Called IRS After 21 Days - They Sent a Letter But Transcript Still Blank

This is likely related to the IRS's special processing procedures for disaster area residents under IRC Section 7508A, which provides relief provisions. According to the Internal Revenue Manual (IRM) 21.5.6.4.7, returns from federally declared disaster areas are often routed through specialized processing tracks. The blank transcript is common in these scenarios because the return is essentially held in a separate queue while verification is completed. Per IRS Publication 976, this shouldn't delay your refund beyond normal processing timeframes, but it does change how your information appears in their systems.

I was possibly in a somewhat similar situation last month—disaster area, blank transcript, and seemingly endless processing time. I might suggest trying https://taxr.ai to analyze your transcript once it does appear. It could potentially help you understand what's happening with your return when the codes finally show up. In my case, it helped me interpret some rather confusing codes that eventually appeared and gave me a much clearer timeline than the IRS website did. It might be worth bookmarking for when your transcript updates, which will hopefully be soon.

I went through an identical situation during the California wildfires disaster declaration. My Automated Account Transcript remained non-existent for 31 days despite the WMR tool showing "processing." The Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief procedures triggered an automatic review of my return. Once my transcript finally populated, it contained Transaction Code 971 followed by 846 within 3 days, and my refund was directly deposited exactly 5 days later. I'm so relieved to see someone else experiencing this - thought I was losing my mind with the blank transcript!

The 21-day mark passed on April 8th for me, and I'm also in a federally declared disaster area from the January floods. Called on April 10th and got the same response about a letter being sent on March 30th. My transcript finally updated on April 15th with a 570 code (additional account action pending) and a 971 (notice issued). The representative mentioned that disaster area returns go through a separate verification channel, which explains the blank transcript. Just be prepared for potential verification requirements when your letter arrives.

I worked for the IRS for 12 years before retiring, and disaster area returns often require additional verification even when they say you can verify by phone. I had a client last year who spent 3 weeks trying to reach an agent through the normal channels with no success. They finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to verify their identity over the phone and release the hold on their account. Their transcript updated within 48 hours and they received their refund the following week. Sometimes getting to the right person makes all the difference.

I successfully navigated this exact situation last month. After receiving the same information about a letter being sent, I called the IRS Disaster Relief Hotline (866-562-5227) instead of the main line. The specialist confirmed my identity using my previous year's AGI and last four of my SSN, then processed an Identity Verification Override (IVO) on my account. My transcript populated with codes 971/570 within 2 days, followed by code 846 (refund issued) 5 days later. The key was reaching the specialized disaster relief team rather than general customer service.

Tbh I'd try checking your account transcript instead of return transcript. Sometimes acct transcript will show stuff when return transcript is blank. Had this same prob last yr and freaked out for nothing b/c the info was just on a diff transcript. Worth a shot?

I've helped several people in disaster areas with this exact issue. Here's what's happening and what to expect: 1. Returns from disaster areas get flagged in the IRS system with a Disaster Affected Return (DAR) marker 2. These returns are routed to specialized processing units that handle disaster relief provisions 3. During this routing, transcripts often show as unavailable or N/A 4. The letter they sent is likely a 4464C (Examination Action Pending) 5. When you verified by phone, they should have entered a TC 971 AC 121 on your account 6. Your transcript will likely update within 7-10 days of that verification 7. Watch for code 846 which indicates your refund is approved I've seen this pattern dozens of times with disaster area returns in 2023 and 2024.

Be careful about assuming everything is fine just because you're in a disaster area. It's like thinking you have a fast pass at an amusement park, but actually ending up in a special line that moves even slower. My neighbor was in the same situation last year after the hurricanes, thought everything was fine after a phone call, but then received a CP05 audit letter two weeks later. He had to provide additional documentation to verify his income and withholding. The disaster designation can sometimes trigger additional scrutiny rather than faster processing.

Did they tell you what the letter was about? I'm in a very similar situation and need to know: • Was it an identity verification letter? • Did they say how long after verification your refund would come? • Did they confirm if your return was actually being processed? • Did you have any credits or deductions that might trigger extra review? My 21 days are up tomorrow and I NEED this refund ASAP!