How many days before IRS website lets you back in after too many login attempts? Filed 3/5, stuck waiting for updates

The standard lockout period is 24 hours, but it can sometimes take up to 48 hours to fully reset in their system. The IRS website is notoriously finicky with login attempts. Make sure you're clearing your browser cache before trying again, and don't use autofill for your credentials as sometimes that can cause issues. As for your refund, the current processing time is running about 21 days for electronic returns with no issues. Since you filed on March 5th, you're just hitting that window now. You can also check the "Where's My Refund" tool which doesn't require a full account login - just your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount.

I went through the exact same thing last month trying to figure out my transcript. It was maddening. Eventually I found this tool called taxr.ai that basically analyzes your entire transcript and explains everything in plain English. Honestly saved me so much headache since I didn't have to figure out all those crazy codes and dates myself. Not having to constantly login to the IRS site was a huge plus too. https://taxr.ai

Got locked out of my account for 5 days last month! IRS tech is trash. When I called the regular number, they kept me on hold for 3 hours before hanging up. I ended up using this calling service called Claimyr and they got me through to an actual human at the IRS in like 20 minutes. The agent unlocked my account while I was on the phone with them and explained the delay with my refund. claimyr.com definitely saved me days of frustration. Totally worth what I paid considering how much time I saved.

I was locked out for 72 hours last week. Their system is so broken. I've been waiting on my refund since January and still nothing but "processing". Welcome to IRS hell 👹

It depends. I've been locked out anywhere from 24-72 hours before. Try using the Where's My Refund tool instead of logging into your account until the lockout passes. That way you can at least see the basic status without needing a full login.

For me it was exactly 48 hours last time. The IRS website is from like 2002 i swear

You can try checking your refund status through the IRS2Go app instead while you wait for the website lockout to expire. Sometimes the app works when the website doesn't. But yeah, usually 24-48 hrs for the lockout. As for your refund, I filed 2/28 and just got mine yesterday, so yours might be coming soon.

Protip: Use incognito/private browsing mode when trying again. Also, try at a random time like 3am - the system seems to reset at weird hours sometimes. I found taxr.ai really helpful for actually understanding what was going on with my return - it explained all my transcript codes when I was confused about why my refund was taking so long.

Last year it took me SEVENTY TWO HOURS to get back in after being locked out. The whole system is a joke. Same thing happened to my partner and they got back in after 24 hours so it seems to vary. Have you tried calling? (lol jk we all know thats impossible

Have you tried accessing your transcript through the mail option? I know it's not immediate, but if you request it by mail, you'll at least get it eventually without dealing with the website lockout.

I've had this happen multiple times and it's super annoying. Usually 24 hours but I've had it go as long as 48. Pro tip: If you have access to a different internet connection (like your phone's hotspot vs your home wifi), sometimes that works to get you back in sooner since they track by IP address.

the irs is running on windows 95 i swear 🤣🤣🤣 but fr usually takes 48 hours to reset. they need to update their systems from the stone age

Honestly I got so tired of dealing with the IRS website and their cryptic codes that I started using taxr.ai to check my transcripts. It analyzes everything and tells you exactly what's happening with your refund in normal human language. Totally changed my experience this year compared to previous tax seasons where I was constantly getting locked out of my account and having no idea what was going on.

I've been through this exact situation multiple times! The lockout period is usually 24-48 hours, but I've found a few tricks that might help. First, try clearing your browser cache completely and then use a different browser or incognito mode. Sometimes switching to your phone's mobile data instead of WiFi can help too since they might be tracking by IP address. For your refund timeline, you're right around the 21-day mark since filing on March 5th, so you should be seeing movement soon. The "still processing" message is frustrating but pretty normal at this stage. If you need to check status while locked out, the automated phone line (1-800-829-1954) sometimes has more current info than the website, though it's hit or miss. Hang in there - the system is definitely outdated but your refund should come through!

I had this same lockout issue last month and it was incredibly frustrating! In my experience, it took exactly 48 hours to reset, even though their messaging says 24 hours. I tried all the usual tricks - clearing cache, different browsers, incognito mode - but nothing worked until that 48-hour mark hit. One thing that helped me during the wait was calling the automated refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954. You don't need to log in and sometimes it has more recent updates than the "Where's My Refund" tool. Just have your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount ready. Since you filed on March 5th, you're right at that 21-day processing window, so hopefully you'll see movement soon! The waiting is the worst part, especially when you're counting on that money. Once I finally got back into my account after the lockout, my refund status had actually updated with a deposit date. Fingers crossed yours comes through quickly!