IRS Agent Said 'Verify' Status Can Disappear - 21 Day Mark Tomorrow

I think... what the agent told you is mostly accurate, but there are some nuances you should be aware of. The "verify" status can indeed appear and disappear during processing, which doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong. However, I would suggest checking both the Where's My Refund tool AND your tax transcript if possible. Sometimes one updates before the other. Also, while the 21-day timeframe is what they advertise, I've noticed it's more of a guideline than a guarantee. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes 23-25 days, especially this time of year when they're processing so many returns.

OMG I'm going through EXACTLY the same thing right now!!! My WMR tool has been stuck on the first bar for 19 days and I'm freaking out!!! The IRS website says most refunds are issued in less than 21 days but I've been reading SOOO many posts from people waiting 30+ days this year! I called twice and got different answers each time - first agent said everything looked normal, second one said there might be a "review" happening but couldn't tell me why!!! Has your transcript updated at all? Mine still shows N/A for 2024 which is making me even more nervous!!!

Have you checked your tax transcript? It usually gives more detailed information than the WMR tool. I had a similar situation last year where WMR showed nothing but my transcript had all the processing codes. You might want to try taxr.ai - it helped me understand what was happening with my return when I was stuck in processing. It analyzes your transcript and explains what each code means in plain English. Might give you some peace of mind while you're waiting.

Last year I was in a similar situation. My return hit exactly 21 days and nothing happened. On day 22, I checked my transcript and saw code 570 (hold) followed by code 571 (release) and then 846 (refund issued). The deposit hit my account exactly 5 days later. The IRS processing timeline works like this: 21 days is their target for 80% of returns, but approximately 15% take between 21-30 days, and 5% take longer than 30 days. If you claimed certain credits like EITC or ACTC, add 7-10 days to those estimates. Based on current processing volumes, returns filed in early March are taking an average of 24.3 days to process for direct deposit refunds.

NGL I've been stuck in IRS limbo for weeks now and finally got fed up w/ the constant busy signals. Used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get thru to an actual human at the IRS yesterday. Took like 20 mins instead of the 3+ hrs I wasted last week trying to call myself. Agent confirmed my return was just in normal processing queue but flagged for a quick review bc of a math error they fixed. Tbh kinda worried still but at least I know what's happening now instead of just staring at that stupid bar not moving.

Did the agent mention anything about manual review? I was in a similar situation last year and thought everything was fine, but my return actually got pulled for manual review which added 8 weeks to processing! Have you checked if you have any letters in the mail from the IRS? Sometimes they send verification requests that don't show up in the online portal right away. What about your state refund - has that processed yet? Sometimes state delays can indicate federal issues too.