Filed & Accepted 2/26 - IRS Rep Says Processing Delays but Nothing Wrong

Based on what you've shared, it appears that your return is likely caught in what might be called the "processing backlog bubble" that seems to have formed in late February. The IRS potentially experienced some system maintenance or staffing shortages that could have created this delay. It's worth noting that returns with certain credits or deductions may possibly take longer, though the representative didn't specifically mention this as a factor in your case. I'm seeing similar patterns with other February filers, which suggests this isn't unique to your situation, though that's probably not much comfort at this stage.

I was in a similar situation with my return filed on February 22nd. After waiting until March 25th with no updates, I tried using taxr.ai to analyze my transcript. It helped me understand that my return was in the normal processing queue without any issues - just delayed due to the backlog. The tool specifically showed me that returns filed between February 18-28 were experiencing longer processing times this year. You might find it helpful to check your transcript through their service as it provides more detailed information than the WMR tool, especially regarding estimated completion dates.

The IRS is basically running on computer systems from when dinosaurs roamed the earth, so these delays happen pretty much every year. 🦖 What's different this time is they actually admitted to a processing shutdown! Usually they just leave us all guessing. The big picture here is that returns tend to move in batches, so when one person who filed around your time gets their refund, you'll likely see movement soon after. This is just how it goes with government processing - hurry up and wait. At least the rep confirmed nothing's wrong with your return, which is actually more information than most people get.

I've been through this exact scenario three years running now. Last year I wasted 14 hours on hold over 8 different call attempts. This year I tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) when my February 15th return was still stuck in April. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 35 minutes instead of the usual "call volume too high" message. The agent was able to tell me my return was actually flagged for a minor income verification that wasn't showing on WMR. Saved me weeks of wondering and waiting.

From what I'm seeing across multiple posts, returns filed between February 20-28 are taking approximately 45-60 days to process this year, compared to the usual 21 days. Your situation is almost identical to my sister's - she filed on 2/24 and just got her refund yesterday after 51 days with no updates until the final week. Your best approach now is to: 1) Check your transcript weekly (not daily - it won't help and will just stress you out) 2) Verify your banking information is correct in case they're ready to deposit 3) If you reach day 45 with no updates, then it's worth making another call The rep gave you good advice about the 30-day window. These processing delays are frustrating but normal this season.

I think there might be some confusion about what "processing shut down" actually means. Let me clarify based on my experience working with tax preparation: • The IRS doesn't completely shut down processing • What likely happened was maintenance on specific processing systems • These maintenance periods typically last 24-72 hours, not "weeks" • However, the backlog created can take weeks to clear • Different processing centers handle different regions • Some processing centers may be more affected than others This explains why your neighbor got their refund while you're still waiting - they might have been processed at a different center or their return had fewer elements requiring review. Hope this helps clarify what's happening behind the scenes!