You need to file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) immediately. This isn't technically identity theft in the traditional sense, but the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service has confirmed this is the correct form to use when an ex improperly claims a dependent. The key is to check Box 2 and specifically note "Dependent Claimed Improperly by Non-Custodial Parent" in the explanation. This triggers a different review process than just waiting for them to find your return. I've seen processing time reduced from 6+ months to 8-10 weeks when this form is properly submitted with supporting custody documentation.

The community wisdom on this is pretty consistent: paper returns with competing dependent claims are taking 4-6 months to process in 2024, compared to 2-3 months for standard e-filed returns. Unlike a simple processing delay, your situation is more complex because it involves the Child Tax Credit, which is now $2,000 per qualifying child ($1,600 refundable). This is significantly more than the old dependent exemption amounts, which is why the IRS scrutinizes these cases more carefully than they did 5-10 years ago. In similar situations I've seen, taxpayers who included a detailed explanation letter and custody documentation with their original filing had faster resolution times than those who just filed a standard return.

I had to call the IRS urgently last week for a similar situation. According to Internal Revenue Manual 13.1.7.2.3, taxpayers with medical hardships qualify for expedited assistance. I needed to submit Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate request) after documenting my medical necessity. Don't wait - call first thing tomorrow morning at 7:00am exactly when they open! Every minute counts when dealing with their phone system.

Just to clarify - are you trying to check on a refund that was already approved but hasn't arrived, or are you trying to find out why your return is still being processed? Those might require different approaches. Have you already checked the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website or the IRS2Go app? Sometimes those have more updated information than what phone representatives can access.

FYI - most states have diff processing times rn. Check ur state's DOR website for accurate timeline. NYS = 2-3 wks, CA = 3-4 wks, TX = no state income tax, IL = 4-6 wks. If u filed w/out errors + chose DD, should be faster than paper/check. Make sure u verified ur ID if ur state requires it (many do now). Some states also have refund delays if u claimed certain credits. Hope this helps!

I'm curious - did anyone receive any notification emails from their state's tax department? I filed in late February and set up email notifications for every step, but haven't received anything beyond the initial acceptance confirmation. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about this silence or if it's normal for state processing?

If you need to speak with the IRS about this specific situation, I recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had exactly 3 questions about amending for unemployment that weren't covered in the IRS instructions, and spent precisely 2 hours and 37 minutes on hold trying to reach someone. With Claimyr, I got connected to an IRS agent in 18 minutes. They confirmed I needed to report the $4,267 in unemployment benefits on Form 1040-X, line 1, column B, and include a copy of the 1099-G. The amended return processing time is currently averaging 16-20 weeks according to the agent I spoke with.

Word of caution from someone who ignored this last year: Don't wait too long to amend. I thought "they'll just adjust it automatically" but that's not how it works. The IRS eventually sent me a CP2000 notice (proposed tax change) about 8 months later with penalties and interest added to what I would have owed if I'd just amended promptly. The Underreporter Unit automatically matches 1099-G forms against tax returns, so they WILL catch this eventually. Better to be proactive and avoid the compliance issues that can affect your financial health during an already stressful time.

I may be in the minority here, but I actually prefer calling the IRS directly rather than relying on the online tools. I called the dedicated refund hotline (800-829-1954) last week about my March 9th filing, and while I had to wait about 35 minutes, the representative was surprisingly helpful. She confirmed that my return was selected for a random review (something that wouldn't have been clear from just the transcript codes) but that everything looked good and processing should be complete within 7-10 days. Sure enough, my refund was deposited yesterday, exactly 8 days later. Sometimes, the human touch can provide insights that the automated systems simply can't.

I filed on March 11th, just one day before you, and had the exact same WMR status change on March 18th. My transcript became available on April 8th showing code 570 (temporary hold) dated March 25th. On April 15th, it updated with code 571 (hold released) and code 846 (refund issued) with a date of April 20th. The refund hit my account this morning, April 19th, one day early. The entire process took exactly 39 days from filing to refund. Based on the similar timeline, I'd guess your transcript will update very soon if it hasn't already.