Filed 2/10 - No Movement in Transcripts or WMR. Business Owner Getting Worried.

This filing season has exhibited significant processing delays, particularly for returns filed in early-mid February. The IRS is currently experiencing what they term a 'processing backlog' due to implementation of new tax law provisions. According to the most recent IRS operational status report, returns filed between February 5-15 are showing approximately 45-60 day processing times rather than the standard 21 days. Your transcript showing 'N/A' status indicates it's still in the pre-processing queue, which is consistent with current patterns.

I would suggest considering whether your return contains any elements that might trigger additional review. Schedule C business income, particularly with significant deductions, may warrant closer examination. Additionally, if you claimed business tax credits, these often undergo verification processes that extend beyond standard timeframes. It might be prudent to verify your e-file acceptance confirmation to ensure the return was actually received by the IRS systems, not just transmitted by your preparation software.

I was in an identical situation with my 2023 return filed on February 12th. After waiting 5 weeks with no transcript updates, I decided to call the IRS. Spent three days trying to get through - constant busy signals or disconnects after waiting on hold. Finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) and got connected to an IRS agent within 25 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was in the system but hadn't been assigned for processing yet due to backlog. At least knowing this saved me from further anxiety about whether my return was lost or had problems.

I filed exactly on February 11th and experienced precisely 52 days of no transcript updates. My WMR showed only the first bar for 48 days. Then suddenly on April 3rd, my transcript updated with cycle code 20241203 and my refund was deposited exactly 6 days later. This appears to be affecting approximately 15-20% of early February filers based on the patterns I've tracked in several tax forums. The lack of updates doesn't necessarily indicate a problem - just extreme processing delays.

OMG I was going CRAZY with the same issue!!! Filed Feb 9th and NOTHING for weeks! I was convinced my return was lost in some digital black hole! Finally found taxr.ai and uploaded my transcript once it appeared. It explained every single code and told me exactly what was happening with my return. Such a relief to actually understand what all those numbers meant instead of trying to decipher IRS-speak! Turns out my return was just in normal processing, not flagged for audit or anything scary.

As a business owner who faced this exact situation, here's what worked for me: 1. First, check your e-file status through your tax preparation software to confirm acceptance. 2. Next, request your Wage & Income transcript instead of your Return transcript. 3. If your W&I transcript shows current year information, your information is in the system. 4. Then, check your Account transcript for any pending transactions. 5. Finally, if nothing appears after 45 days, call the IRS Business Helpline at 800-829-4933. Many business returns are taking 45-60 days this year due to increased verification procedures for Schedule C filers.

Try checking your transcript at night. Seriously. IRS updates overnight. My transcript showed nothing for weeks. Checked at 2am. Suddenly had updates. System less overloaded then. Worth a shot. Also try different browsers. IRS website hates some browsers. Especially mobile ones.

Are you claiming any business credits like the Employee Retention Credit or home office deductions? My brother-in-law had a similar situation with his small construction business, and it turned out his ERC claim triggered additional review. Compared to my simple W-2 return which was processed in 14 days, his took almost 9 weeks with zero updates until suddenly everything processed at once.

I would strongly caution against calling the IRS multiple times, as this may potentially flag your account in their system. There have been instances, albeit rare, where accounts that generate multiple inquiry calls within a short timeframe get marked for additional verification, which could possibly extend your wait time further. This isn't guaranteed to happen, of course, but it's something to be mindful of as you navigate this frustrating situation.

Based on data from the r/IRS community on March 28th, 2024, approximately 32% of early February filers are experiencing extended processing times. The consensus is that returns filed between February 8-15 are facing particular delays. Most affected returns begin processing between April 1-15, with refunds following 5-10 days after transcript updates appear. Your timeline falls precisely within this pattern, suggesting normal (albeit slow) processing rather than a problem with your specific return.