Filed January 30 - No PATH Message - Blank Transcripts - Normal?

Have you checked if you claimed any credits like the Earned Income Credit or Child Tax Credit? Those usually trigger the PATH Act delay message. When you say your transcripts are blank, did you check both your Account Transcript and Return Transcript? And have you received your acknowledgment that the IRS accepted your return?

Oh my goodness, I'm wondering if you might have a PATH Act delay but the message just isn't showing up correctly! This filing season has been SO frustrating with all these glitches! Did you claim any refundable credits like EITC or CTC? Those automatically trigger PATH Act holds regardless of whether you see the message or not!

Think of your tax return like a package tracked through multiple systems - sometimes the tracking information doesn't update even though your package is moving through the system. The blank transcript is concerning, like watching your package sit at the distribution center for weeks. When I faced this exact situation last month, I tried calling the IRS for three straight days with no luck - like trying to enter a packed stadium without a ticket. Then I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through to an agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed my return was just delayed due to high volume. The peace of mind was worth it.

I filed on January 28th and had the exact same issue - blank transcripts until February 22nd. Called on February 24th and they told me my return was selected for manual review. Got my deposit on March 14th. The system is overwhelmed this year and the PATH Act message isn't showing consistently. The IRS started processing returns on January 29th, so you're right at the beginning of the queue.

Have you tried using the IRS2Go app instead of the website? Sometimes it shows different information. Also, have you checked the Where's My Refund tool? What does it say about your refund status? The IRS website says processing can take up to 21 days, but many people are reporting longer waits this year.

Most people don't know this, but the PATH Act applies even if you don't see the message. The IRS holds refunds with certain credits until mid-February, regardless of when you file. Your transcripts being blank might just mean they haven't started processing yet. I wouldn't worry unless it's been more than 45 days since filing.

I believe what you're experiencing is probably just a normal processing delay, possibly combined with a display issue in the system. In my experience, about 15% of early filers might see blank transcripts for up to 4-5 weeks, especially if there are any potentially refundable credits involved. Your return is likely just working its way through the queue, and the absence of the PATH message could simply be a user interface inconsistency rather than an indication of any problem with your actual return.