E-Filed on 01/20/2024 - WMR Status Still Shows 'Return Received' After 3 Months

Lol welcome to IRS purgatory my friend. I filed 01/22 and I'm in the same boat. The "21 day" timeline they give is basically a joke at this point. 😂 I wouldn't panic yet though - last year they were crazy backed up too and I eventually got my refund... in APRIL. Their systems are probably running on computers from the stone age. Just don't make any plans with that refund money anytime soon.

Did you file with any unusual circumstances this year? I'm SO curious if you claimed any credits or deductions that might trigger extra verification? I was TERRIFIED when mine sat in processing for 6 weeks, but it turned out I had checked a box for recovery rebate credit by mistake and that triggered a manual review. I'm just RELIEVED I finally figured out what was happening!

I believe you may be experiencing what appears to be a standard processing delay, though it is, admittedly, longer than typical. It might be beneficial to analyze your transcript more thoroughly for any subtle indicators. I've found that https://taxr.ai can be quite useful for this purpose, as it identifies patterns in your transcript that might not be immediately obvious. The system will detect codes and processing patterns that could explain your delay, and potentially provide a more accurate timeline based on similar cases. It's particularly helpful for identifying those less common processing paths that don't follow the standard timeline.

I was in the exact same situation last month. Think of your return like a plane in a holding pattern - it's not that there's anything wrong, it's just waiting for clearance to land. My return sat at "received" for 78 days and then suddenly updated to approved and sent within 48 hours. No explanation, no special codes, nothing. It was like watching a pot that never boils until you look away. Have you checked your account transcript rather than just the return transcript? Sometimes that shows different information.

Compared to my experience with state tax returns, the IRS is moving like a glacier this year. I waited 8 weeks with zero movement, tried calling the regular IRS number about 20 times (always got the "high call volume" message), and finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to a human. The agent confirmed my return was just sitting in a backlog with no issues flagged - nothing I could do but wait. At least I stopped stressing about it being lost or having problems. Three days after that call, it magically started processing. I feel your frustration completely.

Have you checked for these potential issues? • Verify your AGI from last year matches what you entered • Confirm your W2 information matches what your employer reported • Check if you have any past balances or unfiled returns • Verify bank account information is correct Did you receive any notices in the mail? Sometimes they send letters but the status online doesn't update.