Filed on January 31st, Approved February 6th - WMR Still Shows One Bar but TurboTax Says February 27th?

I would suggest... waiting just a bit longer. The estimated dates from tax preparation software are sometimes overly optimistic. The IRS processing timeframes can vary based on multiple factors. Perhaps your return contains certain elements requiring additional review? Maybe check if you claimed any credits that might trigger longer processing times. I've seen similar situations resolve within a week after the estimated date.

Did you file with any special credits or deductions? What does your tax transcript show when you log into the IRS website? Have you received any notices in the mail from the IRS?

I checked my IRS transcript on February 21st and it shows processing codes but no direct deposit date yet. I'm seeing code 570 dated March 4th, 2024 and code 971 with the same date. TurboTax estimated February 27th based on the standard 21-day processing window from my acceptance date of February 6th.

With those 570/971 codes, you'll definitely want to know what's in that notice they're sending. I've been in this exact situation. Calling the IRS directly could take hours of redial attempts. I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) last week and got connected to an agent in under 30 minutes who explained exactly what was happening with my return. They told me specifically what the notice was about before it even arrived in my mailbox. Saved me days of anxiety wondering what was wrong.

Have you verified that your banking information was entered correctly? Sometimes it's like putting the wrong address in your GPS - the money tries to go somewhere but can't find its destination. Also, does Chime show pending deposits, or only completed ones?

Try checking your state refund status too. Sometimes they process separately. Pennsylvania has its own system. Not connected to federal. Might give additional clues. Worth a quick check. Could help piece together the timeline.

The disconnect between TurboTax's estimate and the actual IRS processing is like expecting Amazon to deliver during a snowstorm just because the app says it's coming today. The IRS batch processing system is handling millions of returns, and tax software companies don't have real-time access to where yours stands in the queue. I'm seeing similar delays across several states, not just Pennsylvania, so you're definitely not alone in this frustrating situation.

I might be able to offer some reassurance. My return had almost identical timing to yours - filed on January 29th, accepted February 5th, and TurboTax estimated February 26th. My WMR stayed on one bar until March 2nd, when it suddenly updated to approved, and I received my deposit on March 4th. It seems that, in some cases, the system might not update until very close to the actual deposit date.