Be extremely cautious with tax preparers who calculate fees based on refund percentage. Last year, my sister paid $450 for a basic return with one W-2 and standard deduction because the preparer charged 10% of her refund. She didn't realize until after filing that she could have done it herself for free with IRS Free File. Additionally, that preparer incorrectly claimed education credits she wasn't eligible for, which resulted in an adjustment letter six months later requiring repayment with interest. Have you verified whether your current preparer has proper credentials? Many display PTIN numbers but lack actual certification.

Compared to using paid services like TurboTax or H&R Block, I've found that the IRS Free File program works just as well for most basic tax situations. Last year I paid $89 for TurboTax Deluxe, but this year I qualified for Free File (income under $73,000) and the experience was nearly identical but completely free. The interface isn't as polished as the paid options, but it asks all the same questions and handles all standard forms. I'm putting that saved money toward my student loan payment this month instead of padding some tax company's profits.

I waited exactly 14 days for my verification letter to arrive by mail despite selecting paperless delivery for EVERYTHING. Called the IRS 3 times about it only to be told it's their standard procedure. Such a waste of time and resources in 2024! They should at least clearly state this exception somewhere during signup instead of making us think we did something wrong.

Has anyone tried updating their address recently before requesting verification? I'm wondering if this might delay the process even more compared to someone with a stable address. I'm slightly concerned about timing since tax deadlines are approaching.

My verification journey was like waiting for a cake to bake without being able to open the oven door. Verified on Feb 1st, and exactly 32 days later my transcript updated. The refund showed up 6 days after that. The IRS is basically running on computer systems from when disco was popular, so everything takes longer than it should. The 9-week estimate is like when your contractor says the kitchen remodel will take 2 weeks - they're padding the timeline.

Did you get any confirmation number or documentation when you verified in person? Have you tried calling the Identity Verification line directly instead of the main IRS number?

I had this exact situation on February 23rd, 2023. Filed on February 7th, 2023 with TurboTax. Got the acceptance confirmation on February 8th, 2023. Checked transcript on February 23rd, 2023 and saw the Non-Filing Verification Letter. Called IRS on February 24th, 2023 and they confirmed my return was in the system but not fully processed. My transcript finally updated on March 9th, 2023 and I received my refund via direct deposit on March 14th, 2023. The IRS representative explained this happens frequently during peak filing season when their systems are processing millions of returns simultaneously. The acceptance confirmation is the key indicator your return was received - the transcript system simply hasn't caught up yet.

I've been through this process multiple times and here's exactly what's happening: Step 1: Your return is transmitted to the IRS through TurboTax Step 2: The IRS sends an acknowledgment that they've received it Step 3: Your return enters the processing queue Step 4: While in this queue, your transcript still shows as "not filed" Step 5: Once processing begins, your transcript will update The Non-Filing Verification Letter appears because the system is technically correct - your return hasn't completed processing yet. I'm skeptical of quick fixes for this situation. Despite what some suggest, this is simply how the IRS systems work. The confirmation from TurboTax is your proof that the return was submitted successfully. I wouldn't worry unless this continues past March 15th, at which point it might indicate a deeper issue requiring intervention.

I can confirm this timeline is consistent with current IRS processing procedures. Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1.5.7, EITC claims filed early in the season should complete processing within 21 days after the February 15th PATH Act release date. My return was accepted February 3rd, held per PATH Act until February 15th, processed by February 28th, and deposited March 1st. The system is working as designed this year, which is a significant improvement over the 2021-2022 processing delays we experienced during the pandemic backlog.

Thx for sharing this! Just got my DD today too w/ EITC and CTC. Filed 2/10, accepted same day, WMR updated 2/28, DD today 3/2. Used TT and BoA. Seems like most ppl w/ EITC are getting pmts right around now. Huge relief tbh, was starting to stress bc my car payment is due Monday. Anyone know if the 2nd half of CTC comes separately or was it all included in this refund?