Be careful about counting on that remaining refund too soon! My situation last year was like someone promising to return most of your wallet after taking some cash out - except they never mentioned when. The IRS took $1,700 for an old student loan (which hurt but I understood), but then I waited almost 5 WEEKS for the remaining $800. Compared to my friend who got her full refund in 10 days, it felt like I was being punished twice. The worst part was that I'd already budgeted for that money to cover bills, and ended up having to use my credit card instead. Just prepare yourself that it might take longer than the "typical" timeline everyone mentions.

I think it's important to clarify that there are actually several factors that might affect your specific timeline. While most offsets process within 2-3 weeks, it can sometimes take longer depending on, potentially, the type of debt being offset, the agency receiving the offset, and whether there are any discrepancies that need to be resolved. Additionally, your refund method makes a difference - direct deposit is generally faster than paper checks. If you received an offset notice but haven't received the remaining funds within 4 weeks, you may want to contact the IRS directly to ensure there isn't another issue delaying your refund.

Have you checked the WMAR tool instead of just WMR? In my experience from the past three filing seasons, the Where's My Amended Return tool sometimes shows different information even if you didn't file an amended return. Last year my return was delayed with a similar code pattern, and WMAR showed a message about verification that the regular WMR tool didn't display. The 0505 code typically resolves within 21 days of the "as of" date, but I've seen it take up to 30 days in some cases.

Just got my refund yesterday after having the exact same situation! 0505 code with 5/13 date, and I was watching everyone else celebrate their deposits while I refreshed my transcript hourly like it was a social media feed 😂 My 846 code suddenly appeared on Tuesday night's update, and the money hit my account this morning. Hang in there - the system seems completely random sometimes, but it does eventually work.

I think everyone here is on the right track. From my research: • "This return has been paid" = TaxAct received their fees • This typically happens when the IRS has processed your refund • The refund is usually in a final processing stage • Most users report receiving direct deposits 2-5 days after seeing this status • Military families sometimes see slightly faster processing times Just be patient a few more days. Your money is most likely on the way!

Want to know what's really happening behind the scenes? When you see "This return has been paid," it means your refund has hit the TaxAct processing bank. They've taken their fees and are now forwarding the remainder to your account. Why don't they just say that clearly? Because tax software companies aren't required to use standardized status language. Have you noticed how each company uses different terminology? It's a common source of confusion every tax season, but the good news is that your money is almost certainly on its way to you.

FYI - the 21 day timeline isn't always accurate. WMR isn't super reliable tbh. If you don't have EITC or ACTC (which delays processing bc of PATH Act), and your return was accepted on 2/5, you're prob fine. Check your transcript online - it's way more accurate than WMR. Look for TC 846 code w/ a date. That's your DDD (direct deposit date). No TC 846 yet? You're still processing. Simple returns are moving pretty quick rn from what I've seen.

I work with tax preparation and can tell you that returns filed on February 5th, 2024 are currently being processed in batches. From our client data (sample size of 142 returns), those with similar filing dates received refunds between February 19th and February 26th, with an average processing time of exactly 16.3 days. If you filed with direct deposit and have no complex credits, you should see your refund by tomorrow or Thursday at the latest based on current processing patterns. Returns with medical expense deductions over $12,000 sometimes trigger additional review, but that would typically show a 570 code on your transcript.

Been thru this rodeo b4. Got my advance from JH on Jan 18, DDD was 2/22, and refund finally hit my acct today (2/24). They take extra time to make sure they got their money back + fees. NBD but super annoying when ur counting on that $$$. My transcript showed refund issued but took 2 extra days to actually show up. Same thing happened last yr.

For anyone still waiting, this is completely normal with refund advances. The process works like this: IRS sends your refund to the financial institution that gave you the advance → They verify and deduct their loan amount and fees → Then they forward the remainder to your personal account. This additional step typically adds 1-3 business days beyond your DDD. If it's been more than 5 business days since your DDD, then you should contact both the financial institution and the tax preparer.

Have you checked your tax transcript instead of relying on WMR? The transcript often updates before WMR does and provides more detailed information. Could your return have any potential flags that might trigger additional review? Sometimes even small discrepancies between what employers reported and what you claimed can cause delays. I've found that creating an online account with the IRS and checking transcripts weekly gives much better insight than the WMR tool.

Does your transcript show any specific cycle codes? Those might indicate when your return will be processed. Also, have you received any notices in the mail from the IRS? Sometimes they send verification requests that don't show up on the online systems right away.

I'm not convinced your tax preparer is giving you the best advice here. Switching payment methods this close to your DDD is risky for several reasons: • The IRS doesn't process these changes quickly • Paper checks take longer to arrive by default • Any change could trigger additional verification • Your refund could end up in limbo between systems Why would your preparer suggest this now rather than when you filed? Seems like an unnecessary complication.

Stick with direct deposit. Paper checks take longer. Always. IRS doesn't prioritize paper checks. They go out in batches. Direct deposit hits your account same day as DDD. Paper checks can take 1-3 weeks after DDD. Trust me on this. Been doing taxes for 12 years.

Don't worry too much about this! I'm seeing this pattern all over the forums right now. The IRS batch processing system is working through a backlog, but they're still on schedule. I'm so relieved every time I see someone post about receiving their refund even when their transcript didn't update until the last minute. Trust the process date more than the transcript updates - they're often accurate even when the visual systems lag behind.

According to the IRS Processing Cycles documentation (https://www.irs.gov/irm/part3/irm_03-012-003r), cycle code 0505 indicates your return was processed on the 5th workday of the week (Friday) in the 5th cycle of the year. The transcripts typically update overnight Thursday to Friday, but system delays can cause a lag between actual processing and transcript visibility. Your direct deposit should still follow the timeline provided by the IRS representative, regardless of transcript status.

Have you checked if you have any notices in your online account? I've seen this happen before where the transcript shows no return filed but there's actually a notice explaining why. Back in 2022, I had a client with this exact scenario and it turned out there was an identity verification requirement that wasn't obvious from just looking at the transcript.

I had cycle code 1005 last year and eventually got my refund without any issues! It took exactly 28 days from acceptance to deposit. The transcript showed "no return filed" for about 3 weeks, then suddenly updated with all my information. Are you seeing any other codes on your transcript? Do you have access to your account transcript as well as return transcript?

According to IRS Publication 2043 and Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, the 846 code (Refund Issued) indicates that the refund has been approved and scheduled for direct deposit. While the DDD is the official date, financial institutions offering early deposit features like Chime are permitted to advance funds to customers once they receive the payment file from the Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service, which typically occurs 1-2 business days before the official DDD.

I think I might be in a similar situation as you... I got my 846 code yesterday with a 2/26 date. I'm with Chime too, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much about it coming early. Last year I had a 2/15 date and it didn't hit until exactly that day, even though others with Chime got theirs early. Maybe it depends on when in the day the IRS actually sends the file? I'm just trying to be patient and assume it'll come on the actual date so I don't drive myself crazy checking my account.