's business model, rather than something you selected. Most, though not all, tax preparation companies use SBTPG as their financial processor, even for their free filing options. It seems somewhat counterintuitive, but perhaps it's more cost-effective for them to use a single system for all filings? I'm wondering if anyone has found tax software that bypasses SBTPG entirely?

Unlike online shopping where you can go straight to the manufacturer, tax filing is more like buying through a marketplace that has its own payment processor. I was in the same boat last year - filed completely free but still saw SBTPG handling my refund. The difference? When I paid for premium service in 2022, they took $39.95 off the top. With free filing in 2023, my full amount came through untouched. It took about 36 hours longer than when I filed directly with the IRS in previous years, but every penny arrived safely.

Check your transcript. Online account helps. Shows processing status. CP02 means identity verification. Normal procedure. Need patience. Try calling early morning. Better chances getting through. Keep checking WMR tool daily.

The CP02 is specifically part of the IRS Identity Protection Program, not an audit or review of your dependents. Have you verified your identity through the ID.me portal? Many taxpayers don't realize that until you complete that verification, your return won't continue processing. The IPPP (Identity Protection PIN Program) has expanded significantly in the last two years, and many legitimate returns are being held for verification as a precaution.

Pro tip for anyone else dealing with this: I was in the same situation last month and wasted DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They fixed my line 30 error on the spot and I had my refund 2 weeks later. Worth every penny to not deal with the constant busy signals and disconnects.

Always double-check what tax credits you've already received before filing. The IRS doesn't have an automated system to catch these discrepancies before accepting your return, which is why they cause such long delays. Your tax preparer should have asked you about advance payments.