PATH Act Message on WMR - Still Waiting While Others Get Refunds?

This is actually normal for returns claiming EITC. According to the IRS.gov website, the PATH Act requires the IRS to hold ALL refunds that claim EITC until at least February 15th. Even though that date has passed, they're still working through the backlog. The IRS typically updates WMR statuses in batches on weekends. Have you checked your transcript for cycle codes? Many EITC filers are seeing updates with cycle codes ending in 05 (Thursday night/Friday morning updates).

Have you tried calling the IRS directly? I was stuck with the PATH message for weeks last year. Isn't it ridiculous how impossible it is to reach an actual person? After wasting hours with the automated system, I finally used Claimyr (https://www.claimyr.com) to get through to an agent in about 20 minutes. They confirmed my return was actually approved but the WMR hadn't updated yet. Got my deposit three days later. Wouldn't it be nice if the IRS just updated their systems in real-time?

What's your cycle code on your transcript? This can tell us a lot about when you might expect an update. Also, have you verified if there are any pending transactions or holds on your account? PATH processing can vary significantly based on which processing center is handling your return and whether any manual reviews were triggered.

I was in your exact situation last month. The PATH Act delay combined with the Transaction Code 570 on my transcript had me worried. I used taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it explained exactly what was happening - temporary hold while they verified my EITC eligibility. The tool predicted my DDD would be 8 days after the 570 code resolved, which is exactly what happened. You can upload your transcript at https://taxr.ai and it breaks down all the codes and gives you a projected timeline.

Have you checked if you have any 570/971 codes on your account transcript? These often appear during PATH processing and indicate additional verification steps.

OMG I was literally in the same boat last week and was freaking out because I need this money for property taxes!! Filed Jan 29th with EITC, got stuck on PATH message forever while everyone else was posting their refunds. Finally updated yesterday with DDD of 3/14. The most frustrating part was that my transcript updated a full WEEK before WMR did! Check your transcript daily - it's way more accurate than that stupid tool!

Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.6.4.7, PATH Act verification procedures require additional review for returns claiming EITC with specific income patterns. Retired taxpayers who show significant income reduction year-over-year often trigger this review. The 2024 processing guidelines actually extended the review period by approximately 7-10 days compared to previous years due to enhanced fraud prevention measures implemented in January.

Be very careful with the PATH message! Last year I ignored it for weeks thinking it was just normal processing. Turns out my return had an error code that required attention, but the generic PATH message was hiding the real issue. I ended up having to: 1. Call the IRS (took 3 days to get through) 2. Verify my identity again 3. Submit additional documentation 4. Wait another 9 weeks for processing Check your transcript for TC 570 codes - don't just assume it's normal processing!

Just got my refund yesterday after being stuck on PATH message since January 28th! Here's what happened: • Filed Jan 28 with EITC • PATH message appeared immediately • No transcript updates until Feb 29 • Transcript showed TC 150 (return filed) • March 7 - TC 768 (EIC credit) • March 8 - TC 846 (refund issued) • March 12 - Money in my account The PATH message on WMR never changed until AFTER the deposit hit my account. System is definitely delayed this year.