E-filed on Jan 16 (accepted) but no news on my EITC advance - tracking options?

What you're experiencing is quite similar to the EITC advance processing pattern from last tax season. Unlike standard refunds which follow the traditional DDD (Direct Deposit Date) timeline, EITC advances typically undergo a secondary verification process that isn't reflected in the main transcript codes. In comparable situations, many taxpayers saw a 2-3 week delay between standard refund issuance and EITC advance approval. The IRS doesn't provide specific tracking for the advance portion - it operates on a separate processing queue that unfortunately lacks transparency.

I was in your exact situation last month. Regular refund came through but no advance. I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it spotted a TC 290 code that indicated my advance was under review. The tool explained exactly what was happening when the IRS website just showed "processing". It showed me that my advance wasn't denied, just delayed for additional verification. Saved me from calling the IRS repeatedly when there was nothing to worry about.

I think there might be confusion about what you're referring to. The IRS doesn't actually offer an "EITC advance" option during filing. Are you talking about a tax preparation loan from your filing service? Those are typically handled by the preparation company, not the IRS. Or are you referring to the additional EITC amount itself? The terminology matters because they're processed completely differently.

After dealing with this exact situation last year, I wasted 3 weeks trying to get through to the IRS. When I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com), I got connected to an agent in 20 minutes who confirmed my EITC was under review due to income verification. The agent submitted an expedite request that got my funds released within 5 days. Without that call, I'd have been waiting another 4-6 weeks according to the agent. The $20 service fee saved me weeks of waiting and uncertainty.

I'm not convinced what you're describing is an actual IRS program. In my experience analyzing tax situations for the past 5 filing seasons, there is no such thing as an "EITC advance" offered directly by the IRS. If you selected this option through a tax preparation service, you're likely referring to a Refund Advance Loan, which is a third-party product, not an IRS offering. These loans are typically processed separately from your actual tax refund and have different approval criteria.

Tax pro here. There's def confusion in this thread. The IRS doesn't offer EITC advances directly. What you've likely applied for is an RAL (Refund Anticipation Loan) through your prep software. These aren't IRS products but 3rd-party loans based on your expected refund. The approval process is handled by the lender, not the IRS. Check your filing confirmation emails for info about the loan provider and contact them directly. They'll have a separate approval process that has nothing to do with your transcript codes.

This whole EITC advance situation is a mess every year! 😂 I've gone through this rodeo before and learned it's all about who you filed with, not the IRS. H&R Block, TurboTax, etc. all have different "advance" programs with different lenders and timelines. The IRS transcript won't show anything about these because they're private loans. Best community wisdom: check who the actual lender is (usually buried in the fine print of what you signed) and contact them directly. Your tax preparer is just the middleman and often knows nothing about the loan status.