Filed in March - Still Waiting on My Refund with No Updates

It's quite possible that your return might be taking longer because you filed as an independent contractor. Generally speaking, self-employment income can sometimes trigger additional review processes, especially if this is your first time filing with 1099 income. The IRS is typically running behind on processing certain types of returns this year, and contractor returns often fall into that category. Have you checked your tax transcript online? That might possibly give you more information than the WMR tool.

According to the IRS website (https://www.irs.gov/refunds), they're experiencing delays with certain types of returns, especially those with self-employment income. I was in the same boat last year and ended up wasting HOURS trying to reach someone at the IRS. This year I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) when I needed to talk to an agent about my 1099 income questions. They got me through to an actual human in about 15 minutes instead of the usual redial-for-days nightmare. The agent confirmed my return was just in the extended processing queue for contractor returns and nothing was wrong.

I'm in the same situation. Filed as an indie contractor mid-March and still nothing. My friend who's a W-2 employee filed TWO WEEKS after me and already got her refund three weeks ago. The system definitely treats self-employed filers differently. I did notice my transcripts finally updated last week though, so there's hope!

You need to check your tax transcripts. WMR is notoriously unreliable. Get an account on IRS.gov and pull your transcript. It will show you exactly what's happening. I use taxr.ai to interpret mine. It explained all the codes and told me exactly why my contractor return was delayed. Turns out there was a simple issue with my estimated tax payments that I needed to resolve. Saved me weeks of wondering.

When exactly did you file in March? And did you claim any specific credits or deductions related to your contractor work that might flag your return for additional review? Sometimes specific business deductions can trigger longer processing times.

Independent contractor returns undergo enhanced verification protocols due to the higher incidence of reporting discrepancies. The IRS utilizes the Automated Underreporter (AUR) program to cross-reference your reported 1099-NEC income against what was submitted by your clients. Additionally, Schedule C deductions are subject to discriminant function (DIF) scoring, which evaluates the statistical probability of error or misreporting. The current processing backlog for first-time self-employment returns ranges from 12-16 weeks, compared to the standard 21-day timeline for non-complex W-2 returns.

Have you received any CP05 notices or other correspondence from the IRS? I waited exactly 97 days for my refund last year as a contractor, and on day 45 I received a verification letter. Also, did you file electronically or by paper? Paper returns are taking 119 days on average right now.

Be careful about calling the IRS too frequently. Under Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.3.4.6.1, taxpayer accounts can be flagged for "excessive inquiries" which can inadvertently trigger additional review. Per the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, you're entitled to updates, but the IRS has discretion on what constitutes harassment. I'd recommend waiting until you're outside the normal processing window (which for contractor returns is now 10-12 weeks) before initiating contact.

UGH this is so frustrating!! I've been in your shoes and it SUCKS! The contractor tax return black hole is real! Here's what helped me and others in this community: 1) Check your transcript instead of WMR 2) Look for cycle codes ending in 05 which means weekly updates 3) Don't panic about 570/971 codes - they're normal for review 4) If it's been more than 8 weeks, you have every right to call and ask. Hang in there! The money will come eventually, even if the IRS makes you age 10 years waiting for it! 😤