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.

I've experienced these IRS staffing fluctuations before. Last year, I filed in February assuming early filing would mean faster processing. My return contained Schedule C business income and some investment losses. Despite electronic filing, my return was selected for manual review due to the Discriminant Function System (DFS) scoring. This extended my wait from the standard 21 days to nearly 9 weeks. The delay wasn't announced anywhere - I only discovered it after calling multiple times. The lesson? Complex returns face longer delays regardless of when you file, and these staffing issues will only exacerbate that problem.

According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.4.1, the IRS is still bound by the requirement to issue most refunds within 45 days of the filing deadline to avoid paying interest on refunds. While staffing issues may cause some delays, they have strong incentives to maintain processing speeds. The IRS has also implemented Integrated Enterprise Operations (IEO) which allows for more flexible workforce deployment during peak periods. I would recommend proceeding with your filing as planned, ensuring you use e-file with direct deposit, and maintaining documentation of your submission date per Treasury Regulation §301.6402-2.

When my wife and I PCS'd to Fort Bragg last year, we ran into the exact same issue! The ID.me verification kept failing because our cell phones were still registered to our previous address in a different state. What worked for us was visiting the local Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. I made an appointment through the IRS website, brought my military ID, last year's tax return, and two forms of identification. The representative was able to print the transcripts right there! It took about 45 minutes total, but we walked out with everything we needed. Most bases have a TAC within reasonable driving distance.

Military families face this constantly. Not just with IRS. With everything. Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Try the Taxpayer Advocate Service. They help military specifically. Call your installation's legal assistance office too. They have connections. Don't create new accounts. Bad idea. Flags your file. Causes more problems. Trust me on this one.

Last year my transcript showed Feb 17th, then changed to Feb 21st. I panicked because I needed that money for a car repair. Compared to my sister who uses direct deposit to her bank account - she never sees these date changes. I think it has something to do with how H&R Block processes the deposits compared to regular banks. The emerald card is convenient for getting your refund without paying the tax prep fees upfront, but this date-changing thing happens every year. Still, I got my money on the 21st exactly as the updated transcript showed.

I believe I might have some insight into this specific situation. I've been tracking DDD patterns for PATH Act returns with cycle code 05 for the past few years, and there appears to be a correlation between filing date and these date adjustments. Returns accepted between January 12-15 (like yours) frequently show an initial DDD that gets pushed back by 3-4 days. In approximately 87% of the cases I've documented, the funds were deposited on the second date. Would you mind confirming whether your return included EIC or ACTC credits? Those seem to be particularly susceptible to this pattern.

Did your transcript show any TC 570 or 971 codes before updating with the 846 Refund Issued code? I'm currently stuck in PATH verification with those hold codes and wondering if there's a typical sequence before getting the DDD. Also, which bank are you using for direct deposit? Some financial institutions process IRS deposits differently than others.

I track all my tax refunds meticulously for budgeting purposes. For PATH Act returns with EITC/ACTC, the IRS typically releases refunds on Wednesdays following the February 15th processing date. My transcript updated on 2/15 with an 846 code showing DDD of 2/22, while WMR still showed PATH until 2/19. Refund hit my Capital One account at 3:27am on 2/22 exactly. If your transcript shows cycle code 20240705 or 20240706, you're in this week's processing batch and should expect deposit precisely on your DDD.