Filed 2/25 and paid fees upfront - still no refund deposit

Have you checked your tax transcript on the IRS website? That often shows more detailed information than the WMR tool does. And have you verified that your bank account information was entered correctly? The method of paying your filing fees (upfront vs. from refund) shouldn't affect your processing time at all - that's just between you and the tax software company, not something the IRS even considers. Could your return possibly be delayed due to claiming certain credits like the Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit?

I filed on February 22nd, just a few days before you, and got my refund on March 15th. Did you check if your return has any credits that might delay processing? I remember back on March 3rd, my transcript updated with a 570 code before it resolved. Have you been able to access your transcript to see what's happening behind the scenes?

I had something similar happen last year when I filed as a gig worker for the first time. My refund took almost 8 weeks even though I paid my filing fees upfront too. I think it has more to do with your income type than how you paid for filing. Last year I nearly had a panic attack waiting for my refund, but it did come eventually! Have you been able to check your transcript? That helped me understand what was happening with mine.

I see this issue ALL the time on this sub. The IRS is super backed up this year, especially with gig worker returns that might need extra verification. Have you tried calling the IRS? I spent three days trying to get through last week and finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to connect with an agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my return was just in a verification queue and gave me an estimated completion date. Totally worth it to stop the anxiety of wondering what's happening! The IRS phone system is practically impossible to navigate without something like this.

Per IRS Publication 2043 and the Taxpayer First Act guidelines, the standard processing time for e-filed returns is 21 days. However, returns with Schedule C income (gig workers) are subject to additional verification protocols under IRC section 6402(e). Paying fees upfront versus from your refund should not impact IRS processing. Calling the IRS rarely expedites processing unless there is an actual error requiring taxpayer intervention. Most returns resolve automatically within the system queue.

While the regulations are correct, the practical reality is different this tax season. The IRS Return Processing Pipeline is experiencing significant backlogs, particularly for returns with self-employment income. Having direct contact with an IRS representative can provide status verification and, in some cases, manual routing to appropriate departments. When a return is stuck in verification queues, agent intervention can sometimes expedite processing by confirming identity or income verification has been completed. This isn't about bypassing normal procedures - it's about ensuring your return hasn't been incorrectly flagged or stalled in the system.