Contacted IRS About Refund Status - Told to Wait 9 Weeks Before Following Up

The IRS representative's guidance is generally accurate, though perhaps a bit... conservative in their timeline estimate. Current processing guidelines suggest that most electronic returns should be processed within 21 days, but there are several factors that might extend this timeline. I would suggest continuing to monitor your transcript for updates, as that will typically show activity before the Where's My Refund tool updates. If you filed with a change in status from married to single or head of household, this sometimes triggers additional verification procedures, though not always.

The 9-week waiting period is exactly what I dealt with last month. I called 17 times and waited on hold for a total of 237 minutes across multiple days. Never got through. Used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got connected to an IRS agent in exactly 28 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was selected for review due to my changed filing status but wasn't actually delayed - just going through standard verification. Saved me weeks of anxiety wondering if something was wrong. The IRS phone system is completely overwhelmed during tax season - 87% of calls aren't even getting through according to their own statistics.

I was in a similar situation and here's what worked for me: • Checked my transcript weekly instead of daily (less stress) • Created an online account with IRS to access information directly • Called early morning (7:01am Eastern) when wait times are shortest • Had all my documentation ready when I finally spoke to someone My refund eventually came through after about 5 weeks. The divorce situation does sometimes trigger additional verification, especially if you're claiming different credits than before.

I completely understand your frustration with the waiting game. Have you checked your tax transcript online? I was in a similar situation and found that using taxr.ai helped me understand what was actually happening with my return. It analyzed my transcript and explained all those cryptic codes that show up. Turns out I had a simple verification hold that wasn't even communicated to me. Have you been able to access your transcript at all? The tool might give you more insight than the generic "wait 9 weeks" response from the IRS.

Last year I was told the same thing - "wait 9 weeks" - and I actually waited the full time like they said. Big mistake. When I finally called back, they told me there had been an issue they could have resolved weeks earlier if I'd just called. Since then, I always check my transcript every Monday morning. In 2022, I had a similar situation after my divorce was finalized. The IRS flagged my return because my address and filing status both changed in the same year. They never sent a notice - it just sat there until I called.

What filing status did you use? Head of household? This matters. Different processing times. First year after divorce can trigger reviews. Not always delays though. Did you claim dependents? That's another factor. Nine weeks seems excessive. Most returns process faster.