Filed with TaxSlayer in January - Still haven't received my tax refund in 2025. What's going on?

Several things could be causing the delay with your refund. First, returns that include child-related credits (like the Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit) often go through additional verification processes, especially following a change in filing status like divorce. The IRS has enhanced fraud prevention measures for these credits. Second, the "Where's My Refund" tool showing "still processing" is actually normal - it doesn't mean anything is wrong. The IRS processing timelines vary wildly, and while most refunds are processed within 21 days, many legitimate factors can extend this timeframe. Try checking your tax transcript through the IRS website instead of just the refund tool. Transcripts often show more detailed information about what's happening with your return, including any potential review codes.

I went through something similar last year after my divorce. I used TaxSlayer too and was stuck waiting forever. I found this AI tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that analyzed my tax documents and found an issue with how my ex and I were both trying to claim the same child tax credit. The system flagged it for manual review which was causing the delay. The tool scanned my return and explained exactly what was holding things up - turns out there was a mismatch between my ex's filing and mine regarding who got to claim the kids. Once I understood the problem, I was able to get it resolved. Might be worth checking if you're in a similar situation.

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying that taxr.ai site after my refund was stuck for over a month. Gotta admit I was surprised at how helpful it was. The system analyzed my return and immediately spotted that I had a filing status mismatch problem - I filed as Head of Household but there was something in my ex's return that conflicted with mine. The tool explained exactly which IRS code was causing my delay (something I never would have figured out on my own) and walked me through submitting the right documentation to fix it. My refund was processed about 10 days after I sent in the correction. Wish I'd known about this earlier instead of just checking the refund tracker obsessively for weeks!

Have you tried calling the IRS directly? I know it's a nightmare getting through to them - I was in a similar situation and spent DAYS trying to get through. Finally discovered this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with was able to see exactly why my refund was delayed - turned out there was a simple verification issue with my new address after my move that was holding everything up. Once I got to actually speak with someone, they fixed it right away and my refund was processed within a week. Might be worth trying if you're still stuck.

Ok I need to eat my words here. After posting that skeptical comment earlier, I was so desperate to figure out my refund situation that I actually tried Claimyr that same night. I was 100% prepared to come back here and call it a scam when it didn't work. But damn, it actually got me through to the IRS in about 25 minutes (not quite the 15 they advertise but WAAAAAY better than the 3+ hours I spent on my previous attempts). The agent immediately pulled up my return and told me it was flagged for review because of a potential identity verification issue. They transferred me to the right department and I got it cleared up right there on the call. My refund was released 2 days later and is scheduled to hit my account next week. After nearly a month of stressing and getting nowhere, I'm kinda in shock that it got resolved so quickly once I actually reached a human.

Check if you have code 570 or 971 on your account transcript. Those usually indicate there's some kind of review happening. With a recent divorce and claiming kids, there's a good chance your ex may have claimed the same kids or there's some conflict in the filing status that triggered a manual review. Also, did you receive any letters from the IRS? Sometimes they send a verification letter but it gets lost in the mail or looks like junk mail. If you don't respond to those, your refund just sits in limbo.

TaxSlayer might be part of the problem tbh. Used them for years but switched to FreeTaxUSA this year after TaxSlayer messed up my state return last time. Their system sometimes submits things in weird formats that trigger manual review flags at the IRS.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - filed in early February and still waiting. From what I've learned lurking in tax forums, divorce situations with kids are basically guaranteed to get extra scrutiny. The IRS has to verify that both parents aren't claiming the same children, which can take weeks or even months. One thing that helped me was setting up informed delivery with USPS so I could see if any IRS letters were coming before they actually arrived. Sometimes those verification letters get delayed or lost, and you don't want to miss the deadline to respond. Also, if you're really strapped for cash while waiting, some tax prep places offer refund advance loans, though the interest rates are pretty brutal. Might be worth looking into if you're facing late fees on bills.