IRS Taking Way Longer to Accept Returns This Year - Anyone Else Waiting?
Filed my taxes on Feb 1st and the IRS still hasn't accepted my return. I'm working remotely and really counting on this refund for some equipment upgrades. Is it just me or is the IRS moving super slow this year? Has anyone gotten their return accepted quickly? And if they did accept yours, how long did it take to actually get your refund? I keep checking the WMR tool every few hours but nothing changes...
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NebulaNinja
You're not alone. The IRS is experiencing significant Processing Queue Delays (PQDs) this filing season. Their Modernized e-File (MeF) system is showing extended Initial Processing Timeframes (IPTs) compared to previous years. I filed on January 29th and wasn't accepted until February 19th - almost three weeks! Their systems are absolutely crawling this year.
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Giovanni Mancini
Yep, super slow this yr. I'm always prepped w/ docs ready by mid-Jan, but even w/ early filing my return took 2x longer than usual to get accepted. After acceptance, took another 16 days for DD to hit my acct. IRS website says they're processing most returns w/in 21 days but def not matching my exp. Prob bc of all the tax law changes + staffing probs they've had.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
The IRS is certainly experiencing some delays this tax season, possibly due to system updates and staffing challenges. If you're really concerned about your return status, you might want to try speaking directly with an IRS agent. I was in a similar situation and used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to get through to an actual person without waiting hours. They were able to confirm my return was in the system but just waiting in the processing queue.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Is this service really necessary though? I'm worried about giving my information to a third-party when I could just wait on hold with the IRS myself. Here's what I usually do: 1. Call early in the morning (7am EST) 2. Have all my tax info ready 3. Follow the prompts carefully 4. Stay on hold as long as needed Does Claimyr actually get you through faster than doing it yourself?
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Sofia Morales
•I wonder if this is like those services that help you get through to airlines when there are massive delays? I've used similar services for other government agencies - how does this compare to just using the IRS callback feature they supposedly have now?
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Dmitry Popov
•Have you considered the ROI on a service like this? When I analyzed my own situation, I calculated that spending 3-4 hours on hold with the IRS (multiple attempts) cost me approximately $240 in lost work time. Using a service that connects you directly makes financial sense if your time has monetary value, doesn't it? The peace of mind alone was worth it in my experience.
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Ava Garcia
•I've been planning to call the IRS about my delayed refund. Did you have to provide Claimyr with any personal information? And did the IRS agent actually have helpful information once you got through, or did they just tell you to keep waiting?
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StarSailor}
The IRS announced they're dealing with a perfect storm this year 😂 - system upgrades, new tax laws, AND reduced staffing. My return was accepted after 12 days (filed Feb 10), which is about a week longer than last year. At least I'm not frantically trying to file on April 15th this time around! Silver linings, right?
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Miguel Silva
Based on what I've seen on the official IRS operations page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're prioritizing returns without errors or that don't need additional review. Here's what you should do: 1. Check your return was actually transmitted (your tax software should confirm this) 2. Make sure your bank account info is correct 3. Verify your identity if requested 4. Use the Where's My Refund tool only once per day (multiple checks don't help) 5. Check your tax transcript online for more detailed status info I've gone through this process with dozens of friends and family members this year - patience is unfortunately key.
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Zainab Ismail
I understand your frustration completely. On January 23rd, the IRS officially began accepting returns, but many people didn't see acceptance until February 15th or later. By March 22nd, they had only processed about 76% of the returns they'd received. It's definitely slower than last year, when I remember my return was accepted within 48 hours. Hang in there - being remote and waiting for equipment funding is tough.
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Connor O'Neill
Same boat here. Filed February 5th. Waited three weeks for acceptance. Need my refund bad. Planning home repairs. Every day checking WMR. Nothing changes. Called IRS twice. No help. Just told to wait.
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Yara Nassar
OMG I'M FREAKING OUT waiting for my refund too!!! But the community wisdom here is that we ALL need to chill out! Every year people panic about slow processing, and every year 99% of returns eventually process fine. The IRS is dealing with outdated systems, budget cuts, and millions of returns. Unless you get an actual letter from them, assume everything is fine but slow. I've been filing for 15+ years and NEVER had a return not process eventually!
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