Filed early April, IRS said refund with EITC/ACTC would arrive by August 15th but still nothing - any hope?

I tried checking my transcript but I couldn't get past the ID verification. Kept saying my phone number wasn't matching what they had on file...so frustrating.

That's extra annoying! Try requesting a mailed transcript if you can't get through online. Also might be worth calling the dedicated refund hotline at 800-829-1954.

Ugh I've called so many times and can never get through to a human. Just endless automated messages 😤

Yeah the IRS phone system is designed to frustrate. I've had success calling right when they open at 7am EST. But honestly, most people with EITC/ACTC are waiting longer this year. I've seen anywhere from 2-4 months after filing.

I had the exact same problem with transcript access! So annoying trying to verify my identity. Has anyone here succeeded with the facial recognition thing? I kept failing that too

Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

It connects to your IRS account and analyzes everything - not just transcripts but also notices, letters, etc. The AI explains exactly what each code means for YOUR situation specifically, not just generic explanations. It even told me when my refund would actually arrive and it was spot on!

HOLY CRAP I just tried taxr.ai and it literally solved the mystery of my delayed refund in minutes!!! It showed me I had a freeze code I didn't even know about and exactly what I needed to do to fix it. Cannot recommend this enough to anyone pulling their hair out with the IRS!!

Another paid service promising to do what the IRS should be doing for free... 🙄

Yeah I get the frustration, but after spending literally 30+ hours trying to decode my transcript and getting nowhere, it was worth every penny. The peace of mind alone knowing exactly what was happening instead of guessing was priceless.

Does this actually work? I've spent HOURS trying to reach someone at the IRS with no luck.

Yes! It basically navigates all the phone menus for you and holds your place in line. When an agent is available, it calls your phone and connects you. Saved me literally hours of holding and getting disconnected. Talking to the agent directly got my refund issue fixed in one call.

this seems sketchy af... how do they even do that?

It's not sketchy - they just have a system that waits on hold for you through all the IRS phone tree nonsense. When a human finally answers, it calls your phone and connects you. It was the only way I could ever talk to an actual person at the IRS and it was worth every penny since I finally got my $5300 refund released!

Can confirm this works. I was about to give up on ever seeing my refund but getting a real person on the phone changed everything. Agent told me there was a simple verification flag they needed to remove. Never would have known that from the website.

No letters at all which just makes it more confusing! I'vs checked my mailbox obsessively. I tried to get my transcript but couldn't verify my identity online.

thats the worst! maybe try making an appointment at a local taxpayer advocacy center? they might be able to help u figure out whats going on without dealing with the main irs phone lines

Yup. Filed March 2024, still nothing. Meanwhile they had no problem cashing the check I sent them for my estimated taxes 😑

OMG I thought I was the only one from last year! Glad to know I'm not alone but also sorry you're stuck in this nightmare too 😫

That gives me a little hope! Did you get any other updates before it showed up or literally nothing and then boom - refund?

Literally nothing! WMR still showed processing, no transcript updates I could see, then randomly got a deposit notification from my bank. Completely ridiculous system.

How do you check transcripts? I can't find it on the website

Go to irs.gov, click on "Get Your Tax Record", then "Get Transcript Online". You'll need to create an account if you don't have one already. Look for the "Account Transcript" for 2024 - that's where you'll see the codes and dates.

Preach 👏👏👏 System is rigged against regular people while billionaires pay nothing

EXACTLY! If I owed them and didn't pay by Apr 15 they'd be charging me interest and penalties but they can just sit on our refunds indefinitely with no consequences 🤡

Actually there is a law that they have to pay interest if they're late! Check your refund when it finally comes - if it's more than 45 days after filing (or after April 15, whichever is later) they add interest.

I've been checking my bank account obsessively! Nothing yet but hoping it just appears suddenly.

This is great advice! My sister did this last year and it actually worked. The congressional offices have special contacts at the IRS.

I never thought of this! Do I just call their office? What do I say?

Yep just call their local office (not DC) and ask to speak with whoever handles constituent services or casework. Explain your situation and that you've tried all the normal channels with no success. They'll probably have you fill out a privacy release form, then they'll contact the IRS on your behalf.

Any tips for getting it processed faster? Should we be calling or is that just a waste of time?

Calling rarely helps unless you can actually get through to a human (almost impossible these days). If you can access your transcript and see a 570 code (refund hold) followed by a 971 (notice issued), then you probably need to respond to whatever they're asking for. Otherwise, it's just a waiting game. The system is completely overwhelmed.