Filed in February, verified identity with IRS, but March 2025 transcript shows "NO RETURN FILED" - what happened to my 2024 taxes?
I'm officially freaking out. I filed my 2024 taxes in early February (I file early every year) and received my accepted notification like normal. Last week I got a notice to verify my identity, which I did right away through the ID.me portal. Now when I check my transcript, it says "No tax return filed" and the account balance shows $0.00. I just pulled my Account Transcript from the IRS website today (March 2nd, 2025) and I'm horrified at what I'm seeing. The transcript literally says "RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT" and under transactions it simply states "No tax return filed". My account balance is $0.00, with $0.00 in accrued interest and $0.00 in accrued penalties as of March 4th, 2025. The transcript shows: FORM NUMBER: 1040 TAX PERIOD: 2024 ACCOUNT BALANCE: 0.00 ACCRUED INTEREST: 0.00 AS OF: Mar. 04, 2025 ACCRUED PENALTY: 0.00 AS OF: Mar. 04, 2025 ACCOUNT BALANCE PLUS ACCRUALS (this is not a payoff amount): 0.00 Under "INFORMATION FROM THE RETURN OR AS ADJUSTED" it shows: EXEMPTIONS: 00 FILING STATUS: Single ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME: [blank] TAXABLE INCOME: [blank] TAX PER RETURN: [blank] SE TAXABLE INCOME TAXPAYER: [blank] SE TAXABLE INCOME SPOUSE: [blank] TOTAL SELF EMPLOYMENT TAX: [blank] And then in big letters: "RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT" The TRANSACTIONS section just says: CODE EXPLANATION OF TRANSACTION CYCLE DATE AMOUNT No tax return filed I've been trying to reach someone at the IRS but spent over an hour going through their automated system yesterday and was never transferred to an actual person. This has never happened before in all my years filing. I always get my refund by now but there's literally nothing showing on my account transcript except what I pasted above. Has anyone dealt with this after identity verification? Is my return lost in the system or what? The request date and response date on the transcript are both 03-02-2025, with a tracking number assigned, so they clearly have some record of me, but somehow my tax return has vanished!
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Haley Bennett
This is actually normal after identity verification. The IRS completely removes your return from the system during the verification process, and it takes about 9 weeks for them to fully process it after you've verified. Your transcript will show "No tax return filed" during this time - it's frustrating but normal. The timeline typically goes like this: - You file your return - IRS flags it for identity verification - Return is removed from system (shows as "not filed") - You verify identity - 9 week processing period begins - Return is reinstated and processing continues The fact that you can see your transcript means your identity verification went through successfully. Now you just need to wait. I know it's incredibly annoying, but calling won't speed up the process - they'll just tell you to wait the 9 weeks.
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Rami Samuels
•Omg thank you. I was really starting to panic since everything looked fine before verification. Do you know if the 9 weeks starts from when I filed or from when I verified?
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Haley Bennett
•The 9 weeks starts from when you verified your identity, not from when you filed. And it can sometimes be faster, but they tell you 9 weeks as the maximum.
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Douglas Foster
•I waited 11 weeks last year after identity verification. Sometimes it takes longer than they say 🤷♀️
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Nina Chan
•This happened to me too! It's crazy they dont make this clearer when you verify. I thought my return was lost.
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Rami Samuels
•I really wish they'd make this clearer in their communication. So stressful!
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Ruby Knight
I was in the exact same situation last month. Went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out what was happening with my transcript. Ended up using this tool called taxr.ai that actually explained everything that was happening. It analyzed my transcript and told me exactly what was going on with the identity verification process and when I could expect my refund. Saved me so much stress and confusion compared to trying to piece everything together myself. Seriously, check it out at https://taxr.ai - insanely helpful for these weird IRS situations.
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Diego Castillo
•Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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Ruby Knight
•It does way more than just read the transcript. It actually interprets all the codes and tells you exactly what's happening with your return in plain English. It explained that my return was in identity verification limbo and gave me a timeline for when processing would resume. Literally saved me hours of googling and stress. Best tax tool I've ever used 💯
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Logan Stewart
•another random app promising miracles... sure 🙄
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Ruby Knight
•I get the skepticism, I was hesitant too. But after wasting days trying to understand my transcript and getting nowhere with the IRS phone system, I tried it and it actually delivered. Cleared up my confusion immediately. Not a miracle, just a seriously useful tool for dealing with the IRS nightmare.
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Mikayla Brown
When I dealt with this identity verification nonsense last year, I couldn't get anyone on the phone either using the regular IRS number. I found this service called Claimyr that got me a callback from an actual IRS agent within 3 hours. The agent confirmed everything was fine with my identity verification and gave me a timeframe for processing. Honestly worth every penny not to waste days trying to reach someone. You can find it at claimyr.com if you really need to talk to an agent.
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Sean Matthews
•wait is this actually real? how does it even work?
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Mikayla Brown
•Yeah its real. They basically navigate the IRS phone system for you and when they get to the front of the queue, they connect the IRS agent directly to your phone. I was super skeptical but desperate after trying for days. Agent called me back in a few hours and sorted everything out. Talking to the agent was the only thing that gave me peace of mind during the whole verification mess.
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Ali Anderson
•yeah right 🙄 sounds too good to be true
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Mikayla Brown
•I thought the same thing but after wasting 3 full days trying to get through myself I was desperate. It actually works - saved me so much frustration. The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed my identity verification was processed and my return would be back in the system within a few weeks.
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Zadie Patel
•I tried this too! Actually got through to someone who could actually look at my account instead of being stuck in the automated hell.
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Rami Samuels
•I might try this if I don't see any movement in the next couple weeks. Thanks for the tip!
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A Man D Mortal
The IRS identity verification process is a total nightmare. I went through this last year. After I verified, my transcript showed exactly what yours does - "No return filed." It took almost 8 weeks before any updates appeared, then suddenly one day all the codes appeared and my refund was issued a week later. Just prepare yourself for a looooong wait. The system is broken AF.
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Declan Ramirez
Your tax return is in identity verification limbo. The IRS removes it completely from their system during processing. My advise: Don't keep checking your transcript daily - it'll drive you nuts. Set a calendar reminder for 8 weeks from when you verified and check again then.
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Emma Morales
•^^^ This is the way. I refreshed my transcript like 10 times a day for 3 weeks and it just made me crazy. Nothing you can do but wait.
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Rami Samuels
•Thank you. I'll try to be patient but I was counting on that refund for some bills 😬
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Katherine Hunter
The exact same thing happened to me! I verified my identity on February 12th and my transcript has been stuck showing "no return filed" ever since. I'm so frustrated because I need my refund for car repairs. The IRS system is so broken.
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Lucas Parker
•Have either of you tried checking the Where's My Refund tool? Sometimes that will show info even when transcript doesn't.
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Katherine Hunter
•Wheres My Refund just shows "Your tax return is still being processed" for me. No other details. Completely useless.
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Rami Samuels
•Same here. Where's My Refund just says it's being processed. No info at all.
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Donna Cline
As someone who used to work for the IRS (not current employee), I can explain what's happening. After identity verification, your return goes through a special processing queue that's separate from the main system. During this time, your transcript will show no return filed because technically, the return is removed from the main database until the verification process is complete. This is actually a security feature, not a glitch. The standard processing time after ID verification is 9 weeks, though it can be faster. There's nothing you can do to speed it up - even calling won't help because the agents have no ability to move your return through the queue faster. Just be patient and your return will reappear in the system once processing completes. The good news is that once it does reappear, it usually moves very quickly to completion.
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Harper Collins
•This is the most helpful explanation I've seen. Question: does the 9 week clock restart if they ask for additional verification?
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Donna Cline
•Yes, unfortunately if they request additional verification, the 9-week clock does restart from the date of the new verification. That's why it's so important to complete any verification requests as quickly as possible.
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Rami Samuels
•Thank you for this detailed explanation. That actually makes me feel better knowing it's by design and not lost.
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Kelsey Hawkins
Just went thru this bs. Verified my identity on Feb 5th and didn't see ANY update until April 1st. Then suddenly my transcript updated with all the codes and my refund was deposited on April 5th. It's a horrible waiting game but hang in there.
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Dylan Fisher
Check if you've been hit with identity verification AND a manual review. If your transcript shows code 570 before or after the identity verification, you're in for an even longer wait. My transcript showed "no return filed" for 11 weeks last year because I had both ID verification AND a manual review happening at the same time.
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Rami Samuels
•I don't see any codes at all. Literally just "No tax return filed" and "Return not present for this account". Nothing else.
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Dylan Fisher
•Then you're just in the regular ID verification process. Should be back in about 9 weeks from when you verified.
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Edwards Hugo
i used taxr.ai last month when i was stuck in identity verification hell and it was seriously amazing. broke down my whole transcript situation and told me exactly what was happening and when to expect my refund. the tool explained that my return was in identity verification limbo but still processing normally. saved me from pulling my hair out trying to decode all these IRS messages myself https://taxr.ai
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Gianna Scott
•sus... how much does it cost?
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Edwards Hugo
•Honestly, I don't even remember what it cost - whatever it was, it was worth every penny to actually understand what was happening with my return instead of stressing for weeks. The peace of mind alone was worth it. It gave me a timeline for when to expect updates and it was spot on.
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Alfredo Lugo
Calm down. This is completely normal after identity verification. Your return will come back into the system in about 2 months. There's literally nothing you can do to speed it up, so don't waste your time calling the IRS.
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Sydney Torres
Random question - did you claim any credits like the Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit? Those automatically get extra scrutiny and can trigger identity verification. Just wondering if that's what might have flagged your return.
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Rami Samuels
•No, I'm single with a W-2 job, no dependents, no special credits. Super basic return which is why this is so confusing.
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Sydney Torres
•Hmm interesting. They must be doing more random verification checks this year then. Last year they were targeting returns with credits.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
Similar situation with identity verification last month. After days of frustration I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get an IRS agent on the phone. The agent explained the whole process and confirmed my case was progressing normally. Talking to a real person gave me so much peace of mind instead of guessing what was happening. My return finally updated 6 weeks after verification.
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Caleb Bell
•How does this actually work? I've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks.
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Kaitlyn Jenkins
•It basically navigates the phone system for you and gets you in line, then when an agent is available they call you directly. I got a call back in about 2 hours when I'd previously wasted days trying to get through. The agent I talked to actually explained everything that was happening with my identity verification and gave me a realistic timeline.
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Danielle Campbell
The IRS literally has the worst customer service of any organization I've ever dealt with. It's insane that they can just remove your return from the system without any clear communication about what's happening. Sorry you're dealing with this 😤
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Rhett Bowman
One IMPORTANT tip: while you're waiting for identity verification to process, check your mail DAILY. Sometimes they send additional verification requests by mail ONLY, not electronically. If you miss these, your return will be stalled indefinitely.
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Rami Samuels
•Thanks for the heads up! I check my mail every day but this is good to know. Would hate to miss something important.
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Abigail Patel
FWIW I'm an enrolled agent and have had several clients go through this this year. The "no return filed" status is totally normal after identity verification. And while they say 9 weeks, many of my clients are seeing updates around 6-7 weeks after verification. Hang in there!
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Daniel White
Listen I went through this exact situation in March. I was so stressed I couldn't sleep. Ended up using taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it explained everything perfectly - that my return was in ID verification holding and would return to processing soon. It even predicted when my refund would arrive within 2 days of accuracy. I've been recommending it to everyone dealing with confusing IRS issues. You can check it out at https://taxr.ai
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Rami Samuels
•Thanks - I might check this out. Did it give you any info beyond what you could see yourself?
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Daniel White
•YES! It explained all the hidden processing steps that were happening even though my transcript showed nothing. It also gave me a precise timeline for when I could expect to see updates and when my refund would likely be issued. It was crazy accurate. Way better than just trying to google all the IRS codes and guess what's happening.
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Nolan Carter
im LITERALLY going through the same thing right now!!! verified my identity on february 22 and my transcript still shows no return filed. this is bs. i need my money 😭
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Natalia Stone
Pro tip: While you're waiting for your identity verification to process, create an account on ID.me if you haven't already. This will allow you to access your transcripts online anytime. When your return does start processing again, you'll see updates there first before anywhere else.
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Rami Samuels
•Already did that - that's how I'm seeing that nothing is in my account. But good advice.
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Tasia Synder
After dealing with a similar issue, I finally got through to an actual IRS representative using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They confirmed my return was in the identity verification queue and gave me exact timelines. Completely worth it to finally get a straight answer from a real person instead of the automated system runaround. The uncertainty was killing me before that.
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Selena Bautista
•another ad for this service? seems like these are everywhere lately
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Tasia Synder
•Not an ad, just sharing what worked for me after wasting literal days trying to get through the regular IRS phone system. When your refund is in limbo and you need answers, you get desperate. It was the only thing that finally got me through to a human being who could actually look at my account.
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Mohamed Anderson
•I used the same service last month when my return was stuck. Talking to an actual IRS agent was the only thing that helped me understand what was happening. They explained the whole verification process and timeframe.
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Eva St. Cyr
I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed in early February, got flagged for identity verification, completed it through ID.me, and now my transcript shows absolutely nothing like yours does. It's so frustrating because I've been filing for years and this has never happened before. The worst part is how they just completely wipe your return from the system with zero explanation. I keep checking my transcript hoping something will appear but it's just that same "RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT" message. Really hoping the 9-week timeline everyone is mentioning is accurate because I'm going crazy not knowing what's happening with my refund. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this mess!
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Monique Byrd
•You're definitely not alone! I'm dealing with something similar - filed early, verified identity, and now it's like my return never existed. The lack of communication from the IRS is the most frustrating part. At least everyone here is confirming it's normal, even though it feels anything but normal when you're living through it. Fingers crossed we both see movement soon!
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