Married Filing Separately with Kids - TurboTax Return Accepted Feb 21 - Any Refunds Yet?

I'm in a similar situation. Filed MFS on February 19th and still waiting. The IRS website says they're typically processing returns filed in late February right now (as of April 3rd). MFS returns often take longer because they require additional verification steps, especially with dependents involved. The system has to cross-reference both spouses' returns to ensure no duplicate claims for the same children. I'm getting nervous since I need this for my April 15th estimated tax payment.

I filed MFS with TurboTax on February 18th and just got my refund yesterday! According to the IRS2Go app, MFS returns are taking 3-6 weeks this year. The WMR tool showed processing for about 5 weeks before it updated to approved. The IRS website (irs.gov/refunds) was actually more accurate than TurboTax's tracker for me. Has anyone checked their transcript on irs.gov/account? That's where I first saw movement.

Dealing w/ MFS returns is like waiting in the longest line at the grocery store tbh. I've been in ur exact situation. Filed 2/15, accepted same day, but took 7 weeks to get my $$$. Tried calling IRS like 50x but kept getting the "high call volume" msg. Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got thru to an agent in like 20 mins. They confirmed my return was just stuck in extra verification bc of the MFS w/ dependents. Nothing wrong, just taking longer. The agent gave me an exact date for my DD which was spot on. Saved me weeks of anxiety.

I went through this exact situation last year. My husband and I filed separately because of some student loan situations, and we have two kids. I remember feeling so anxious because everyone else seemed to get their refunds quickly while ours took nearly 8 weeks. The thing is, when you file MFS with dependents, the IRS has to do extra verification to make sure both parents aren't claiming the same kids or credits. It's completely normal for it to take longer, even though it's frustrating when you're counting on that money.

I'm in week 6 of waiting for my MFS return with dependents. Research I've done shows several concerns: • MFS returns get flagged for additional review more frequently • Returns with dependents require extra verification • Direct deposit can sometimes cause delays if account info doesn't match previous years • TurboTax MFS filers specifically seem to be experiencing longer waits this year I'm starting to worry because my transcript still shows N/A for 2023. Has anyone checked their transcript to see if there are any codes?

Tax professional here. Married Filing Separately returns with dependent claims undergo enhanced compliance verification protocols, particularly when processed during peak filing season. The IRS utilizes a multi-tier verification system for MFS returns with dependents that includes cross-referencing against the other spouse's return (filed or potential) and application of tiebreaker rules under IRC Section 152. The current processing timeline for these returns averages 35-42 days from acceptance, not including additional holds that may be placed for identity verification or income discrepancy resolution. TurboTax accurately transmits these returns, but their status tracking system doesn't account for the specialized processing queue these returns enter.

Just got my refund yesterday! Filed MFS with two kids on Feb 20th through TurboTax, so almost exactly your situation. It took exactly 6 weeks and 2 days from acceptance to deposit. Did you claim any credits like Child Tax Credit? That seemed to be what caused my delay based on what the transcript showed. Have you checked your transcript for any codes? My WMR never updated beyond the first bar until suddenly showing approved, but my transcript updated weekly.

I might be able to provide some insight based on what I've gathered from others in similar situations. When filing MFS with dependents, it seems the IRS may be taking approximately 6-8 weeks this season, particularly for returns filed in February. This appears to be longer than the typical processing time, but it's not necessarily an indication that anything is wrong with your return. If you're approaching week 7 without updates, it might be worth checking your tax transcript online if possible, as it sometimes shows processing steps not visible on the WMR tool.