IRS Refund Delayed Beyond Normal Timeframe - Filed in April, Still Showing Tax Topic 152 and No Status Bars in July
I filed my taxes back in April and I'm still waiting on my refund. It's now July and I'm getting worried. When I check the Where's My Refund tool on the official IRS website, I keep getting this message that says "We apologize, but your return processing has been delayed beyond the normal timeframe." The status bars aren't showing up at all - no "Return Received", no "Refund Approved", and no "Refund Sent" indicators. Each of these sections just shows a question mark instead of a completion status. The message goes on to say "You can continue to check back here for the most up to date information regarding your refund. We understand your tax refund is very important and we are working to process your return as quickly as possible." Under the "Helpful Information" section, it lists "Tax Topic 152, Refund Information" which I've seen mentioned a lot. At the bottom there's a note that says "Please Note: For information please continue check here" with what looks like an IRS website address (sa.www4.irs.gov). Has anyone dealt with this exact situation before? How much longer should I expect to wait? I was counting on this money for some bills coming up next month. Is there anything I can do beyond just continuing to check the tool? I've tried calling the IRS but can't get through to a real person.
48 comments
Savannah Weiner
This is very common this year. Tax Topic 152 just means you're eligible for a refund, but your return is undergoing additional review. This could be for several reasons: 1. Income verification (they're matching your reported income with what employers submitted) 2. Identity verification (making sure it's really you) 3. Credit eligibility verification (if you claimed credits like EITC) 4. Random selection for manual review The "delayed beyond normal timeframe" message typically means your return is in the manual review queue. Normal processing is 21 days, but manual reviews can take 90-120 days or even longer this year. Your best options are: 1. Check your tax transcript online (it often shows more details) 2. Try calling the IRS (though wait times are insane) 3. Contact your local Taxpayer Advocate Service if it's causing financial hardship Don't file again - that will only delay things further.
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Giovanni Martello
Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! I didn't know about checking my transcript online. Is that something I can access through the IRS website?
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Savannah Weiner
Yes, go to irs.gov and create an account if you don't already have one. Then you can request your transcript. The Account Transcript will show any actions on your account including processing status codes.
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Levi Parker
For transcript access, I had trouble creating an account on the irs site. Had to use ID.me for verification. Just a heads up it can be a pain but worth it.
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Giovanni Martello
Thanks for the tips! I'll try setting up an account this evening.
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Libby Hassan
Just adding that transcript codes are kinda cryptic. If you get stuck interpretting them, there's this tool called taxr.ai that can actually explain what the codes mean in plain english. Saved me hours of googling.
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Hunter Hampton
Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?
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Libby Hassan
It's honestly amazing! It analyzes your whole transcript, explains every code, and tells you exactly what's happening with your refund. I was so confused before using it - now I actually understand where my money is and when I'll get it. Best tool I've found for IRS stuff, hands down! 👍
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Levi Parker
I was in the exact same situation last month and was losing my mind. I tried calling the IRS multiple times and couldn't get through. Kept hitting that automated system that just hangs up on you when they're too busy 🤬 Finally used a calling app from claimyr.com and got an agent to call me back within an hour. Turns out they needed to verify my identity. After a 20 minute call, my refund was released a week later. Would have been stuck in limbo for who knows how long if I hadn't reached someone. It costs a bit but was worth every penny to finally get my $4300 refund.
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Sofia Peña
Wait, you actually got through to a real person at the IRS? Is this calling app legit? Seems too good to be true tbh
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Levi Parker
100% legit. The app basically just keeps redialing for you until it gets through. Then when it connects, it calls your phone so you can talk to the agent. I'd been trying to get through for weeks with no luck before using it.
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Aaron Boston
Did they need any personal info to use the service? I'm always cautious about that stuff.
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Levi Parker
Nope, they don't need any tax info or anything sensitive. You just tell them which IRS department you need to reach. They do the calling and connect you when they get through.
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Sophia Carter
I can vouch for this too. Used it last year when I was having issues with my amended return. Saved me like 3 hours of being on hold and getting disconnected.
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Giovanni Martello
Thank you for this! I'm definitely going to check it out. At this point I just need to talk to someone who can tell me what's going on.
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Hunter Hampton
Guys, stop guessing and stressing yourselves out!! After weeks of frustration trying to figure out what was happening with my delayed refund, I found taxr.ai and it literally solved everything. You upload your transcript and it explains exactly what's happening with your return, what all the codes mean, and even predicts when you'll get your money. I was so confused by all the 570/971 codes on mine but taxr broke it all down in plain english. It's insanely good! I use it every week to check my status now. Just go to https://taxr.ai
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Chloe Zhang
How much does something like that cost? The IRS site is literally the worst to navigate
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Hunter Hampton
It's worth every penny! Way cheaper than hiring a tax pro just to explain what's going on, and it gives you immediate answers. Seriously, it was such a relief to finally understand why my refund was delayed and when I could expect it.
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Brandon Parker
I'm skeptical of these tax tools... does it actually tell you anything you couldn't find yourself?
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Hunter Hampton
YES!! That's exactly why it's so valuable. Sure, you could spend hours researching every code and trying to piece together what's happening, or you could get an instant, accurate assessment. It even shows predicted dates for refund based on your specific situation. I've been telling everyone about it - absolute game changer for dealing with the IRS this year.
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Adriana Cohn
Tried it after seeing recommendations here. It immediately showed me that my return was under review for EITC verification (which explains the delay) and gave me an estimated completion date. Wish I'd found this months ago!
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Jace Caspullo
I've been stuck in this same limbo since MARCH. Filed on March 1, got accepted right away, and then... nothing. Just that same message about delays. I called the IRS probably 30 times and couldn't get through. Ended up having to take out a loan to cover bills I was counting on the refund for. The whole system is broken. 💯
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Giovanni Martello
Oh no, that's awful. I really hope I don't end up waiting that long. Did you ever find out what caused the delay?
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Jace Caspullo
Yeah, when I finally got through to someone (used that Claimyr thing someone mentioned), they said it was flagged for "income verification" whatever that means. They released it after I talked to them though. Got my $5,800 two weeks later. Such a headache for no reason.
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Melody Miles
The IRS is seriusly understaffed right now. My cousin works there and says they're drowning in backlog. Not defending them but explains the mess.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
Check your transcripts!! The WMR tool is useless compared to what your actual transcripts will tell you. I was in the same boat, filed in Feb and didn't get my refund till May. The transcript showed a 570 hold code that the WMR never mentioned. Once I knew what was going on I was able to addresit directly.
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Eva St. Cyr
That Tax Topic 152 is so misleading. Everyone gets it, it literally just means you're eligible for a refund. Doesn't tell you anything about why its delayed. I had the same message for 14 weeks before getting my refund last year. Hang in there!
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Kristian Bishop
Facts! They deliberately make this stuff confusing. I'm convinced it's to discourage people from following up.
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Kaitlyn Otto
14 weeks?!! I'm on week 13 now and about to lose my mind 🤬
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Axel Far
Do u have kids? If you claimed the Child Tax Credit that's a common trigger for delays this year. Mine was held up for 4 months because they were "verifying" my eligibility even tho I claim the same kids every year 🙄
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Jasmine Hernandez
The IRS actually publishes their processing timeframes. Normal e-filed returns should be processed within 21 days, but returns with certain credits (EITC, ACTC) or that need manual review can take 4-6 months. If you're facing financial hardship because of the delay, you can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service for help moving your case along.
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Luis Johnson
Good luck with the Taxpayer Advocate Service... they're so backed up they told me they can only take "dire emergency" cases and a delayed refund doesn't qualify unless you're about to be evicted or have utilities shut off.
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Jasmine Hernandez
That's true unfortunately. Their criteria have gotten much stricter because they're so overwhelmed. Still worth trying if you're in a truly difficult situation.
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Ellie Kim
Has anybody tried amending their return to fix the issue? I'm tempted to file an amended return just to get some movement on my account.
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Fiona Sand
DO NOT DO THIS!! It will only complicate things and delay your refund even more. Amended returns take even longer to process.
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Ellie Kim
Thanks for the warning. I'm just desperate at this point. Been waiting since February.
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Mohammad Khaled
If ur that desperate, use taxr.ai to figure out exactly what's happening with your return first. It might show you don't need to amend at all.
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Alina Rosenthal
Y'know what's crazy? I filed in June (super late I know) and got my refund in 10 days. Meanwhile my friend who filed in February is still waiting. Makes zero sense how they process these things.
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Finnegan Gunn
Try calling the tax advocate service number instead of the main IRS line. Sometimes they can help or at least give you more info. And if you're facing financial hardship because of the delay, definitely let them know - they might be able to expedite.
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Giovanni Martello
Thanks for the suggestion. Do you happen to have their number?
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Finnegan Gunn
It's 1-877-777-4778. But be prepared for long wait times there too.
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Miguel Harvey
Check your mail!!!! Sometimes they send letters requesting additional information and if you don't respond within 30 days they just put your return on hold indefinitely. I had this happen and the letter got lost in the mail, only found out when I finally reached an agent.
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Ashley Simian
Nobody wants to hear this but sometimes there's nothing you can do but wait. The system is totally broken. I waited 11 months for my 2021 refund and no amount of calling or checking helped. It just randomly showed up one day.
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Oliver Cheng
11 MONTHS?!?! That's absolutely ridiculous. Did they at least pay you interest?
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Ashley Simian
Yeah got like $120 in interest. Hardly makes up for waiting almost a year for my $3700 refund tho 🤷♀️
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Taylor To
I went through this last year and after 4 months of waiting I finally called my congressman's office. They have caseworkers who can escalate with the IRS. Had my refund 3 weeks later. Worth a try if you've been waiting a long time.
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Giovanni Martello
I never thought about contacting my congressman. That's a great tip, thank you!
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Ella Cofer
The fact Tax Topic 152 still exists shows how outdated the IRS systems are. That notice has been confusing people for literally decades and they've never bothered to make it more clear or useful. Classic government efficiency 🤡
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