This sounds like a classic case of the IRS's automatic split allocation system. Unlike stimulus payments which were one-time distributions, the Child Tax Credit has ongoing monthly payments with more complex rules. In comparison, when there was an issue with my Earned Income Credit, it was resolved with a single phone call because it wasn't subject to the same allocation algorithms. Your best approach is to contact the IRS directly and specifically mention that you have full custody per a court order and the payments should not be split. Have your divorce decree ready when you call.

I experienced this exact issue on April 15th last year! The IRS had somehow reactivated my ex-spouse's claim despite our divorce agreement clearly stating I had full custody and tax benefit rights. When I finally reached an agent on April 18th, they explained their system had automatically split the payment due to conflicting information in their database. Here's the critical part: they can fix it, but you MUST provide the exact date of your divorce finalization and reference the custody agreement. Without those specific details, they'll just tell you to claim the difference on your tax return instead of fixing the monthly payments.

I think the estimates are... generally accurate, but there's always exceptions. My return with EITC actually processed faster than expected this year, which was a nice surprise after hearing all the horror stories. I'd say plan for 21 days but don't be shocked if it takes a bit longer.

Has anyone noticed if filing in the evening versus morning makes any difference? Or does the day of the week matter at all for how quickly they start processing?

FreeTaxUSA is totally fine, I've used it for years with no issues. The software doesn't affect how quickly your refund is processed or delivered. That's all on the IRS's end. If your transcript shows it was sent but you haven't received it, that's an IRS or banking issue, not a FreeTaxUSA problem.

What specific codes do you see on your transcript? If it shows a 846 code with the 4th date, that means it was sent. But sometimes there are other codes that can give more context about what's happening with your refund.

The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service can also help if you filed on January 23rd and it's now April 11th - that's 78 days which exceeds their normal processing timeline. Call them at 877-777-4778 if you're facing financial hardship due to your delayed refund. Their office opens at 7:00 AM local time, and they typically have shorter wait times than the main IRS line.

I was in your exact situation. Filed Jan 25th. Called the Practitioner Priority Line at 866-860-4259 and told them I was calling on behalf of a client (me). Got through in 15 minutes. Agent explained my return was flagged for income verification. Got my deposit 8 days later. Sometimes you need to be creative.

The community wisdom here is that in-person verification actually speeds things up considerably. Most people who verify in person report getting their refunds within 2-3 weeks rather than the full 9 weeks the IRS quotes. The system is designed to be cautious with timelines, but the actual processing is usually much faster. I'd be concerned if you don't see transcript updates within 10 days though - that might indicate a secondary review is happening.

Think of your tax return like a plane waiting for clearance. Right now, you've been pulled aside for extra security screening, but you've completed that process. You're not at the back of the line again - you're just waiting for the final boarding call. Like a plane that's already loaded and just needs tower clearance, your return is prioritized once verification is complete. It's like being moved from the general security line to the pre-check line - still some waiting, but definitely faster than starting over.