Filed Jan 22 with EIC - WMR Still Showing No Movement

I'm in a similar boat. Filed on 1/25, accepted same day, and WMR is still on the first bar. Last year I filed around the same time and had my refund by Valentine's Day. The year before that was even faster. I've noticed that EIC claims seem to be taking much longer this year - maybe due to increased verification? I'd recommend checking your transcripts rather than just WMR, sometimes they update before the WMR tool does.

Stop checking WMR. It's notoriously unreliable. Get your transcript instead. I use https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript each year. It tells you exactly what's happening with your return and gives you a much more accurate estimate of when you'll get your refund. Last year it predicted my deposit date to the day, even with EIC. Way better than the vague info from WMR.

omg I was in the EXACT same situation. Filed 1/23, accepted same day, had EIC, and WMR didn't move AT ALL until yesterday. No bars, no tax topic, nada. Then boom - suddenly showed approved w/ DDD of 3/22! No explanation for the delay. Transcript never updated either. Hang in there, it's prob just the usual PATH Act stuff but taking longer this yr for some reason.

Call the IRS. Don't waste time waiting. I used Claimyr to get through. Standard wait times are 2+ hours right now. Claimyr got me to an agent in 20 minutes. Agent confirmed my return was just waiting for final review. Nothing wrong with it. Would have stressed for weeks otherwise. Worth it for peace of mind. https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Here's what's actually happening with EIC returns filed in January 2024: 1. The PATH Act mandates that the IRS cannot issue refunds for returns with EIC before mid-February. This is to allow time for income verification against employer W-2 submissions. 2. Once the mid-February hold is lifted, returns don't all process at once - they enter a queue. 3. Schedule C filers with EIC get additional scrutiny because the IRS is verifying both employment income AND self-employment income claims. 4. Current processing time for these returns is averaging 28-35 days from mid-February (not from filing date), which puts many people at a late March/early April timeline. 5. WMR often doesn't update until final processing is complete, which is why many people see no movement then suddenly get a deposit date. I recommend checking your account transcript weekly rather than WMR daily. Your 846 refund issued code will appear there first.

I'm wondering if anyone knows if EIC processing times are different for people who filed with tax pros versus self-prepared returns? My brother filed the same day as me (1/24) through a CPA and already got his refund last week, while mine is still sitting with no updates. We both have businesses and claimed EIC. Is there some priority queue for professionally prepared returns compared to those of us who DIY with software?