Filed 02/01/24 - Still Stuck in PATH With Blank Transcripts?

I filed on February 3rd, and my transcripts were blank until March 12th. Then suddenly everything updated at once. The PATH Act holds are definitely longer this year than I've seen in previous filing seasons. Back in 2022, I remember getting my refund on February 24th despite filing with EITC. This year seems to be taking much longer for everyone.

Did you claim any credits besides EITC or ACTC? I've noticed in previous years that certain combinations of credits can extend the PATH delay. Back in 2022, I had clients with Education Credits alongside EITC who experienced longer waits than those with just EITC.

Think of the IRS processing system like a highway with multiple lanes. The PATH Act creates a mandatory roadblock for certain credits until mid-February, but that doesn't mean traffic starts flowing immediately after the roadblock lifts. There's a backlog of vehicles (returns) waiting to get through. Some returns get routed to express lanes, others get directed to lanes with additional checkpoints. Blank transcripts usually mean your return hasn't even entered the main processing highway yet - it's still in the queue to get on the ramp.

Have you tried calling the IRS directly? I was in a similar situation on March 15th last year and couldn't get through on the regular line. Someone here recommended Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and I was connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was just sitting in a queue waiting to be processed - no issues, just backlog. At least knowing there wasn't a problem helped with the anxiety of waiting. Would you consider calling to check if there are any flags on your return?

I'm not convinced calling will help in this situation. The IRS Operational Status indicates they're experiencing higher than normal processing delays for early February filers with refundable credits. Most CSRs will just tell you to wait the standard 21 days plus PATH delay time. The blank transcript is consistent with a return that's in the pre-processing queue, not yet assigned to an examiner for review.

Calling absolutely can help. The key is getting to a Level 2 representative who can actually see what's happening with your return. Many times there's a simple verification issue that can be resolved during the call. I've seen returns that were stuck for weeks suddenly process within days after a phone call cleared up a minor discrepancy. Don't just sit and wait if it's been more than 45 days since filing.

I filed on February 2nd with EITC and CTC. My transcripts stayed blank until March 18th. When they finally updated, I had a refund date for March 23rd. Compared to my experience in previous years, this is running about 2-3 weeks slower than normal. It's similar to what happened during the pandemic when everything was backed up. The difference is that now they're not communicating about the delays as openly as they did then.

Word of caution - don't keep checking your transcript multiple times a day like I did! 😅 I literally made myself sick with anxiety checking every few hours. The system only updates once a day anyway (usually overnight), so checking more frequently won't help. Plus, in my case, nothing changed for weeks and then suddenly EVERYTHING updated at once. Set a reminder to check once a week and try to forget about it in between.

UPDATE: After 46 days with blank transcripts, mine finally updated last night! Filed Feb 3rd with EITC and Additional Child Tax Credit. Transcript now shows processing date of March 25th and DDD of March 28th. So there is hope! The system is moving, just very slowly. Hang in there - your update is coming soon!