Filed on January 24th - Still Stuck at First Bar on WMR with No Transcript Updates
I submitted my tax return on January 24th following my standard procedure - verified all information twice, confirmed all income sources matched my documentation, and ensured all deductions were properly categorized. Despite my methodical approach, I'm currently experiencing a delay that seems unusual compared to previous years. The Where's My Refund tool remains at the first processing bar, and my transcript shows no updates whatsoever. In 2022, I received my refund within 14 days of filing. In 2023, it took 18 days. We're now approaching 30 days since submission. Has anyone encountered similar circumstances this filing season? Should I initiate further action at this juncture, or is this timeline within normal parameters for the current processing environment?
17 comments
Aisha Abdullah
Based on current IRS processing guidelines, your situation falls within normal parameters for the 2024 filing season. According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1, returns filed early in the season often experience longer processing times due to system calibration and verification protocols. Per Notice 2024-05, the IRS has implemented enhanced fraud detection measures that may extend processing timeframes by 21-28 days beyond historical norms. Have you verified whether your return contains any elements that might trigger additional review (EITC, CTC, or Schedule C income)?
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Ethan Davis
I'm in exactly the same boat but filed on January 22nd - exactly 32 days ago. My transcript shows absolutely nothing for 2023. Does the IRM specify exactly how many days is considered "normal" before we should take action? The 21-28 day extension you mentioned would put me at 49-56 days total waiting time. Is that really standard now?
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Yuki Tanaka
Oh my gosh thank you for explaining this!!! š I've been FREAKING OUT because I filed on the 26th and still nothing! I claimed the Child Tax Credit this year for the first time and was worried I messed something up! This makes me feel so much better knowing there's actually a reason for the delay!
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Carmen Ortiz
You're in the normal timeframe. Don't worry yet. IRS is backed up. Early filers often wait longer. System prioritizes certain returns. Check transcript weekly, not daily. Path Act delays certain credits. Wait until mid-February before calling. Patience is key this season.
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MidnightRider
This happened to me last year too. Filed January 19th and didn't see movement until February 28th. I remember calling the IRS after 3 weeks and waiting on hold for 2 hours just to be told everything was fine and to keep waiting. The most frustrating part was watching people who filed after me get their refunds first.
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Andre Laurent
Wow, this is super helpful! I filed on January 25th and was getting worried since my coworker who filed on February 1st already got her refund last week. Last year I filed in March and got my refund in 8 days, so this longer wait had me concerned. Sounds like early filing isn't always faster!
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Zoe Papadopoulos
I'm sort of in a similar situation, I think. I filed on January 20th and was probably a bit too hopeful about getting my refund quickly. My WMR finally updated yesterday after showing one bar for about 5 weeks. I claimed the Child Tax Credit which might have slowed things down a bit, from what I understand. It seems like the processing times are just longer this year, especially for those of us who filed in January. Maybe the IRS is just being more thorough with early returns?
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Jamal Washington
Same thing happened to me in 2022 AND 2023. The early filers always get stuck in verification hell while people who file in March zoom right through. The IRS should just be honest and tell people not to file in January if they want fast processing. I've compared notes with at least 10 friends over the past few years and the pattern is consistent - January filers wait the longest.
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Mei Wong
When you say your WMR finally updated, what exactly changed? Did it move to the second bar or did you get an approval date? And did your transcript update at the same time as WMR or did one update before the other? I'm trying to understand the sequence of events to know what to watch for.
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Liam Fitzgerald
I was in your exact position last year and waited almost 6 weeks with no updates. I'm very careful with my money and needed that refund for some car repairs. After trying the regular IRS number for days, I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to reach an agent. They connected me within 30 minutes when I'd been unable to get through for days. The agent confirmed my return was just in normal processing with no issues. It might be worth the fee if you're really worried, though it sounds like you might just need to wait a bit longer. I'm always hesitant to spend money on services, but it did save me a lot of stress.
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PixelWarrior
ā¢ Have you verified this service is legitimate? ā¢ Does it require personal information? ā¢ Are there any hidden fees beyond what they advertise? ā¢ Couldn't you just keep calling the IRS yourself? Just want to make sure it's safe before recommending to others in my situation.
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Amara Adebayo
Your timeline falls within normal processing parameters for the 2024 filing season. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of what's happening: 1. FIFO (First In, First Out) processing doesn't strictly apply during peak season 2. Returns with refundable credits undergo additional verification per PATH Act requirements 3. Cyclical processing creates batched updates, typically on Wednesday/Thursday nights 4. Transcript updating occurs in separate cycles from WMR updates Recommended action plan: - Check transcript every Thursday morning (after overnight updates) - Look specifically for TC150 (return filed), TC570 (pending review), or TC971 (notice issued) - Once you see TC846 with a date, that's your direct deposit date Based on current processing patterns, you should see movement within the next 7-10 days.
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Giovanni Rossi
This is spot on! I've been tracking my transcript for three filing seasons and the Thursday morning check is key. Last year I saw my TC150 appear after 4 weeks of nothing, then TC570 a week later, followed by TC571 (release of hold) and TC846 all within 8 days. The pattern is pretty consistent year to year.
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Fatima Al-Mansour
I wish I'd known this my first time filing. I called the IRS 9 times before someone explained the transcript codes to me. Now I just check my transcript on Thursdays and know exactly what's happening. The WMR tool is practically useless compared to understanding your transcript.
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Dylan Evans
IMO ur fine. IRS is super backed up rn. Lots of ppl w/ same issue. The Jan filers seem to be in a weird limbo this yr. My bro filed 1/29 and got his DD yesterday, but I filed 1/22 and still nothing. Makes zero sense tbh. The system isn't FIFO like they claim. Just hang tight a bit longer before stressing.
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Sofia Gomez
Wait, your brother filed AFTER you and already got his refund? Did he claim any credits or have a simple return? I'm trying to figure out if there's a pattern to who gets processed faster.
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StormChaser
I filed on January 19th, 2024 and was in exactly the same situation until February 15th when my transcript finally updated. I checked every morning at 6:00 AM for 27 days straight with no changes. Then on February 16th my WMR updated to approved, and I received my direct deposit on February 21st. Based on the dates, it seems the IRS is processing January filers in batches, and they're taking about 4-5 weeks this year instead of the usual 2-3 weeks. I'd mark March 1st on your calendar - if you don't see any updates by then, that's when I'd consider calling.
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