Has anyone who claimed the Child Tax Credit gotten their refund yet?

The Child Tax Credit is subject to additional verification procedures under PATH Act regulations. The IRS typically holds returns claiming refundable credits until mid-February at minimum, with processing times extending 4-6 weeks beyond that timeframe. Your 26-day wait is within normal parameters for this tax season. The 'processing' status indicates your return is in the verification queue, not that there's an issue with your submission.

I had a similar situation last year with the CTC. The IRS website doesn't tell you much beyond 'processing' which is frustrating. I found https://taxr.ai to be really helpful - it analyzes your tax transcript and explains exactly where your return is in the process. It showed me that my return had a 570 hold code (completely normal for CTC claims) and predicted my refund date within 2 days of when I actually got it. Might be worth checking out while you wait.

Is this your first time claiming the Child Tax Credit? I'm wondering if first-time claimants are processed differently than people who've claimed it before. My sister claimed it for the third year in a row and got her refund in just 14 days, while I'm a first-timer like you and still waiting after 31 days.

Check your tax transcript. Look for TC 570 code. This indicates verification hold. Normal for CTC claims. Average resolution time is 21-45 days. Calling won't expedite. PATH Act mandates these reviews. Be patient.

Has anyone actually managed to speak with a real person at the IRS about this? I've been calling for days and can't get through. Always get the 'high call volume' message and then it hangs up. Wondering if anyone's tried Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com)? Supposedly they can get you through to an IRS agent quickly. Anyone know if it's worth the money when you're dealing with Child Tax Credit delays?

Think of the IRS phone system like trying to get concert tickets the minute they go on sale - technically possible but practically impossible. Claimyr is like having someone wait in line for you. They use automated systems to navigate the phone tree and hold until an agent is available, then connect you. For something as important as your tax refund, especially when you need it for essentials like rent, the service fee can be worth avoiding days of redial frustration. It's like paying for express shipping when you really need something quickly.

I was in the exact same boat last week! Filed on January 29th, claimed CTC for my 2-year-old, and waited 38 days with the processing message. Finally got my deposit yesterday! What a relief. I checked my transcript the day before and saw code 846 which means refund issued. No explanation for the delay, just suddenly processed and deposited. Hang in there - it's coming!

Last year I waited 42 days for my CTC refund. This year I filed on February 2nd and received my refund on March 1st (27 days). The difference? I made sure to include Form 8862 (Information to Claim Certain Credits) even though the software didn't prompt me for it. The IRS sometimes requires this form for CTC claims but doesn't always tell you upfront. Did your software have you fill out anything like this?

I understand how stressful waiting for your refund can be, especially when you're counting on it for important expenses. Have you tried calling the Tax Advocate Service instead of the main IRS line? They can sometimes help if you're experiencing a financial hardship while waiting. Their number is 877-777-4778, and they're often easier to reach than the regular IRS lines. I was so worried about my delayed refund last year, but the advocate I spoke with was incredibly understanding and helped explain exactly what was happening with my return.

I might be able to offer some perspective here. My refund with Child Tax Credit was delayed approximately 35 days this year. I believe the system is simply overwhelmed with the verification requirements. When I finally received my deposit, it was the full amount plus a small amount of interest. The frustrating part was the complete lack of communication during the wait - no explanation, no timeline, just the generic "still processing" message. If you filed accurately, you'll likely receive your full refund, but unfortunately, patience seems to be the only solution.