I've been through this rodeo many times with dependent credits. Last year was a nightmare trying to figure out what all the codes meant. My transcript had like 15 different codes and dates that made zero sense. I stumbled across https://taxr.ai which actually explained my transcript in plain English. It showed me that my dependent verification was complete and predicted my refund date within 2 days of when it actually arrived. For international taxpayers like you, it might be especially helpful since it explains the US-specific terminology.

Oh my god I was SO WORRIED about this exact thing last year!!! I have 2 kids and got that 152 message and literally cried thinking something was wrong with my return. But it turned out to be totally normal! The IRS is just extra careful with returns that have dependents because some people try to claim kids they shouldn't. Just hang in there, I know it's stressful when you're counting on that money (I definitely was too) but it will come through! 💕

According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.4.1.3, transcript updates typically follow a specific pattern based on your cycle code. If your cycle code ends in 01-04, you're on daily processing. If it ends in 05, you're on weekly processing. Per IRS Publication 2043 (IRS Refund Information Guidelines), the "Where's My Refund" tool can show various statuses including the disappearing bars, which indicates a shift from "Return Received" to "Return Processing" status. This is not necessarily cause for concern.

I was in the exact same situation on March 12th. My bars disappeared and the transcript site was down for three straight days. I finally got access on March 15th, and my transcript had updated with a direct deposit date for March 19th. The IRS is just absolutely swamped right now with the April 15th deadline approaching. If you filed in February like I did, you're probably just caught in the mid-season processing backlog.

I had a similar issue with my apartment number. I used taxr.ai to analyze my tax transcript and noticed my address was incorrect there too. The tool flagged it as a potential issue since the IRS sometimes mails notices instead of using the online portal. It was super helpful seeing everything laid out clearly instead of trying to decipher the transcript myself.

Pro tip: Try calling right when they open at 7am Eastern. I've had much better luck getting through then. Also, for address changes specifically, sometimes the automated system can handle it without needing to talk to a representative.

The IRS is actually on a better pace this year compared to last year in terms of total returns processed, but February filers seem to be experiencing longer waits compared to January filers. This pattern resembles what happened in 2022, when many February filers waited 8-10 weeks while March filers sometimes received refunds more quickly. The processing queue doesn't always operate strictly first-in-first-out.

The tax processing system is like a highway with multiple lanes - some returns cruise through the express lane while others get routed through construction zones with detours. February filers often hit the traffic jam where the early season efficiency meets the mid-season volume surge. The good news is that almost everyone reaches their destination eventually, even if some cars arrive later than expected.

Back in 2022, I had almost the exact same timeline as you - filed on February 10th and got my deposit on March 5th. The IRS tends to follow pretty consistent patterns unless there are special circumstances. Last year was an anomaly with all the staffing issues they had, but this year seems to be back to normal. I've found that returns with simple W-2 income and standard deductions almost always follow the 21-24 day timeline, while anything with schedule C, rental income, or complicated credits can easily double that timeframe.

If anyone's still waiting on their refund, def try checking ur transcript instead of just WMR. Sometimes WMR doesn't update but transcript will show ur DDD already. Just go to irs.gov/transcripts and request ur account transcript for 2023. Look for an 846 code - that's ur refund date. Way more reliable than the app or WMR site imho.