My tax refund is under review & IRS says I have to wait 45 days - help!

This happens more often than you'd think! The IRS does conduct random reviews of returns, especially ones claiming certain credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit. These reviews are part of their fraud prevention measures. The 45-day timeframe is standard procedure when they're verifying information, but many returns clear the review process much faster. In my experience working with taxpayers, most of these "random reviews" resolve within 2-3 weeks rather than the full 45 days they quote. You're doing exactly what you should - there's nothing to submit or verify unless they specifically request something from you. The different explanations from the reps are frustrating but actually make sense - they're all describing slightly different aspects of the same review process. If you received your state refund without issues, that's generally a good sign that there aren't major problems with your return. Try checking your transcript online through the IRS website - sometimes it shows more detailed information about what's happening with your return than the "Where's My Refund" tool.

I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after hours of frustration with the IRS. They have this amazing transcript analyzer that helped me understand exactly what was happening with my "under review" status when the IRS phone reps were giving me conflicting info. I uploaded my tax transcript and it highlighted exactly where in the process my return was stuck and what the codes actually meant. Turns out my return wasn't randomly selected - there was a specific verification happening with my child care credits. Their explanation was so much clearer than anything I got from calling the IRS. The tool also estimated when I'd likely receive my refund based on similar cases, which gave me some peace of mind instead of just staring at the "45 days" warning. Might be worth checking out in your situation!

I tried taxr.ai after reading about it here and WOW - it actually helped! I was in the same situation (refund under "review" with the 45-day message) and was getting nowhere with the IRS phone line. The transcript analysis showed my return was caught in something called a "570 freeze code" that none of the IRS reps had mentioned. The tool explained it was likely because I had a change in income from last year that triggered an automatic verification - NOT a random audit like I was told. It gave me a predicted release date based on similar cases, and guess what? My refund was deposited almost exactly on that date, about 3 weeks earlier than the "45 days" the IRS quoted me. Just knowing what was actually happening instead of getting vague answers made the waiting so much easier!

When I had a similar issue last year, I was spending HOURS trying to get through to someone at the IRS who could actually help. After three weeks of frustration, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). It was a complete game-changer for my sanity. Instead of waiting on hold for 2+ hours (or getting disconnected), they got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent I spoke with was actually knowledgeable and explained that my review was happening because I had changed jobs mid-year, which flagged my W-2 information for verification. She told me exactly what to expect next and gave me a more accurate timeline than the generic "45 days" message. Having that direct conversation with someone who actually checked my specific case details made all the difference in my stress level.

I need to apologize and eat my words about both services mentioned here. After my skeptical comments, I was so desperate after another failed attempt to reach the IRS that I tried Claimyr. I got connected to an IRS agent in exactly 17 minutes (timed it!) after spending 3 hours earlier that same day trying to get through on my own. The agent was able to see that my review was actually due to a mismatch between my reported income and what my employer submitted - something none of the previous reps had mentioned. The agent provided me with the exact documentation I needed to submit and a fax number to expedite the process. Two weeks later, my refund was approved. Without that specific information, I would have been waiting the full 45 days (or longer) with no resolution. Sometimes being a skeptic costs you time and money - lesson learned!

The 45-day review happened to me last year too. In my case, they were verifying my eligibility for the education credits I claimed. I never received any letter requesting additional information, and my refund showed up exactly 32 days after the review started. One thing that helped me track what was really happening was checking my tax transcript every few days. The codes on there will update as your return moves through their process, and it's much more informative than the generic "Where's My Refund" tool. Keep your spirits up! Most of these reviews are just procedural and don't mean you did anything wrong. The IRS is just overwhelmed and takes longer than they should for these verification processes.

Has anybody tried amended returns after being stuck in review? I'm worried if I submit one it'll just make things worse, but I realized I missed claiming a deduction.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed on February 12th and have been stuck in that dreaded "under review" status for weeks. Like you, I've called multiple times and gotten completely different explanations each time - it's so frustrating when they can't give you a straight answer. What's really helped me is setting up weekly reminders to check my transcript online rather than obsessing over it daily. I know it's easier said than done when you're stressed about the money, but the transcript updates more frequently than the "Where's My Refund" tool and actually shows you the processing codes. From what I've learned reading through this community, most people in our situation get their refunds within 3-4 weeks rather than the full 45 days they quote. The IRS seems to always give the worst-case scenario timeline to cover themselves. Hang in there - you're definitely not alone in this, and it sounds like your return is pretty straightforward if your state processed without issues. The waiting is the worst part, but it will resolve!

I completely understand your frustration - I went through this exact situation two years ago and it was absolutely nerve-wracking! Filed in early February, got hit with the "under review" status, and like you, every IRS rep gave me a different story about what was happening. What really helped me was realizing that the 45-day timeframe is their absolute maximum - kind of like when you're told to arrive at the airport 2 hours early but usually don't need nearly that much time. In my case, the review took about 28 days total, and my refund hit my account on a Wednesday morning when I least expected it. The fact that your state refund processed quickly is actually a really good sign. State and federal systems cross-reference each other for major discrepancies, so if there were serious issues with your return, your state would likely have flagged it too. I know it's hard not to worry when you need that money, but try to focus on the fact that you filed everything honestly and haven't changed anything from previous years. These reviews are mostly automated checks, and the vast majority resolve without any action needed from you. Keep checking that transcript as others suggested - it really does show more progress than the generic "Where's My Refund" tool. You've got this! The waiting is horrible, but it will work out.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Filed on February 18th and have been stuck in "under review" status for over a month. The inconsistent answers from IRS reps are maddening - I've been told it's everything from a "random audit" to "income verification" to "credit validation." What's helped me cope is joining online communities like this one where people share real experiences rather than the generic responses you get from official sources. Reading through everyone's stories here, it seems like most people are getting their refunds in the 3-4 week range despite the scary 45-day warning. I've also started treating this like a forced savings account - the money IS coming, it's just taking longer than expected. I know that doesn't help with immediate financial stress, but it's helped me mentally reframe the situation as a delay rather than a crisis. One practical tip: if you haven't already, take screenshots of your "Where's My Refund" status and any transcript codes you can access. Sometimes seeing the progression over time (even if it's slow) can be more reassuring than just checking daily and seeing the same message. Hang in there - from everything I've read here, it sounds like your situation is completely normal and will resolve soon. The waiting is brutal, but you're definitely not alone in this!