Filed 2/18, Approved Same Day, DD Coming 3/05 with TurboTax - Timeline Details?

OMG that's fantastic news! 😊 You hit the IRS lottery with that timeline! I'm actually a bit jealous - filed mine on February 2nd and STILL waiting for my refund. 😭 What you're seeing is the ideal processing path - some returns just sail through the system without any hiccups. Once you have an approved status and a direct deposit date, you're basically golden! The money should hit your account on March 5th, though sometimes banks release it a day or two early. I'm so happy for you but also crying inside because mine is stuck in processing hell!

You lucked out with that timeline! 🍀 I'm scrambling to get mine done before the April deadline (tax procrastinator's club president here, lol). Quick approvals usually happen when: 1) Your return is relatively simple, 2) No credits that require extra verification, and 3) All your information matches what the IRS already has on file. TurboTax also has pretty good error-checking that catches potential issues before submission. Just keep an eye on your bank account around the 5th - sometimes they come a day early, sometimes right on time.

I had exactly the same timeline last year - approved within 24 hours and given a DD date 15 days later. Then my refund got pulled for "additional review" exactly 3 days before the deposit date. Ended up waiting exactly 77 more days and had to call the IRS exactly 6 times before finally getting my $4,328 refund on May 31st. Not trying to rain on your parade, but don't count on that money until it's actually in your account. The IRS can and will change status right up until the deposit happens.

I had the exact same experience as you last year but then my refund disappeared into the void. When I tried calling the IRS, I spent 3 hours on hold before getting disconnected. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. The agent confirmed my refund was still coming despite the WMR tool showing nothing. Saved me weeks of stress! Now I don't even bother with the regular IRS number anymore - life's too short for those hold times.

Congrats on the quick turnaround! Here's what's happening with your return: • Feb 18: Return transmitted and accepted (basic format check) • Same day: Initial processing complete (unusual but happens with simple returns) • Feb 18-Mar 5: Background processing continues • Mar 5: Scheduled direct deposit The quick approval means: • Your return had no obvious errors • No identity verification needed • No credits requiring special review • No income discrepancies detected I was stuck in processing for 6 weeks last year, so appreciate this smooth experience while it lasts!

Your timeline is actually faster than average for this filing season. I submitted mine on January 29th (the first day the IRS started accepting returns) and only received my deposit on February 21st. The IRS is reporting average processing times of 21 days for error-free returns as of March 2023. Since you filed on February 18th and have a March 5th deposit date, that's only 16 days - definitely on the faster end! I'd recommend setting up alerts with your bank for March 4th-6th, as sometimes the deposits come a day early or late depending on how your bank processes ACH transfers.

Your experience is MUCH better than what most people are seeing this tax season. When I compare your 16-day turnaround to my brother-in-law's return (filed January 25th, still processing) or my coworker's situation (filed February 1st, just got approved yesterday), you definitely got the VIP treatment! The difference is probably the complexity - returns with child tax credits, earned income credits, or self-employment income take way longer than simple W-2 only returns. If your return was straightforward with just standard deductions, that explains the speed compared to more complex situations.

According to the IRS2Go app and https://www.irs.gov/refunds, your timeline is actually quite normal for a simple return with no flags. The IRS is processing electronic returns much faster this year compared to the backlogged 2021 and 2022 seasons. TurboTax also has direct integration with the IRS systems, which can sometimes result in faster initial processing. One thing to keep in mind: even though you have a DD date, your refund can still be adjusted if discrepancies are found. The WMR tool updates overnight, so check it again the day before your scheduled deposit just to confirm everything is still on track.