IRS Return Still Showing "Received" After 3 Weeks - PATH Act Delay with EITC and Topic 152 - Worried After Last Year's ID Verification Issues

Just checked WMR and IRS2Go app - still showing only "Return Received" status with no movement. My screen literally says: Refund Status Return Received → Refund Approved → Refund Sent With only the first "Received" bar filled in, and "Approved" and "Sent" still grayed out. The IRS message says "We have received your tax return and it is being processed. If you filed a complete and accurate tax return, your refund should be issued within 21 days of the received date. However, processing may take longer under certain circumstances. Please check here or visit IRS.gov/Refunds, to check on your refund status." I know I'm waiting because of PATH but getting nervous since I had to verify my identity last year. Under "Please read the following information related to your tax situation:" the app shows me Tax Topic 152, Refund Information and directs me to IRS.gov/Refunds for status updates, but I'm still stuck on that first "Received" bar with "Approved" and "Sent" not filled in yet. It's already 9:29 PM and I've been checking multiple times daily with zero movement. I filed three weeks ago and claimed EITC, so I know they can't release funds until after mid-February, but I at least expected to see some progress in the status. Anyone else in the same situation? Is Tax Topic 152 a good sign at least? Last year my return got flagged and I had to go through ID verification which delayed everything by months, so I'm paranoid about a repeat.

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15 comments

Anastasia Smirnova

•7M

Your IRS2Go app is showing the initial "Return Received" status, with your return in the first stage of the three-step process (Received → Approved → Sent). The presence of Tax Topic 152 alongside this status is a positive indicator that your return is in normal processing channels. The app's message confirms they've received your return and cites the standard 21-day processing timeline for complete and accurate returns. However, since you're affected by the PATH Act (which covers EITC/ACTC claims), this timeline doesn't fully apply to your situation - the IRS is legally required to hold these refunds until mid-February regardless of when you filed. Looking at the status bars in your screenshot, you're still at the first stage, which is normal for PATH Act returns at this point. The "Approved" and "Sent" bars will remain unfilled until the IRS completes their mandatory review period and verifies your return. Regarding your identity verification concern from last year - since you've already completed that process, you shouldn't need to verify again unless you receive a specific notice requesting it. The current status and Tax Topic 152 reference suggest your return is following the standard processing path rather than being flagged for additional verification.

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Harmony Love

•1M

I'm in the exact same situation! Filed January 25th with EITC and still stuck on "Return Received" with Tax Topic 152. It's so frustrating checking every day and seeing zero movement, but reading these comments actually helps knowing we're all in the same boat. The PATH Act is such a pain - I get why they need to prevent fraud but it really does hit the people who need their refunds most. At least Tax Topic 152 seems to be a good sign that everything is processing normally. Fingers crossed we all see some movement soon! 🤞

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