Return Under Review - IRS Says 60-120 Days but Is That Accurate?

I've seen this situation before. The 60-120 day timeframe is their standard response for returns selected for review, but in my experience, it rarely takes the full time. Last year, I was told the same thing and my review was completed in 38 days. The year before that, it was 42 days. It really depends on what triggered the review - identity verification issues tend to resolve faster than audits of specific credits or deductions.

Did they tell you what triggered the review? I went through this nightmare last year when they flagged my return because my employer submitted a corrected W-2 right after I filed. They gave me the same 60-120 day spiel, but it was actually resolved in about 45 days. Knowing what triggered it might help predict your actual timeline.

I was in the same situation with a Manual Review Code (MRC) on my account. Called the regular IRS number 17 times over two weeks and couldn't get through. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an agent in about 30 minutes. The agent was able to tell me exactly what triggered the review (income verification discrepancy) and gave me a more accurate timeframe. In my case, they confirmed it would be closer to 45 days, not the full 120. Worth the fee to actually speak with someone instead of getting the automated runaround.

My return was under review for 56 days this filing season. I checked the IRS2Go app and transcript daily with no updates. Then I followed advice from the r/IRS megathread and contacted my local Taxpayer Advocate Service. Within 8 days of their involvement, my review was completed and refund approved. The IRS.gov website specifically mentions TAS can help if a delay causes financial hardship: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/

Have you checked your tax transcript for specific codes? Different codes indicate different review types: • Code 570 = Return filed/processing stopped • Code 420 = Examination/audit initiated • Code 424 = Examination closed • Code 971 = Notice issued The specific code combination might tell you more about your timeline than what the phone rep said. Did they mention any specific form or credit being reviewed?

IMO you should request a taxpayer advocate ASAP. You don't have to wait the full time before getting help. I was in the same boat last yr - filed in Feb, got the "review" msg, and waited 40 days before doing anything. Big mistake! Once I got a TA assigned, things moved quickly. Call 877-777-4778 to request one, but be prepared to explain how the delay is causing financial hardship (bills, rent, etc). The squeaky wheel gets the grease w/ the IRS!

The 60-120 day timeline is frustrating but unfortunately pretty standard for manual reviews. I went through this exact situation in 2023 - filed in early March, got the review notice, and it took 67 days total. What helped me was setting up automated transcript monitoring through the IRS website so I could track any code changes without calling constantly. Also, document everything - dates you called, reference numbers, what agents told you. If it goes past 60 days and you're experiencing financial hardship, that documentation will be crucial for getting Taxpayer Advocate Service involved. The waiting game is brutal, but most reviews I've seen resolve closer to the 45-60 day mark rather than the full 120.

I'm currently going through this exact same situation - filed March 6th and got the dreaded "under review" status when I called yesterday. The agent gave me the same 60-120 day timeline, which honestly feels like forever when you're waiting for your refund. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring though. It sounds like the actual timeframe is usually much shorter than what they initially tell you. I'm going to check my transcript codes like @Keisha Johnson suggested and maybe look into that Claimyr service if I can't get through on my own. Has anyone had success with the IRS2Go app for tracking updates, or is checking transcripts more reliable?

Just wanted to share my recent experience to add another data point - I filed on February 28th and got the review notification about 10 days later. The initial phone call gave me the standard 60-120 day timeline, but I followed the advice from this thread and immediately started monitoring my transcript codes. I saw a 570 code initially, then a 971 code appeared after 3 weeks. My review was actually completed in 52 days total, which was right in line with what most people here experienced. The key thing that helped was staying organized - I kept a simple spreadsheet tracking all my calls, reference numbers, and transcript code changes. When I finally got through to a helpful agent around day 45, having that documentation made the conversation much more productive. They were able to see exactly what had been happening with my case and gave me a realistic 1-week estimate for completion. Don't lose hope - the 120-day timeframe is definitely their worst-case scenario, not the norm!

As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed experiences shared here! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - filed on March 2nd and just got the review notice yesterday with the same 60-120 day estimate. Reading through everyone's timelines is incredibly reassuring since it seems like the actual timeframe is usually much shorter. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about monitoring transcript codes and keeping detailed records. One question - for those who used the Taxpayer Advocate Service, did you need to meet specific criteria for "financial hardship" or were they flexible about what qualifies? I'm not in dire straits but could definitely use my refund for some upcoming expenses. Also curious if anyone has noticed patterns in what triggers these reviews - trying to figure out if there's anything I can avoid in future filings!

Just went through this exact situation last month and wanted to share my timeline to help ease your anxiety! Filed on February 25th, got the review notice on March 8th with the same 60-120 day estimate. I was pretty stressed about it initially, but after reading similar threads and following the transcript monitoring advice, I felt much more in control. My review ended up taking exactly 49 days - right in that sweet spot everyone here mentions. The key things that helped me were: 1) Setting up IRS account access immediately to track transcript codes, 2) Calling every 2-3 weeks (not daily) to get updates and reference numbers, and 3) documenting everything in a simple note on my phone. Around day 35, I saw the codes change from 570 to 971, which gave me hope things were moving. By day 45, when I called, the agent could actually give me a specific timeline of 3-5 business days for completion. My refund hit my account on day 49. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking, but based on all the experiences shared here, you're very likely looking at 6-8 weeks, not the full 4 months they quote. Hang in there!

As someone who's new to this community but unfortunately not new to IRS reviews, I wanted to add my perspective to help others going through this stressful process. I've been through three reviews over the past five years, and the timelines were 34 days, 58 days, and 41 days respectively. None ever hit that dreaded 120-day mark they always quote. What I've learned is that the 60-120 day estimate is basically their legal disclaimer - they have to give you the worst-case scenario to cover themselves. The reality is that most reviews fall into that 6-8 week window everyone's mentioning here. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already shared is to stay calm when you do get an agent on the phone. I made the mistake early on of being frustrated and demanding, which didn't help anyone. The agents are just doing their job and often have limited information. Being polite and asking specific questions like "What codes do you see on my account?" or "Is there any additional documentation I can provide?" tends to get better results. Also, if you're tracking transcript codes like others have suggested, don't panic if you see a 971 code - that usually just means they've sent you a notice, not that there's a problem with your return. The waiting game is brutal, but based on all the experiences shared here, you're very likely looking at resolution much sooner than that 120-day timeline. Hang in there!

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say reading through all these experiences is incredibly reassuring! I just filed on March 7th and received the dreaded review notice yesterday with the same 60-120 day timeline. The panic was real until I found this thread. It's amazing how consistent everyone's actual timelines are (45-60 days) compared to what the IRS initially tells you. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here about setting up transcript monitoring and keeping detailed records. One thing I'm wondering - has anyone noticed if the time of year you file affects review duration? I'm curious if filing in March (like many of us here) leads to faster processing since they're still in peak season with full staffing, versus filing later in the year when things might move slower. Either way, thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - it's turned what felt like a 4-month nightmare into a much more manageable 6-8 week waiting period!

New to this community and unfortunately new to the review process as well! Filed on March 10th and just got the review notification today with the dreaded 60-120 day timeline. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief - it's incredible how the actual timelines (45-60 days) are so much shorter than what they initially tell you. I'm definitely going to set up transcript monitoring and start tracking everything like you all have suggested. One quick question for the group - when you're checking transcript codes, how often were you logging in to check for changes? Daily, weekly, or somewhere in between? I don't want to obsessively check but also don't want to miss important updates. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - you've turned what felt like a potential 4-month ordeal into something much more manageable!

As someone new to both this community and the IRS review process, I can't express how grateful I am for all the detailed experiences shared here! I just filed on March 12th and received the review notice yesterday with that infamous 60-120 day estimate. Like everyone else, I initially panicked thinking I'd be waiting 4 months for my refund. But reading through all your actual timelines (consistently in the 45-60 day range) has been incredibly reassuring. I'm definitely going to follow the collective wisdom here - setting up transcript monitoring, keeping detailed records of calls and reference numbers, and checking codes weekly rather than obsessively. The consistent pattern across everyone's experiences really suggests that the IRS gives that worst-case 120-day timeline as a legal safeguard, but the reality is much more manageable. It's also encouraging to see how helpful this community is in supporting each other through what can be a really stressful process. Thanks to everyone for sharing such specific details about codes, timelines, and strategies - you've transformed what felt like an overwhelming situation into something I can actually navigate with confidence!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly relieved to have found this thread! I filed my return on March 11th and just received the review notification today with the standard 60-120 day estimate. Like many others here, my initial reaction was pure panic - the thought of waiting up to 4 months for my refund was overwhelming. But reading through everyone's detailed experiences has completely changed my perspective. The consistency across all these timelines (45-60 days actual vs 120 days estimated) is remarkably reassuring and suggests the IRS really is just giving worst-case scenarios to manage expectations. I'm planning to implement all the strategies shared here - setting up transcript monitoring, tracking codes weekly, keeping detailed records of any calls, and most importantly, not panicking when those initial 570/971 codes appear. It's amazing how this community has transformed what felt like an impossible waiting game into something manageable with clear milestones to watch for. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share such specific details about their experiences - you've quite literally saved my sanity over the next couple months!