Called IRS about delayed refund - now WMR says I've exceeded check attempts (but I haven't)?!

I think this might be happening to a lot of people right now. The IRS seems to be having some sort of technical issues with their systems, at least from what I can tell. The WMR tool sometimes gives that "exceeded attempts" message even when you haven't actually checked multiple times. It's possibly related to their server load or maybe some kind of IP tracking that's getting confused if you're on a shared network? I would probably wait at least 24 hours before trying again, and maybe try using a different device or network if possible.

I've been through this rodeo before! Last year the exact same thing happened to me - called IRS, got the "we're behind" speech, then got locked out of WMR for absolutely no reason. The good news? My refund actually showed up about 3 days after I got locked out of the system. It's like the WMR tool throws a tantrum right before processing completes. 😂 My theory is that when your return moves from one processing stage to another, there's a brief period where the system can't properly verify your information, so it defaults to the "exceeded attempts" message rather than showing an error. Just hang tight - this could actually be a good sign!

OMG this is SO frustrating! Had the exact same issue last yr. Called IRS like 50+ times, always busy. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) & got thru in like 20 mins. Agent confirmed my return was just stuck in processing queue, nothing wrong w/ it. Worth the $$ tbh if u need answers asap. They basically keep calling for u until they get thru. Saved me days of stress & redial hell.

I've seen this issue multiple times this filing season. Here's what I'd recommend: • Try accessing your tax transcript instead of WMR. It often shows more accurate information about your return status. • Check transcript for codes 570/971 which indicate some kind of review. • Wait 24-48 hours before checking WMR again to reset the counter. • If you filed with credits like EIC or CTC, those are taking longer this year. • Try using a different browser or clearing your cookies. I was dealing with the same thing in March and found the transcript much more helpful than WMR for tracking my refund progress.

This is happening way more this year than in previous filing seasons. Compared to 2022 when I had a similar delay, at least then WMR showed accurate information. Now the systems seem completely disconnected from each other. My sister-in-law got the exact same runaround last month - "call back in X days" followed by WMR lockout. She ended up having to verify her identity, but the IRS never notified her about it! The refund was just silently held until she figured it out on her own. If I were you, I'd check if there's an ID verification issue. Go to irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/identity-verification-for-irs-letter-recipients and see if you need to verify. Don't wait for them to tell you because they might not!

The IRS is absolutely swamped right now. I spoke with an agent on April 3rd who confirmed they're prioritizing returns filed before February 15th, but even those are running behind. According to what I was told, returns filed in January should be processed no later than April 30th, barring any issues. The WMR lockout is definitely a known issue. Their system registers IP addresses, not just login attempts, so if anyone on your network (like a roommate or family member) also checked their refund status, it could contribute to the lockout count. Hang in there - based on the current processing patterns, you should see movement by April 22nd, which aligns with when they told you to call back. The good news is that returns moving to final processing stages often receive refunds faster than the quoted timeframes.

I had this exact experience in 2022, and again this February. Called the IRS on February 23rd, got the same "we're behind" message, then got locked out of WMR on February 24th. My refund showed up on March 2nd without any status updates beforehand. I've noticed that the WMR tool is particularly glitchy this year - I've been locked out twice despite checking maybe once a week. Last time I called, the agent actually told me they're aware of the issue but don't have an ETA for a fix. Apparently their authentication system is flagging too many legitimate requests as suspicious.

This is so frustrating but you're definitely not alone! I've been dealing with the same WMR lockout issue for the past week. Filed in late January, called IRS in early March, got the standard "processing delays" response, and now I'm locked out too. What's really annoying is that I've been super careful about only checking maybe twice a week, but somehow I'm still getting the "exceeded attempts" message. I tried using different browsers and even my phone's data instead of WiFi, but nothing works. The silver lining from reading these comments is that it sounds like this might actually be a sign that our returns are moving through the system? Really hoping that's true because like you, I'm really counting on this money right now. The timing couldn't be worse with everything getting more expensive. Hang in there - seems like we're all in the same boat this year! 🤞

This is such a relief to read - I thought I was going crazy! Same exact situation here. Filed early February, called IRS last week and got the standard "processing delays, call back in a month" response. The very next day I tried checking WMR (literally my first time checking in over a week) and boom - locked out for "exceeding attempts." What really gets me is how this seems to happen RIGHT after calling them. Like there's something in their system that flags your account once you make contact with customer service? The timing is just too coincidental for all of us. I'm really hoping the theory about this being a processing stage indicator is correct. At this point I'll take any sign of progress, even if it's the system having a meltdown! The financial stress is real - between rent increases and everything else, this refund can't come soon enough. Thanks for posting this @Andre - at least we know we're not alone in this madness! 🙏