IRS Tax Return Filed Jan 27 Still Stuck on "Return Received" After 44 Days - No Approval or Refund Date
I filed my taxes on January 27th and I'm checking the Where's My Refund tool but it's showing "Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available." The status bars on WMR only show "Return Received" but nothing for "Approved" or "Refund Sent." I just checked again at 12:19 today on the official IRS website (sa.www4.irs.gov) and here's exactly what I'm seeing: Tax year 2024 Return Received ✓ Refund Approved ? Refund Sent ? The message shows: "Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available. For more information about processing delays, please see our Refund Frequently Asked Questions." There's also a note that says "Please Note: For refund information, please continue to check here, or use our free mobile app, IRS2Go. Updates to your refund status are made daily." I've been following their instructions and checking both on sa.www4.irs.gov and the IRS2Go app like they suggest, but no updates at all. Starting to get worried since other people who filed after me already got their refunds. It's been over 3 weeks now since I filed, and I really expected to see at least the "Approved" status by now. Has anyone else filed for tax year 2024 and still stuck on "Return Received" with the processing message? How long did you have to wait before seeing any movement?
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Libby Hassan
The IRS Where's My Refund tool shows you're in the early stages of processing, with only the "Return Received" status bar filled and no completion of the "Approved" or "Refund Sent" stages. Your return from January 27th has been in process for 16 days, which falls within the standard 21-day processing window the IRS typically needs. The timestamp of 12:19 indicates your most recent check, and the system is displaying the standard processing message that appears before approval. This status is actually quite normal for returns filed in late January, especially during the initial rush of tax season. The tool is directing you to both sa.www4.irs.gov and the IRS2Go mobile app for updates, which is standard procedure. The mention of "Tax Year 2024" confirms you're checking the correct tax year, and the official .gov domain ensures you're on the legitimate IRS website. While it can be concerning to see others receiving refunds sooner, your timeline is still within normal parameters. You should start seeing movement on your return within the next 5 days as you approach the 21-day mark, barring any special processing requirements or verification needs.
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Levi Parker
•thx for explaining! its my first time filing this early so i was getting nervous 😅
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Libby Hassan
•np! just remember early filing doesn't always mean early refund. The IRS is random like that 🤷♂️
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Hunter Hampton
Hey! Instead of stressing over WMR, you should try taxr.ai - it's this new tool that actually analyzes your transcript and tells you exactly what's happening with your refund. It's only $1 and way more accurate than WMR. https://taxr.ai
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Sofia Peña
•does it actually work? seems too good to be true tbh
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Hunter Hampton
•Yeah! It literally saved me hours of googling and stressing. It looks at your actual transcript data and explains everything in plain english
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Sofia Peña
•just tried it and OMG where has this been all my life?! 🙌 It told me exactly why my refund was delayed and when to expect it!
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Aaron Boston
Filed 1/29, still processing here too. This waiting game is driving me nuts 🤪
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Sophia Carter
lol welcome to tax season! were all just 🤡 refreshing WMR every 5 mins
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Chloe Zhang
•facts 💀 my finger getting tired from checking so much
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Brandon Parker
I filed 1/25 and got my refund yesterday. Did you claim EIC or CTC? That usually makes it take longer.
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Levi Parker
•nope, just a regular return. maybe im just unlucky 😭
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Adriana Cohn
The IRS is seriously understaffed rn and dealing with millions of returns. Give it time, youll get your money eventually
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Jamal Harris
I'm in the exact same boat! Filed 1/28 and still stuck on "Return Received" with that same processing message. It's so frustrating seeing people who filed later already getting their refunds while we're still waiting. I keep telling myself that 21 days isn't up yet but the anxiety is real 😬 At least we're not alone in this!
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