I had the exact same transcript access issue for 3 years straight. Filed on January 24th this year and couldn't access transcripts since 2021. Called the dedicated transcript hotline (different from the main IRS line) at 800-908-9946 exactly at 7:00am on a Tuesday, waited 42 minutes, and finally got it resolved. The agent explained that my account had a rare TC 971 action code with a -X freeze that was preventing transcript access but not affecting processing. Got my refund exactly 8 days after they fixed the transcript issue. Don't give up!

This tax season feels like being stuck in traffic with no GPS - you know you're on the right road, but have no idea when you'll arrive at your destination. I had a similar experience last year where I couldn't access transcripts and WMR was stuck. It turned out that my return was selected for a "silent audit" - they were verifying my education credits without telling me. The strange thing was, once I got through to an agent who could actually see what was happening, the issue was resolved within days. It's like the IRS is a massive library where only certain librarians know where specific books are shelved.

It's important to understand the distinction between ID verification statuses in the IRS system. The online portal (IDVerify) and telephone verification systems (IDRS) operate on separate databases with asynchronous batch processing. The congratulations page only confirms submission to the IDVerify portal, not integration with your Master File Record. This is why telephone verification is more reliable - it directly updates your Taxpayer Authentication Profile (TAP) in real-time rather than through batch processing.

Had this happen. February filing. Online verify failed. Called in March. Nine week wait started over. Finally got refund last week. Worth the wait. Keep all confirmation numbers. Take names of agents. Document everything. You'll get through this.

You're definitely not alone! I was in the exact same boat - it was like being stuck in tax purgatory. My return was like a letter dropped into a black hole - confirmation it was mailed but no idea where it went after that. Filed Jan 25, accepted Feb 14, and nothing but crickets until March 18. The transcript situation is actually a good sign - it's like the IRS computer system knows you exist but hasn't fully processed your paperwork yet. Mine suddenly updated all at once after about 5 weeks.

Based on what I've seen in this community over the past few months, your situation follows a common pattern this tax season. Many filers from late January are experiencing extended processing times. Several factors might be influencing this: 1. The IRS implemented new verification protocols for 2023 returns 2. Returns with certain credits are taking longer to process 3. The transcript system updates separately from the WMR tool Most people in your situation are seeing movement around the 35-45 day mark. The inability to view current year transcripts while being able to access previous years is actually a normal part of the process - it indicates your return is in the system but hasn't completed initial verification yet.

Pro tip for anyone in this situation now: instead of waiting anxiously for weeks, you can actually call the IRS and speak to someone who can tell you exactly what's happening with your return. I was in the same boat and used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of spending hours on hold. The agent was able to confirm my check had been mailed and even gave me the exact date it was sent out.

I'm on week 5 of waiting after my direct deposit was rejected. This gives me hope! Did your WMR status ever update or did the check just show up?

Have you tried using the IRS2Go app? Sometimes it updates before the website does. Also, irs.gov/refunds often shows more detailed information than just the WMR tool. I've been tracking my refund using both and found that the transcript (which you can get at irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript) gives the most accurate timeline.

FYI - the lookback option is causing delays for tons of ppl this yr. IRS is doing extra verification on those returns. Most TaxSlayer filers w/ CTC and lookback are seeing 25-30 day processing times rn. If ur WMR bar disappeared, that's actually normal - just means it moved to the next processing stage. Hang tight, ur prob looking at another week or so based on current patterns.