Filed Jan 16th - No Updates for a Month as Early Filer - Medical Expenses Pending

There are a few reasons why this might be happening. Let me break it down: 1. First, check if you claimed any credits that trigger automatic additional review (EIC, CTC, etc.) 2. Second, verify that your Where's My Refund status shows "received" and not an error 3. Third, try pulling your tax transcript - sometimes that shows processing stages not visible on WMR 4. Fourth, be aware that the IRS is still dealing with staffing shortages from previous years Many early filers are experiencing delays this year. The IRS prioritizes certain returns with specific credits, which can push others back in the queue.

Have you tried using taxr.ai to check your transcript? I was in a similar situation and couldn't figure out what was happening with my return. The tool helped me understand what was actually going on with my refund and identified that I had a review code that wasn't obvious to me. Have you checked your transcript at all? https://taxr.ai might help you understand what's happening behind the scenes.

According to IRS Publication 1586, the standard processing time should be 21 days, but we're seeing systematic delays across multiple filing categories this year. If you need to speak with someone at the IRS about your specific situation, especially with medical expenses pending, I'd suggest using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). The service connects you with an IRS agent much faster than waiting on hold yourself. Given Section 6402(a) of the IRC, you have the right to inquire about refund status when it exceeds normal processing timeframes, which yours clearly has.

I filed exactly on January 17th and was stuck in the same situation until exactly 36 days later when my transcript finally updated. The IRS is processing early filers in batches this year, and many January filers are seeing precisely 35-40 day processing times rather than the standard 21 days. Have you checked your account transcript specifically, or just your return transcript? The account transcript updates first, usually 3-5 days before any WMR movement.

Did you possibly claim any medical expense deductions on your Schedule A? I'm wondering if perhaps that might be triggering some sort of additional review? It seems like the IRS might be scrutinizing certain types of deductions more carefully this year, at least from what I've been reading in various tax forums.

Have you considered that your return might be caught in what tax professionals call the "early filer traffic jam"? It's like being first in line at a theme park - sometimes the rides aren't fully operational yet even though the gates are open. Is there any particular reason you filed so early rather than waiting until early February when the systems are typically running more smoothly?

I work in healthcare billing and see this issue every year with patients. The IRS prioritizes returns with refundable credits first, pushing simple returns to the back of the line. If you need funds for medical expenses, call your provider's billing department directly. Most have payment plans or hardship programs. Don't wait on the IRS. They can often reduce your required payment while you wait for your refund. Many hospitals have financial assistance even for those with insurance.

Back in 2022, I had a similar experience where my early filing seemed to put me in a weird holding pattern. What eventually worked for me was checking my transcript around 3-4am on Wednesday mornings - that's when my transcript finally updated after weeks of nothing. The IRS seems to do a lot of their batch processing overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, at least that was my experience. Have others found this to be true as well?