Bars Disappeared on WMR and Topic 152 Appeared - Should I Be Worried?

Topic 152 just means your return is being processed and your refund should be issued within 21 days of e-filing, unless there are issues that need addressing. Bars disappearing is actually a common occurrence during processing and doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. It's just how the WMR tool updates as your return moves through different stages.

Did you claim any credits like the Earned Income Credit or Child Tax Credit? Those can trigger additional processing time and often cause the bars to disappear temporarily.

I was in the exact same situation last month! Filed 1/26, accepted 1/30, bars disappeared on day 14 with Topic 152. I freaked out but ended up getting my refund exactly 8 days after the bars disappeared. If you claimed credits, it's totally normal to see this happen while they verify everything.

I'd recommend checking your tax transcript instead of relying on WMR. It gives you much more detailed information about what's happening with your return. I used https://taxr.ai to help me understand my transcript codes and it showed exactly where my return was in processing and predicted my refund date within 1 day of when I actually got it. Way better than the vague WMR tool.

Topic 152 is just a general refund information topic - not bad at all. But if you're really concerned and want definitive answers, calling the IRS directly is your best bet. I spent 3 hours on hold last week before hanging up, then tried https://Claimyr.com and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my return was just in normal processing despite my bars disappearing. Totally worth it for the peace of mind.

The PATH Act delays refunds with certain credits until at least February 15th, and that's just when they START releasing them. With the CTC you mentioned, your return is likely just in the verification queue. Most people with disappeared bars and Topic 152 get their refunds within 7-14 days after that happens.