Cycle 05 Update - Was This Supposed to Happen Today?
So I thought cycle 05 updated today?? I've been checking my transcript like I did last year when I was caring for my mom, and I remember cycle 05 updates were pretty predictable. This year seems different compared to the pattern I saw before. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm trying not to worry but I really need this refund soon to help with some caregiving expenses.
12 comments
Write a comment...
Dmitry Petrov
Cycle 05 normally updates on Thursdays, specifically early morning on February 1st. I've been tracking this closely since January 15th when I filed, and there have been delays across multiple cycles this year. My transcript was supposed to update last Thursday but nothing happened until Saturday morning. The IRS is definitely running behind their normal schedule this tax season.
0 coins
Write a comment...
Ava Williams
Have you checked if you're actually on cycle 05? Sometimes people think they're on a certain cycle but might be on a different one. It might be worth double-checking your transcript codes to be sure... I learned this the hard way last year when I thought I was cycle 05 but was actually cycle 20.
0 coins
Write a comment...
Miguel Castro
I was in exactly the same boat! I waited exactly 42 days for my refund last year while checking my transcript daily. This year I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it showed I was actually cycle 20, not cycle 05 like I thought. The site explained that my transcript would update on Tuesdays, not Thursdays. Saved me so much anxiety from checking on the wrong days. My refund of $4,872 showed up exactly when it predicted.
0 coins
Zainab Ibrahim
• Not sure these transcript analysis tools are worth it • They're just reading the same information you can see yourself • IRS cycle codes are publicly documented • Many people report inaccurate predictions • Why pay for something when the information is free?
0 coins
15d
Write a comment...
Connor O'Neill
Don't count on specific cycle days this year. I was cycle 05 and kept checking every Thursday for three weeks straight. Nothing updated when it was supposed to. Ended up getting my refund a full 17 days later than the pattern would suggest. Cost me a late payment on my car insurance because I was counting on that money.
0 coins
Write a comment...
LunarEclipse
The IRS Processing Queue Management system has been experiencing significant backlogs this filing season. If you need to speak with an actual IRS representative to confirm your cycle code and expected DDD (Direct Deposit Date), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was able to get through to an agent in under 30 minutes last week, whereas my previous attempts resulted in 2+ hour hold times or disconnections due to high call volumes.
0 coins
Yara Khalil
Step 1: Consider if you really need to call the IRS at all Step 2: Check if your question can be answered on the IRS website Step 3: Try calling early morning or late afternoon when call volumes are lower Step 4: Be prepared with all your information before calling I'm not convinced paying for a service to call the IRS is necessary when patience and timing can work just as well.
0 coins
13d
Keisha Brown
Does Claimyr work for all IRS phone lines? I need to talk to someone about an audit notice but the extension number is different from the regular refund hotline.
0 coins
11d
Paolo Esposito
This is probably the most helpful tip in the thread. The IRS phone system is practically designed to be impenetrable during tax season, and anything that can get you through to a human is worth its weight in gold.
0 coins
10d
Amina Toure
Think of Claimyr like having a FastPass at an amusement park. The regular line (calling IRS directly) might eventually get you there, but you're spending hours of your life waiting. I've used it twice this tax season - once for my family's return and once for my elderly father's. Like having a sherpa guide you up a mountain instead of wandering alone.
0 coins
10d
Write a comment...
Oliver Weber
Have you tried checking the IRS2Go app instead of just the website? Sometimes the app updates faster than the Where's My Refund tool on the website. According to the IRS Operations Status page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing returns filed on or before January 29th. What date did you file?
0 coins
FireflyDreams
Thx for mentioning the IRS2Go app! Been using it for yrs and def agree it updates faster than WMR. Last yr saw my DDD on the app a full day b4 it showed on the website. Saved me from checking transcripts obsessively.
0 coins
12d
Write a comment...