How long did it take to receive your refund this season? Processing seems slower

The IRS is generally processing refunds within 21 days for straightforward e-filed returns, but many factors can affect this timeline. Since you filed on 2/27 and it's only been 10 days, you're still well within the normal processing window. A few things to consider: The "Where's My Refund" tool often doesn't update in real-time and sometimes jumps directly from "received" to "refund sent" without showing the "approved" stage. Also, the IRS processes returns in batches, so some people who filed after you might get their refunds before you do. If you don't have any complicating factors (like claiming Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit), and your return was truly simple as you described, I'd give it the full 21 days before getting concerned. Many taxpayers are reporting slightly longer wait times this year compared to previous filing seasons.

I was in exactly the same boat last month - checking WMR obsessively and getting frustrated. Then I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out what was going on with my refund. I uploaded my return and transcripts, and it showed me there was a small mismatch between what my employer reported and what I entered that was likely causing the delay. It wasn't obvious at all from just looking at the WMR tool! The analysis showed me exactly which line was causing problems and what to expect next. Super helpful when you're anxiously waiting for your money.

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai and it was actually super helpful! I was stuck on "received" for almost 3 weeks and getting really stressed because I needed my refund for rent. The tool showed me that I had a simple math error (I transposed two numbers on one of my 1099s) which was probably why my return was taking longer. The analysis explained that this type of issue usually triggers a review but not a full audit, and estimated 1-2 extra weeks for processing. Sure enough, my refund status updated yesterday to approved! Would've been stressing for nothing without understanding what was happening. Feels good to know what's actually going on instead of just waiting in the dark.

If you're really concerned about your refund, I tried calling the IRS directly but it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through - kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold forever. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it actually got me through to a real person at the IRS! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed my return was just in normal processing and explained there was a small backlog for returns filed that week. Nothing wrong with my return, just normal queue processing. Huge relief to hear that directly instead of guessing what was happening. The peace of mind was totally worth it.

OK I have to eat my words. After seeing multiple people in this thread still waiting for refunds, I got worried about mine and decided to try Claimyr despite my skepticism. I was connected to an IRS agent within about 20 minutes after trying unsuccessfully for DAYS on my own. Turns out there was a verification hold on my account that I knew nothing about! The IRS agent removed the hold right there on the phone and said my refund should process within 7-10 days now. If I hadn't called, this could've delayed my refund for months. Sometimes being cynical costs you money - lesson learned.

This filing season has been all over the place with refund timing. My sister filed February 18th and got her refund in 8 days with direct deposit. I filed February 15th and just got mine yesterday (so like 25 days). Same tax software, both simple returns with W-2s only. Makes absolutely no sense! The only difference was she had a smaller refund (about $1,100) and mine was larger ($4,700). Maybe they scrutinize larger refunds more? Or maybe it's just random batching? So frustrating not knowing why some people wait longer than others.

Has anyone noticed the tracker works better if you check it only once per day? When I was checking multiple times a day it never updated, but when I forced myself to only look in the mornings, I started seeing movement. Maybe just coincidence but worth a try if you're stuck!

I filed around the same time as you (March 1st) and I'm in the exact same situation - still showing "received" on WMR and getting more anxious each day. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one! One thing that's helped my peace of mind is remembering that the IRS processes millions of returns and they don't all move through the system at the same speed, even simple ones. I've been trying to only check WMR once a day in the morning like someone mentioned below, and I'm focusing on the fact that we're still well within that 21-day window. Hang in there - from what I'm reading in this thread, it sounds like many people's refunds are showing up without much warning once they finally process. Fingers crossed we both see movement soon!