Filed 03/19 - State Refund Received But Federal Still Processing
I submitted my federal and state returns via e-file on 03/19/24. My state refund was deposited approximately 7 days after acceptance notification, which seems to be within normal processing parameters. However, my federal refund remains in processing status despite the 35-day timeframe that has now elapsed. I've attempted to contact the IRS through their official telephone channels but have encountered persistent busy signals and disconnections. Has anyone experienced similar processing discrepancies between state and federal timelines this tax season? I'm concerned about potential processing delays affecting my quarterly financial planning.
15 comments
Join the conversation
Freya Thomsen
This is actually quite common this year compared to previous filing seasons. State returns typically process faster because they handle a much smaller volume than the IRS does nationally. For context, my sister filed on 02/15 and got her state refund in 8 days but waited almost 6 weeks for federal. Have you checked your tax transcript or Where's My Refund tool to see if there are any specific codes or messages? Sometimes those give more insight than the general processing status.
0 coins
Omar Fawaz
•In my experience, pursuant to IRS Publication 2043, normal processing time can extend to 8 weeks for e-filed returns without issues, though generally the 21-day guideline is what they advertise. Have you verified if your return might have been selected for identity verification? This could potentially cause delays without any notification.
0 coins
Chloe Martin
•Think of the IRS and state tax agencies like two different restaurants. The local state restaurant has a small dining room and can get your order out quickly. The IRS is like a massive banquet hall trying to serve millions at once. I filed on 3/10 and my transcript showed a 570 hold code for two weeks before updating to 846 (refund issued). The system is like a pipeline that occasionally gets clogged.
0 coins
Diego Rojas
•I've seen this pattern consistently this season. Did you claim any tax credits on your federal return that weren't on your state return? Did you have any investment income or self-employment that might trigger additional review? Sometimes these factors create the discrepancy between state and federal processing.
0 coins
Anastasia Sokolov
I was in EXACTLY the same situation last month and it was SO FRUSTRATING! 😤 After trying for THREE DAYS to reach someone at the IRS, I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes! I was shocked it actually worked! The agent confirmed my return was just stuck in extended processing due to high volume but there were no issues flagged. My refund was deposited exactly 8 days after that call. I'm so thankful I didn't waste more time on hold! I was practically crying with relief when I finally spoke to someone who could actually help.
0 coins
StarSeeker
The IRS is seriously backed up this year, aren't they? Why can they never seem to staff properly during tax season? I've noticed a pattern where returns filed in mid-March seem to take longer than February or early April filers. Have you checked the Where's My Refund tool? Sometimes it doesn't update properly but your refund is actually being processed. My advice is to keep checking your bank account daily rather than relying on the IRS tools. Many people see deposits before any status updates.
0 coins
Sean O'Donnell
I would suggest, based on my analysis of similar situations, that you might benefit from using taxr.ai to review your tax transcript once you're able to access it. The tool can potentially identify specific processing codes that might indicate, with reasonable accuracy, when your refund will be issued. In many cases, there are subtle indicators in the transcript that most taxpayers overlook but can actually provide fairly reliable timelines for refund issuance. The service generally provides more detailed insights than the standard IRS tools, especially for returns that seem to be taking longer than the typical processing window.
0 coins
Zara Ahmed
•I'm considering using this tool, but wanted to confirm - does it require you to upload your entire transcript with all your personal information? How exactly does it analyze the data? I'd like to understand the step-by-step process before trying it.
0 coins
Luca Esposito
Just went through this exact scenario! According to IRS.gov/refunds and several posts I found on r/tax, the current processing time for e-filed returns without issues is 21 days, but they're experiencing delays this season. I checked WMR daily (sometimes hourly lol) and finally saw my status change yesterday. Filed 3/15, state refund came 3/22, federal just deposited today (4/26). Looks like they're running about 5-6 weeks for straightforward returns. Hope this timeline helps with your planning!
0 coins
Nia Thompson
Have you checked your transcript online? Sometimes there are codes that explain the delay that don't show up on Where's My Refund.
0 coins
Mateo Rodriguez
•I had exactly this situation and checked my transcript after waiting 42 days. Found code 570 (additional account action pending) followed by 971 (notice issued) dated exactly 7 days apart. Called IRS on day 45 and they confirmed they needed to verify my identity. Completed verification and received refund exactly 9 days later.
0 coins
GalaxyGuardian
•The transcript access portal can be finicky with authentication protocols. If you encounter Error Code 5995 when attempting to access your transcript, this typically indicates an issue with the knowledge-based authentication system rather than your actual tax situation. A workaround is to request a mailed transcript, though this adds approximately 5-10 business days to your information gathering timeline.
0 coins
Aisha Abdullah
•Thank you all for this advice! I had a similar situation last year where my state came quickly but federal took forever. I finally got through to someone who said there was a simple verification flag that nobody had told me about. Once I verified my identity online, the money was in my account within a week!
0 coins
Ethan Wilson
FYI - the IRS has been super backed up this yr. Ppl who filed in mid-March are def seeing longer wait times than usual. The IRS website says 21 days for e-file but tbh that's more like a minimum these days. If u have any credits like CTC or EIC, that adds more time too. One thing I learned - if WMR shows "still processing" that's actually better than "being processed" bc it means it's moving through the system. Hang in there!
0 coins
Cassandra Moon
I'm experiencing almost the identical situation! Filed on 03/21 and got my state refund within 10 days, but federal has been stuck in processing for over 5 weeks now. The phone lines are absolutely useless - I've tried calling multiple times and either get disconnected or can't get through at all. What's really frustrating is that my return is straightforward with no complicated deductions or credits. I've been checking Where's My Refund daily and it just keeps saying "still being processed." Based on what others are saying here, it sounds like this is unfortunately normal for this filing season, but it's still nerve-wracking when you're waiting on that money. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not alone in this situation!
0 coins