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Any Updates from Paper Filers? WMR or Transcript Movement?

Paper filed my 2023 return last month. First time doing this since the divorce. Anyone seeing movement yet? WMR still says 'processing' for me. No transcript updates either. Just checking what others are experiencing. Not getting my hopes up.

Santiago Martinez

I've been tracking paper return processing times carefully. The IRS seems to be taking anywhere from 6-12 weeks for paper returns this year, which is actually somewhat improved from previous years. My research suggests that most paper filers from early February are just now starting to see transcript updates. WMR tends to lag behind actual processing, so checking your transcript might give you earlier indicators of movement.

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Samantha Johnson

Thanks for the actual timeframes. Most people just say "it takes longer" without real numbers. The IRS website claims 4-6 weeks for processing paper returns, but I've never seen that happen in reality.

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21d

Nick Kravitz

I'm probably being overly optimistic, but do you think there's any chance paper returns filed in March might be processed before the end of April? I'm possibly getting a refund and need it for some unexpected expenses...

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19d

Hannah White

Last year I paper filed in February and didn't see any updates until late April. I tried calling the IRS about 20 times with no luck. This year I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was in the system but still processing. At least I know it wasn't lost! If you're concerned about your paper return, getting confirmation from an agent might help ease your mind.

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Michael Green

According to the IRS operations page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're still dealing with a backlog from previous years. Have you considered creating an online account to check your transcript directly? The Where's My Refund tool is notoriously unreliable for paper returns, but transcripts will update as soon as your return enters the system. Worth checking both resources regularly.

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Mateo Silva

I just saw movement on my paper-filed return yesterday, April 6th. I mailed it on February 2nd, so that's about 9 weeks of waiting. What surprised me is that there was zero indication on WMR until suddenly it showed approved! The transcript updated about 3 days before WMR did. I never expected the processing gap to be so significant.

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Victoria Jones

I've been tracking my paper return for exactly 47 days now. No updates until I used taxr.ai to analyze my transcript when it finally appeared. The tool explained that my return was in the processing queue with code 570 (which means additional review). It predicted my refund would be released in 14-21 days based on my specific situation. I'm a bit worried about the delay, but at least I understand what's happening now instead of just seeing cryptic codes.

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Cameron Black

Have you checked your mail carefully? I paper filed in February and never saw any WMR updates, but received a letter requesting additional information. Once I responded, my return was processed within 10 days. The letter was easy to miss - looked like junk mail almost. Have you moved since filing? Did you include all necessary forms and schedules? Did you sign the return? These small details can cause significant delays.

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Jessica Nguyen

• This happened to me too! • Letter came in a very plain envelope • Almost threw it away thinking it was junk • They just needed verification of my identity • After I called the number on the letter, my refund was processed within 2 weeks • Now I check my mail extremely carefully during tax season

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14d

Isaiah Thompson

According to IRS Publication 5027, the IRS is required to send all notices via USPS mail, and they specifically design their envelopes to be minimally distinctive for privacy reasons. I've been audited twice and both times nearly missed the letters. Good advice to check mail carefully.

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14d

Ruby Garcia

Last year I missed a letter asking for identity verification and my return was held up for 3 months! I was checking WMR daily but never thought to look more carefully at my mail. When I finally found the letter (which had slipped behind my desk), I called and got everything resolved in one day. Such a simple mistake cost me months of waiting.

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14d

Alexander Evans

Is there any way to know if they've sent a letter without actually receiving it? I'm worried now that I might have missed something important.

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14d

Evelyn Martinez

Did you keep a copy of your return and proof of mailing? Compared to e-filing, paper returns have a much higher chance of processing issues. If it's been more than 8 weeks, you might want to consider calling to confirm receipt.

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