Jan 24 Tax Return Still Stuck at "Return Received" After 2 Months - Delayed Beyond Normal Timeframe with Tax Topic 152

I filed my taxes back in January and still haven't received my refund. When I check the Where's My Refund tool, I'm getting this frustrating message that says "We apologize, but your return processing has been delayed beyond the normal timeframe." The status bar on the IRS website shows three stages: "Return Received" (which is highlighted), "Refund Approved" (not highlighted), and "Refund Sent" (not highlighted). My return is stuck at the first stage and hasn't moved forward at all in months. The exact message on the screen says: "We apologize, but your return processing has been delayed beyond the normal timeframe. 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." Below that, there's a section that says "Please read the following information related to your tax situation:" followed by "Tax Topic 152. Refund Information" At the bottom of the page, there's a note saying: "Please Note: For refund information, please continue to check here, or use our free mobile app, IRS2Go. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day." I already went through the identity verification process when they sent me a letter. I've been checking the "Where's My Refund" tool almost daily, but the status never changes. There's even a "Take Survey" button on the page that I considered clicking just to vent my frustration. What's going on with my refund? Has anyone else been stuck at this "Return Received" stage with Tax Topic 152 for this long? I'm starting to worry that something is seriously wrong with my return or that I'll never get my money.

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14 comments

Aisha Patel

The IRS Where's My Refund tool is showing your return is in the first stage ("Return Received") of the three-stage refund process, but hasn't progressed to "Refund Approved" or "Refund Sent." The system displays Tax Topic 152 alongside a delay message, which typically indicates your return is being held for additional review - this is actually normal and not a rejection. The key detail in the OCR is the specific language about processing being "delayed beyond the normal timeframe." When this appears with Tax Topic 152, it means your return is in the IRS's review queue. While frustrating, this is better than getting an error code or rejection notice. Since you've already completed identity verification, your return is actively being processed. These reviews commonly take 60-120 days to complete. The OCR notes that updates only occur "once a day," so checking weekly rather than daily is recommended. You can use either the online tool or the IRS2Go mobile app - they'll show the same information. When movement does occur, you'll see the status bar progress to "Refund Approved" and then finally "Refund Sent." Until then, continual "Return Received" messages with Topic 152 mean your return is still under review but actively in process.

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