This happens more than people think. System flags first. Letter comes later. Sometimes letter never comes. IRS systems don't sync properly. Had this last year. Called and verified. No letter ever arrived. Got my refund anyway. Don't just wait.

Be careful with this situation. Back in 2022, I had a similar transcript update but no verification letter. I assumed it was a glitch and did nothing. My return ended up in the error resolution department for 4 months. When I finally reached someone, they told me my verification window had expired and I had to start the process over. If you see verification codes on your transcript, I'd recommend proactively contacting them even without a letter - just make sure you're calling legitimate IRS numbers to avoid scams.

For those who need their refund urgently and can't wait for NetSpend's processing, you might consider setting up direct deposit verification with the IRS portal for future refunds. This establishes a more reliable deposit timeline and eliminates the intermediary processing delay that often occurs with prepaid cards. The ACH processing timeline typically shows that funds released from the Treasury on a Monday or Tuesday will reach most financial institutions by Wednesday or Thursday, though the actual posting time depends on the institution's batch processing schedule.

I think it might be helpful to share that my NetSpend deposit just hit about 20 minutes ago! My transcript showed 3/17 as the deposit date, and it came through around 2:15pm EST today. Last year it was almost exactly the same timing. Maybe check your accounts again soon?

I've seen exactly 1,247 posts about the 826 code in this subreddit over the past 3 years, and I'm always impressed when people give correct information! The 826 is 100% the GOOD code - it means your refund is being issued. The amount shown (let's say it's $3,452) is what your boyfriend is getting, not what's being deducted. His refund should arrive precisely on 3/13 unless his bank processes deposits early. The community wisdom here is solid - if there were deductions or offsets, you'd see entirely different codes like 898 or specific penalty codes in the 600-range.

Instead of trying to interpret transcript codes yourself, have your boyfriend create an online account at IRS.gov if he doesn't already have one. Then go to the Tax Records section and look at the Account Transcript. Scroll all the way to the bottom to see the final account balance. If it shows $0.00, that means the entire refund is being issued. The Transaction Code Summary section will also show the final refund amount. This approach gives you the complete picture rather than trying to interpret individual codes in isolation.

Be extremely cautious with tax preparers who calculate fees based on refund percentage. Last year, my sister paid $450 for a basic return with one W-2 and standard deduction because the preparer charged 10% of her refund. She didn't realize until after filing that she could have done it herself for free with IRS Free File. Additionally, that preparer incorrectly claimed education credits she wasn't eligible for, which resulted in an adjustment letter six months later requiring repayment with interest. Have you verified whether your current preparer has proper credentials? Many display PTIN numbers but lack actual certification.

Compared to using paid services like TurboTax or H&R Block, I've found that the IRS Free File program works just as well for most basic tax situations. Last year I paid $89 for TurboTax Deluxe, but this year I qualified for Free File (income under $73,000) and the experience was nearly identical but completely free. The interface isn't as polished as the paid options, but it asks all the same questions and handles all standard forms. I'm putting that saved money toward my student loan payment this month instead of padding some tax company's profits.

I waited exactly 14 days for my verification letter to arrive by mail despite selecting paperless delivery for EVERYTHING. Called the IRS 3 times about it only to be told it's their standard procedure. Such a waste of time and resources in 2024! They should at least clearly state this exception somewhere during signup instead of making us think we did something wrong.

Has anyone tried updating their address recently before requesting verification? I'm wondering if this might delay the process even more compared to someone with a stable address. I'm slightly concerned about timing since tax deadlines are approaching.