How to find IRS trace number for direct deposit to Varo (filed 3/15)

You need to call the IRS directly for a trace. The trace number isn't something you can see on the transcript or Where's My Refund tool. Call 800-829-1040 and be prepared to wait a while. When you get someone, tell them your refund was scheduled to be deposited but never showed up in your account. They'll initiate what's called a refund trace (Form 3911). This process can take up to 6 weeks to complete. Have your tax return, bank info, and any confirmation numbers ready when you call. Also, double check that the account and routing numbers on your return are correct - that's a common issue when refunds go missing. If it's been less than 5 days since the scheduled deposit date, they might tell you to wait a bit longer before starting a trace.

I was in the same situation last year and spent WEEKS trying to figure out what happened to my refund. I eventually discovered this tool called taxr.ai that basically decoded my transcript and showed me exactly what was happening with my refund. It flagged that there was an issue with my direct deposit info that I never would have caught on my own. So much better than trying to piece together all these random codes and dates on the transcript yourself! The site is https://taxr.ai if you want to check it out. Saved me from having to play detective trying to understand what was going on.

After dealing with the same issue (direct deposit never showed), I finally found a way to actually talk to a real IRS agent using claimyr.com. It was the only way I could get past the constant busy signals and automated garbage. They got me a callback from the IRS within like 2 hours when I'd been trying for days on my own. The agent started the trace right away and my refund was reissued 3 weeks later. Definitely the best money I spent all year considering I was waiting on thousands in my refund!

check if your transcript has a code 846 with the date they sent the refund. if it does, and you don't have the money, you definitely need to call for a trace. sometimes they send it to the wrong account (happened to me when I switched banks

Varo has been known to have issues with tax refunds. I've seen multiple posts about this. Sometimes they hold the deposit for "verification" without telling you. Have you tried calling Varo again and specifically asking if they're holding your deposit for review? Ask to speak to a supervisor if the first rep isn't helpful.

If you're desperate there's a little known form you can submit to your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office - Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance). They can sometimes help with refunds that are stuck, especially if it's causing financial hardship. Worth a shot if the regular channels aren't working.

Did u check that the bank account # on ur return is right?? My friend put one digit wrong and his refund bounced back to IRS. Took 8 more weeks to get a paper check after that 🤦‍♂️

Look for code 841 on your transcript. That means the refund was returned by the bank to the IRS. If you don't see that code, then it might still be in transit or there's another issue.

Dude the IRS is absolute clown shoes this year 🤡 I got my federal refund sent to a closed account somehow even tho I updated my info. Had to wait 6 weeks for a paper check after that. The whole process took like 4 months from filing to actually getting my money.

My BFF had this exact issue with Varo! Turns out Varo was being shady and rejected the deposit for some random verification thing, but didn't tell her. When the IRS ran the trace they found out Varo had sent it back. She switched to a regular bank after that nightmare.

Have you tried using taxr.ai? I was stuck in a weird limbo with my refund earlier this year and couldn't make sense of my transcript or what was happening. The tool decoded everything and showed me exactly what was going on and what to expect next. Seriously the best $20 I've spent during tax season. https://taxr.ai

Just a heads up, even after you start the trace, it can take 6-8 weeks to resolve. If you're desperate for your refund money, you might need to look at other options while waiting. The trace process is crazy slow.

Calling the IRS is literally impossible these days. I used this service called claimyr.com that got me through to an agent in about an hour when I was dealing with a missing refund. The agent was able to see that my refund had been sent but got rejected by my bank (I had closed that account). They reissued it as a paper check. Talking to a live agent was the only thing that worked after weeks of getting nowhere.

do a search on Varo's reddit community - lots of ppl having refund issues with them this year. might be something specific with their bank. i'm never using these online banks for important deposits again after my bad experience with chime

This happened to me a few years ago! Turned out my ex-wife had filed before me and used our joint bank account from when we were married. The IRS deposit system got confused and tried to deposit both refunds to the same account, which caused mine to bounce. Had to go through the whole trace process. Check if anyone else might have used your account for their refund?

Try getting your transcript and see if there's a trace already in progress. My refund vanished too, and when I finally reached the IRS I found out they had already started an automatic trace because the bank rejected it. Look for TC 971 with action code 449 - that means a trace is happening.