I work with tax clients and see this frequently. Check the IRS2Go app for a different view of her status - sometimes it shows more info than the website. Also, according to IRS.gov/refunds, they're still processing some returns from early 2023 due to staffing shortages. If it's been more than 9 months, you definitely qualify for Taxpayer Advocate help, which you can request online at taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov.

I experienced an 11-month delay for my daughter's first return. Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.6, first-time filers often undergo additional verification procedures that can add 120-180 days to processing time. In our case, her return was stuck in the Income Verification Program (IVP) due to her college reporting scholarship income differently than she reported it. Once we identified this through her transcript and provided documentation, the refund was released within 3 weeks.

PLEASE be careful about counting on a specific date! I'm literally crying right now because I was PROMISED my refund by March 15th and planned my rent payment around it! The IRS website said 21 days, my tax preparer said 21 days, but here I am on day 36 with NOTHING! Now I'm facing late fees and possibly eviction because I trusted their timeline! Don't make financial commitments based on expected refund dates!!!

Has anyone tried using the IRS2Go app instead of the website? I've found it sometimes updates faster than the website, though why would the same agency have different information on different platforms? Also, have you checked if you have any past-due federal debts that might cause an offset? Student loans, child support, state taxes from previous years? Those can silently delay your refund without any notification until after the fact.

I'm not entirely sure, but could there possibly be an issue with the routing number you used? CashApp sometimes provides different routing numbers for government deposits versus regular direct deposits... Have you verified that you used the correct routing number specifically for tax refunds?

This is a common issue with fintech platforms like CashApp during peak tax season. The Automated Clearing House (ACH) network that processes these transactions operates on a batch processing schedule, and some financial institutions hold incoming government deposits for additional verification. The trace number indicates successful transmission from the Treasury Department, but CashApp's internal processing may take 3-5 additional business days. If your CashApp account is not fully verified (requiring SSN, ID verification, and address confirmation), this can extend the holding period to 7-10 business days under FinCEN regulations.

I was in EXACTLY the same situation on February 12th this year. Had my 846 code but my "5 days early" refund was nowhere to be found. Tried calling my tax preparer but was on hold for 1 hour and 45 minutes before giving up. Finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to the IRS directly. They confirmed my refund was actually sent on the 846 date (not 5 days early) and that my tax preparer should have explained this better. Called the preparer again using Claimyr and got through in 20 minutes - they fixed it same day.

These "5 days early" options are basically marketing gimmicks. I fell for it last year. What they don't tell you is it's actually a loan against your expected refund, not your actual refund arriving early. My experience: I had an 846 date of 3/17, opted for the "early" refund, and got absolutely nothing until 3/19 - two days AFTER my scheduled date. When I called to complain, they said the advance was "declined" but never bothered to tell me. Then my actual refund came through normal IRS channels. Check your tax prep paperwork carefully. There should be a separate disclosure about the refund advance with specific terms.

Have you checked if you have any past due debts that might cause an offset? Sometimes your refund gets held up because it's going to pay something else (student loans, child support, etc.). Not saying that's what's happening to you, but it's worth considering... unless you're one of those rare unicorns with no debt! *laughs in student loans*

According to IRS Publication 2043, normal processing time for e-filed returns should be 21 days. However, during peak filing season, this can extend significantly. I filed February 9th and just received my refund yesterday. The IRS representative I spoke with confirmed they're experiencing higher than normal verification rates due to identity theft prevention measures implemented for Tax Year 2023 returns.