Is February 27, 2025 Delay Normal for First-Time EITC/ACTC Claimants? IRS Says Refunds Held Until After Feb 15

Just got a message saying my refund is delayed because I claimed EIC and Additional Child Tax Credit. The IRS message specifically states they can't process my refund until after February 15, 2025, and the earliest they expect refunds to be available is February 27, 2025 (this is with direct deposit or debit card). This is the exact message I received: "Since you're getting the Earned Income Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS can't process your refund until after February 15, 2025. The earliest the IRS expects refunds to be available is February 27, 2025 (if you chose direct deposit or a debit card)." I filed early hoping to get my refund quickly since I have some bills coming up, but now I'm seeing this delay notification. I claimed the EIC and ACTC for the first time this year because my income changed and I'm eligible for them now. I was counting on getting this refund sooner - I've always received my tax refunds within 21 days in previous years. Is this normal? First time claiming these credits and I'm confused about why there's such a specific delay. Does everyone who claims these credits have to wait until after February 15th? And is the February 27th date a guaranteed date, or could it be even later? I've already chosen direct deposit for my refund, but I'm worried this delay might push my refund even further back. Really need to know if this is standard procedure since I've never claimed these before and was counting on this money for some upcoming expenses.

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Mei Lin

The IRS message confirms you're claiming both the Earned Income Credit (EIC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), which automatically triggers a mandatory holding period under the PATH Act (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act). The specific dates mentioned - February 15, 2025, as the processing start date and February 27, 2025, as the earliest refund date - are standard timeframes for these credits. The 12-day gap between February 15 and February 27 reflects the IRS's standard processing timeline, which includes: - Initial processing after the hold lifts - Security and fraud verification checks - Bank processing time for direct deposits This delay isn't a red flag or indication of any problems with your return - it's a protective measure implemented by the IRS to prevent fraudulent claims and ensure accuracy. Every taxpayer claiming these credits faces the same timeline, regardless of when they file their taxes. If you've chosen direct deposit, you can expect the funds around February 27, though some banks may take an additional 1-2 business days to make the funds available in your account.

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