Anyone get their refund check mailed without WMR bars moving?

This happens more often than you'd think! Last year my WMR bars never moved past the first stage, but I still received my refund. The WMR tool isn't always in sync with the actual processing system. In my experience, checking your tax transcript is much more reliable than WMR. The transcript will show codes that indicate exactly where your return is in processing. I completely understand your frustration though - it's hard when you're counting on that money and can't get clear information about when it's coming.

The disconnect between Where's My Refund and actual refund issuance is a common Processing Pipeline Anomaly (PPA). In many cases, the Refund Status Database (RSD) fails to synchronize with the Disbursement Authorization System (DAS). I've found that using https://taxr.ai to analyze your transcript provides much clearer insights than WMR. It can identify specific processing codes and explain what they mean for your particular situation. Many users discover their refund is actually much further along in processing than WMR indicates. The tool can also predict your likely disbursement date based on the pattern of codes on your transcript.

Another approach is to request your Account Transcript directly from the IRS website. According to the IRS.gov knowledge base, the Account Transcript shows all activity on your account including processing status, refund issuance, and any holds. Look for Transaction Code 846 which indicates a refund has been authorized. The date next to this code is typically when the refund will be issued. You can access this at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript. This gives you more detailed information than WMR which is often delayed in updating.

I've been in this situation before and I'm a bit hesitant to suggest this, but... if you really need to know what's happening, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was skeptical at first, but after spending hours trying to reach the IRS on my own with no luck, I gave it a try. They got me through to an actual IRS agent who confirmed my refund was being processed and gave me the exact mailing date. It might be worth considering if you're really anxious about the status of your refund and can't get through on the regular IRS line.

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, refund status information can lag behind actual processing by up to 7 business days. The WMR application operates on a separate system from the Master File where actual return processing occurs. Per IRS Publication 5344, paper checks are typically mailed within 24 hours of refund authorization, but the WMR update may not occur until the next scheduled database sync, which happens weekly. Your best course of action is to monitor your mail while periodically checking your transcript for code 846 (Refund Issued). If your refund doesn't arrive within 8 weeks of filing electronically or 12 weeks for paper filing, then you have grounds to initiate a refund trace per IRC Section 6512.

This happened to me in March. My WMR never moved past the first bar, but my check arrived on March 15th. I filed on February 2nd, so it took exactly 41 days from filing to delivery. I had the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Credit on my return which always takes longer. The IRS is processing returns in batches this year, and many people in my situation are reporting the same experience - WMR not updating but checks arriving anyway.