My tax refund is under review & IRS says I now have to wait 45 days

This is actually fairly common during tax season, especially after mid-February when the IRS processing volume hits its peak. A 45-day review doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong. These reviews happen for various reasons: 1. The IRS uses automated systems that flag returns with certain patterns for verification 2. There might be a mismatch between information you reported and what the IRS received from employers or other sources 3. Identity verification procedures to prevent fraud 4. Higher scrutiny on returns claiming certain credits like EITC or Child Tax Credit The good news is that most of these reviews don't take the full 45 days. The IRS gives that timeframe as a legal maximum, but many refunds are released much sooner. I've seen these reviews completed in as little as 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, you can check your account transcript on the IRS website for any codes or updates that might give more information than the "Where's My Refund" tool.

I went through this exact nightmare last year and it was so frustrating. After trying to call the IRS like 20 times and waiting on hold forever, I found this service called taxr.ai that helped me figure out what was actually going on with my return. I uploaded my documents to https://taxr.ai and it showed me that my return had been flagged because of a discrepancy with one of my W-2s (my employer had reported different numbers than what I entered). The service basically translated all the IRS codes and explained what was happening in normal human language. It also gave me a timeline estimate that turned out to be pretty accurate. In my case, the refund got released after about 25 days rather than the full 45 they threatened me with. The peace of mind was definitely worth it because at least I knew exactly what was happening instead of getting different stories from every IRS rep.

Just wanted to update everyone - I ended up trying taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. Honestly it was super helpful! Turns out my refund was flagged because I had income reported on a 1099 that the system thought didn't match what I reported (even though it did). The service showed me exactly which codes on my transcript were causing the delay and what they meant. It even found a small math error I made that might have triggered the review in the first place. Most importantly, it gave me a much more realistic timeline based on similar cases - said I'd likely get my refund in about 3 weeks rather than the full 45 days. Just got my deposit yesterday, which was exactly 22 days after the review started. Would have been stressing out way more without knowing what was actually happening!

After dealing with this exact situation and spending HOURS trying to reach the IRS (literally called 15+ times), I finally discovered Claimyr. It's this service that gets you through to an actual IRS human being without the endless hold times. I was skeptical at first, but check out their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Using https://claimyr.com seriously saved my sanity. Instead of calling repeatedly and getting disconnected, they held my place in line and called me when an agent was ready. The agent I spoke with was actually helpful and explained that my return was flagged for verification of my Child Tax Credit eligibility. She confirmed all my info was correct and expedited my review. My refund was released about 2 weeks later instead of waiting the full 45 days. If you're going crazy trying to get answers, this might be worth trying.

I need to publicly eat my words. After posting that skeptical comment about Claimyr, I was still so desperate to figure out my refund situation that I tried it anyway. I'm honestly shocked to say it actually worked exactly as advertised. They called me back in about 40 minutes (way faster than I expected) and connected me directly to an IRS agent. The agent confirmed my return was flagged for income verification but said everything looked fine - they just needed to complete their process. She even gave me a specific timeframe for when the review would likely be completed. My refund was deposited exactly when she said it would be - 17 days later instead of the full 45. Would never have gotten this information without actually speaking to someone. Sorry for being so negative initially!

I went through this last year. Don't panic! For me, it turned out they were verifying my identity because someone had tried to file a fraudulent return with my info the previous year. After the 45 day wait, I got my full refund with interest! They add interest if it takes longer than 45 days from when you filed. The most important thing is to carefully open and respond to any letters you get. I didn't get any letters, but some people do if they need additional verification. If you don't get a letter, it usually means they're just going through their process and you'll get your refund eventually.

has anybody else noticed that these 45 day reviews mostly happen to ppl claiming EIC or child tax credits?? my cousin with 3 kids gets audited practically every year but my uncle who makes 6 figures never has these "random reviews". feels like they target people who need the money the most imo

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - I completely understand how overwhelming it feels when you're depending on that refund and getting no clear answers. I went through something similar two years ago and the uncertainty was honestly the worst part. One thing that really helped me was setting up an IRS online account if you haven't already. You can view your account transcript there, which often shows more detailed information than the "Where's My Refund" tool. Look for codes like 570 (additional account action pending) or 971 (notice issued) - these can give you clues about what's happening even when the phone reps can't. Also, try not to read too much into getting different explanations from different reps. The customer service agents often don't have access to the specific details of why your return was flagged - they're mostly working from the same generic scripts and codes that you can see in your transcript. The good news is that the vast majority of these 45-day reviews get resolved much sooner, especially if you didn't actually make any errors. Keep checking your transcript weekly for updates, and try to stay patient even though I know that's easier said than done when you're worried about your family's finances. You've got this!

I feel for you so much - this exact situation happened to me last year and the stress was unreal. Filed in early February, got my state refund quickly, then federal went into that dreaded 45-day review limbo. Like you, I got completely different explanations every time I called. What helped me get through it was remembering that these reviews are actually way more common than people realize - the IRS just doesn't publicize how often they happen. In my case, it turned out to be verification of my education credits that triggered it, even though I'd claimed the same credits for years without issues. The silver lining is that most of these reviews wrap up much faster than 45 days. Mine was resolved in about 3 weeks, and I've seen others here mention similar timeframes. I know it's hard when you're counting on that money, but try to hang in there. The fact that you didn't change anything from previous years is actually a good sign - it suggests this really is just a routine verification rather than a red flag about your return. Keep checking your transcript for updates, and remember that no news is often good news with these reviews. You're going to get through this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation. The 45-day review process is unfortunately quite common, especially during peak filing season, and I know how frustrating it is when you're depending on that refund. From what you've described, this sounds like a routine verification rather than anything you did wrong. The fact that you filed the same way as previous years and your state refund went through without issues are both good signs. These reviews often get triggered by automated systems that flag returns for various reasons - sometimes it's just random selection, income verification, or confirming credits like the Child Tax Credit or EITC. A few things that might help while you wait: - Set up an IRS online account to view your transcript if you haven't already. It often shows more detailed codes than the "Where's My Refund" tool - Most of these reviews resolve much faster than 45 days - I've seen many people get their refunds in 2-4 weeks - If it does take longer than 45 days from your filing date, the IRS will automatically add interest to your refund The different explanations from phone reps are normal - they often don't have access to the specific details of why your return was flagged and are working from general scripts. Try not to read too much into the conflicting information. Hang in there - the vast majority of these reviews end with the refund being released without any issues. You're going to get through this!

I completely feel your pain and frustration - went through this exact nightmare in 2023 and it was absolutely devastating for my mental health. Filed early February, state came through fine, then federal got stuck in that awful 45-day review black hole. What really helped me cope was understanding that this happens to WAY more people than you'd think - the IRS just doesn't advertise how common these reviews are. In my case, it turned out they were verifying my dependent information even though I'd claimed the same dependents for years without any issues. The most important thing I learned is that the phone reps genuinely don't have access to the specific details of your case. They're looking at the same basic codes you can see in your transcript and giving you their best guess based on limited information. That's why you're getting different stories - it's not that they're lying, they just don't have the full picture. My review took exactly 28 days and my refund was deposited with no changes to the amount. The waiting was horrible but it did work out. Since you mentioned you have kids and really need this money, you might want to look into local emergency assistance programs or food banks to help bridge the gap while you wait. Check your transcript weekly for updates (code changes usually happen on Fridays), and try to remember that no news is usually good news with these reviews. You're going to get through this, and your refund will come. Hang in there!