
Ask the community...
I was in your exact shoes last month! My landlord was breathing down my neck and I was checking WMR literally every hour. For me, it actually DID update on a Sunday morning around 5am. I remember because I had been up all night worrying and decided to check one more time before trying to sleep. Suddenly it showed a deposit date! Three days later the money was in my account. Hang in there - I know exactly how stressful the waiting game is when housing is on the line.
FINALLY got my refund after being stuck on one bar for 47 days! And yes, my WMR actually did update on a Saturday morning. I had filed with EITC and CTC on February 2nd, got stuck in review forever. The transcript updated first with an 846 code, then WMR updated about 12 hours later with a direct deposit date. The relief when that money hit my account was indescribable. I was able to catch up on two months of back rent. Hoping you get your update this weekend!
I'd suggest a more proactive approach than just waiting. According to IRC ยง7811, you can request Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance if you're experiencing a significant hardship due to IRS delays. The definition of "significant hardship" includes the need to meet essential educational expenses. I filed exactly 52 days ago and was given the same "system issues" explanation. I submitted Form 911 to TAS on day 46 and received a case advocate within 4 business days. My case is still pending, but at least there's someone specifically assigned to help resolve it. The TAS agent confirmed they've received exactly 14,723 cases related to these system delays in the past 30 days alone, so this is definitely a widespread issue.
Just to clarify something important: these "system issues" are different from the normal processing delays we see every year. Regular processing delays typically show different transcript codes (usually a 570 followed by a 971 within days). What's happening now is that returns get a 570 code but then no subsequent action for weeks. Compared to the 2023 tax season when we saw similar technical issues in February, the current situation is affecting roughly twice as many returns. Last year's processing bottleneck was resolved by mid-April, so there's reason to believe this will clear up in the coming weeks.
I was in almost the exact same situation as you! Filed March 7th, accepted same day, and just got my DDD for March 27th this morning. Here's what I did: 1. Made sure all my information matched my previous return exactly 2. Double-checked all numbers before submitting 3. Filed electronically with direct deposit 4. Didn't claim any credits that might delay processing 5. Made sure my AGI from last year was entered correctly for identity verification I think being meticulous about accuracy really helps speed things along. The system seems to flag even minor discrepancies for review.
Did you check your tax transcript online to see if there were any specific codes that appeared before you got your DDD? The Where's My Refund tool doesn't show much detail, but the transcript often has codes like 570/971 that can indicate what's happening behind the scenes. The IRS website has information about these codes, but they can be confusing to interpret: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
I called the Treasury Offset Program on January 15th, 2024 and confirmed they are definitely offsetting for defaulted student loans this tax season. The automated system will tell you if you have an offset, how much, and which agency placed it. If your loans are with ED, you might still have options. The Fresh Start program launched on September 30th, 2023 allows you to get loans out of default quickly. Call your loan servicer directly after confirming an offset - sometimes they can help even after you've filed but before the offset occurs.
I had my entire $3,700 refund offset last year for old student loans I forgot about from a certificate program! Never even got a notice beforehand. Called the offset number afterward and they confirmed it went to Department of Education. When I called ED, they told me if I had set up a rehabilitation plan before filing, I could have avoided it. Are you expecting a large refund? If so, might be worth looking into rehabilitation even if you're planning to eventually pay it all off.
Just to clarify what's happening with your account: โข You've already completed the verification process correctly โข The "Action Required" message is misleading โข The system hasn't updated the status display yet โข No additional action is needed from you at this point โข The 9-week timeline is the maximum, not typical โข Most accounts update within 3-5 weeks after verification โข Checking your transcript is more reliable than the portal
I had something sort of similar happen last year, if I remember correctly. The verification process seemed to go through fine, but the portal kept showing that I needed to take action for what seemed like forever. I think it was about, maybe, 5 or 6 weeks before it finally updated? And then, surprisingly, my refund showed up in my account just a few days after that. It's possible that the system might just be slow to reflect the actual status, from what I've gathered.
Did the preparer give you copies of both your federal and state returns? Always request complete copies of everything they file. Did they clearly break down their fees for each service? What credentials did they have? PTIN? EA? CPA?
Also, did they have you sign separate e-file authorization forms for both federal and state? That's another red flag if they only had you sign for federal.
7d
This varies by state and preparer type. H&R Block and similar national chains typically include both federal and state in their basic package. Independent CPAs often charge separately but are transparent about it. The shadiest operations are the temporary storefronts that pop up January-April and disappear right after the filing deadline. Compared to other countries, our multi-tiered tax system creates these opportunities for confusion and sometimes deception.
According to SBTPG's official FAQ page (https://www.sbtpg.com/FAQ), they state: "Once the IRS releases the funds to TPG, we will process the payment and send the remaining balance to you within 1-2 business days." However, community tracking on r/tax and various Facebook groups shows the actual average is closer to 24 hours, with outliers ranging from same-day to 3 business days. The SBTPG website's status checker at https://taxpayer.sbtpg.com/ is notoriously slow to update, often showing "unfunded" hours after the money has actually been received. For fastest notification, set up direct alerts with your bank rather than relying on SBTPG's portal.
Have you considered avoiding SBTPG altogether next year? Why let a middleman hold your money when you have alternatives? Option 1: Pay your tax prep fees upfront instead of from your refund. This eliminates SBTPG completely. Option 2: Use direct deposit information on your return instead of a refund transfer product. Option 3: File with free services if you qualify (many people do but don't realize it). The convenience of paying fees from your refund costs you both time and potentially money. Is saving a few weeks of waiting for your refund worth losing 1-3 days of access to your money during refund season?
This is such great advice! I never thought about it this way before. I've been doing the refund transfer for years just because it seemed easier, but you're right - I'm basically paying extra and waiting longer for my own money. Definitely paying upfront next year!
7d
Thanks for breaking down these options so clearly. I've been frustrated with SBTPG delays for years but never considered just paying upfront. The free filing option is especially interesting - do you know where to find legitimate free filing services that don't try to upsell you halfway through?
7d
Just checked the IRS2Go app and it shows my check was mailed March 15th, but after reading this post I called using the number from irs.gov/refunds and discovered it won't actually go out until March 25th! Thank you so much for posting this - I was about to file Form 3911 (Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund) thinking my check was lost. Saved me a ton of hassle!
Be extremely cautious about this situation. In 2023, my check showed as mailed on April 12th, but wasn't actually sent until April 28th - exactly 16 days later. When it didn't arrive by April 26th, I filed Form 3911 thinking it was lost. This created a complete mess in their system because they had to cancel the check that hadn't actually been sent yet, then reissue a new one. The entire process took 9 weeks and 4 days to resolve, and required 3 separate calls to the IRS. Always wait at least 4 weeks from the WMR mail date before taking any action.
Not sure all these DDD posts are helpful. My bank never follows the pattern others describe. Last year I had a 3/15 date. Nothing came. Called IRS after 5 days. They said wait 21 days from DDD. Ended up getting a paper check 6 weeks later. Something about my direct deposit info being "rejected" even though it was correct. Anyone else have this happen? Worried about this year too.
Your experience highlights an important point: โข Bank account verification failures can trigger a paper check โข Even one digit being incorrect can cause rejection โข Some banks have been known to reject Treasury deposits with name mismatches โข IRS systems don't always notify you of the rejection immediately โข Paper checks typically take 2-4 weeks after a DD rejection I'd suggest double-checking your banking details on your return.
7d
Oh no, that sounds so frustrating! ๐ I had something similar happen to my sister last year when she got married and changed her name but her bank account was still in her maiden name. The mismatch caused her direct deposit to be rejected! Hopefully this year goes more smoothly for you! ๐ค
7d
According to the Automated Clearing House (ACH) processing protocols, the IRS initiates a batch transfer to financial institutions on the morning of the designated DDD. This transfer includes a Settlement Date field that instructs when funds should be made available to account holders. Financial institutions are obligated to comply with NACHA regulations regarding fund availability, but internal processing schedules may cause variations in actual posting times. For 3/27 DDDs, expect most major banks to post between midnight and 6:00 AM Eastern Time, though credit unions often operate on different processing cycles.
Do credit unions typically process faster or slower than traditional banks? My previous credit union took exactly 24 hours after my DDD to post. Current bank is Chase. Need to know if I should expect the same timing.
7d
Wow, you really know your stuff about how all this works! ๐ฎ I've been with three different banks over the years and they've all handled my tax refunds differently. My current credit union is amazing and usually makes the funds available the moment they receive them! Have you noticed any patterns with specific banks being consistently faster or slower?
7d
Zara Rashid
While the 846 code is generally positive, I'd recommend monitoring your bank account closely over the next 48-72 hours. I experienced a situation last year where my transcript showed an 846 code with a refund date, but the deposit was rejected by my financial institution due to an account verification issue. The IRS then had to reissue a paper check which took an additional 3 weeks to arrive. If you don't see the deposit by April 1st, contact your bank first to verify they haven't rejected any incoming government deposits, then contact the IRS if needed.
0 coins
Write a comment...
Luca Romano
Do you know if having an offset affects when you'll actually get the money? I'm in the same boat but I have student loans in default.
0 coins
NebulaNova
Does anyone know exactly how many days it takes for the Treasury Offset Program to process a refund with offsets? My transcript shows code 846 dated March 25th, 2024, but I'm expecting approximately 37% of my refund to be applied to my defaulted student loans. It's been exactly 3 days and I haven't received the remaining portion yet.
0 coins
7d
Mateo Hernandez
Have you checked if you received a notice about the offset? When your refund gets intercepted for debts, the IRS should send you a notice explaining what happened. You might want to call them directly to confirm the exact amount that was offset and when you'll get the remainder.
0 coins
7d
Write a comment...