First-Time EITC Filer Seeing PATH Act Delay Message - IRS Transcript Shows Refund Can't Be Issued Before Mid-February

Just checked my transcript and got a message about the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act holding my refund. I claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit, and now I'm seeing that the IRS cannot issue my refund before mid-February - this applies to my entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits. I took a screenshot of what I'm seeing on the IRS website. It shows my return status with three sections: "Return Received", "Refund Approved", and "Refund Sent" - but there are question marks next to each status except "Return Received". The message clearly states: "The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act says that if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS cannot issue the refund before mid-February. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits." It also says "You can check the status of your refund on Where's My Refund starting in mid- to late February. The website is updated once a day and is the best way to check the status of your refund." There's a section labeled "Helpful Information" that states "Please read the following information related to your tax situation: Tax Topic 152, Refund Information" At the bottom there's a note that says "Please Note: For refund information, please continue to here" with what looks like a partial URL: "sa.www4.irs.gov" Never seen this before and it's my first time filing with these credits. Anyone know if this PATH Act delay is normal or if there's something wrong with my return? I'm just nervous since this is my first time seeing this message.

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15 comments

Hannah White

•10M

The IRS system is showing the standard PATH Act notification, which is triggered when you claim EITC or ACTC on your return. The screenshot displays three status indicators - "Return Received," "Refund Approved," and "Refund Sent" - with question marks indicating your refund is still in the initial processing stage. The delay until mid-February is a mandatory safeguard under the PATH Act, not an indication of any problems with your return. What's important to note is that even though only part of your refund is from these credits, the IRS must hold your entire refund amount - this is clearly stated in the message and is standard procedure. The reference to Tax Topic 152 is actually a good sign - it's a general reference code for refund information and typically appears on returns that are processing normally. The system is directing you to use the Where's My Refund tool (WMR) as your primary way to track updates, which refreshes once daily, typically overnight. Based on the message format and status indicators shown, your return appears to be following the normal processing path for EITC/ACTC claims. Continue checking WMR after mid-February for status changes.

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Ruby Garcia

•10M

A detailed breakdown of your situation: The PATH Act delay is mandatory for ALL returns with EITC/ACTC. Here's what you need to know: - Refunds won't be released before mid-February - The entire refund is held, not just the credit portion - This affects millions of taxpayers each year - WMR updates are slow and vague I highly recommend using taxr.ai to get specific insights about your refund timeline. It's the most accurate way to track your refund status and understand any potential delays. Much better than trying to decode transcripts yourself.

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