Creating a Refund Tracking Spreadsheet - What Info Should We Include?

Great idea! I've been tracking my own refunds for years and it really helps understand the patterns. 😂 Just keep in mind that processing times can vary based on a bunch of factors like filing method, credits claimed, and whether you owe back taxes. From my experience, here's what I've seen with different processors: - SBTPG: Usually 1-2 days after DDD (sometimes same day) - Republic: Often same day as DDD but can take up to 5 days - Pathward: Typically 1-3 business days The trace number is super helpful if you need to call the IRS about a missing refund, so definitely track that!

I meticulously planned my filing this year to get my refund ASAP, then got stuck with SBTPG as my processor. Filed February 2nd, got accepted same day, but didn't receive my refund until March 1st! My DDD was February 27th, and SBTPG held it for TWO FULL DAYS before sending to my Chase account. No trace number needed since it eventually arrived, but they charged a $39.95 fee for the "convenience" of taking the filing costs from my refund. Next year I'm just paying TurboTax upfront to avoid this nonsense. My advice: add a column for "Days between DDD and actual deposit" - that's where the real frustration happens.

Last year I had so much trouble tracking my refund and understanding all those cryptic codes on my transcript. This year I used https://taxr.ai to help decode my transcript and it was incredibly helpful - showed me exactly what each code meant and predicted my DDD almost perfectly. It even explained why I had a delay (turns out my withholding didn't match what my employer reported). I remember how frustrating it was trying to figure out if Republic Bank was processing my refund correctly, and this tool actually helped me understand the whole timeline from IRS approval to bank deposit.

There are actually several important data points you might want to add to your tracking spreadsheet: 1. Filing method (e-file vs paper) 2. Filing date 3. Processing time (days between filing and DDD) 4. Claimed credits (CTC, EITC, etc.) 5. Refund amount range (might affect processing) 6. Tax preparation method (self-prepared vs professional) Why is this important? The IRS prioritizes certain returns based on these factors. For example, did you know that returns claiming EITC or ACTC couldn't be issued before mid-February due to the PATH Act? Or that larger refunds often trigger additional verification steps? Tracking these variables might help identify whether delays are related to specific factors rather than just the financial institution.

I'm not entirely sure about this, but I believe another important factor might be whether you've called the IRS to check on your refund status. In my case, I was waiting for nearly 2 months with no updates, and I tried calling the IRS multiple times but couldn't get through to anyone. Then someone suggested I try Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com), which somehow got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The agent found that my return had been flagged for a simple verification that was never communicated to me. Three days after that call, my refund was approved. It might be worth adding "contacted IRS" as a data point in your spreadsheet.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet is that Republic, Pathward, and SBTPG are all third-party processors that only handle refunds if you've chosen to have your tax preparation fees deducted from your refund. If you pay for tax preparation upfront, your refund comes directly from the IRS to your bank, which is typically faster and avoids those processing fees mentioned above. Direct IRS deposits usually arrive on the exact DDD or the next business day. Those third-party processors are essentially giving you a short-term loan for your preparation fees, and they're charging you for it.