Still on First Bar with 152 Code - Accepted 1/28 with EIC but No PATH Message

Man, the IRS and their mysterious codes! 😂 I'm actually impressed you know what TC 152 even means. That code is just a generic "your return is being processed" placeholder. The lack of PATH message is interesting though! Mine had the PATH delay plastered all over it when I claimed EIC last month. The first bar situation is frustrating but not necessarily bad - I've seen returns suddenly jump from first bar straight to approved with no warning. Sometimes their systems just don't update the visual indicators.

I've tracked several returns this season, and yours is showing a pattern I've seen before. The early acceptance (1/28) combined with EIC but no PATH message often indicates you've cleared the initial verification hurdles. Compared to my sister's return (filed 2/1 with similar credits), hers had the PATH message and took 31 days to complete processing. Have you pulled your full transcript yet? I'd recommend running it through https://taxr.ai - it analyzes all your codes and cycle patterns to give you a much clearer estimate than WMR. In my experience with early-season EIC returns, it predicted DDD dates within 2 days of accuracy.

The absence of the PATH Act notification in conjunction with TC 152 is actually quite significant in your case. What we're seeing this filing season is that the IRS has implemented a bifurcated verification protocol for EIC claims. Early filers like yourself (pre-February) with certain income thresholds may bypass the standard PATH Act holding period if their return meets specific non-disclosed criteria. Your return is likely in standard processing queue rather than the extended verification queue, which explains the absence of the PATH message despite claiming EIC.

Based on your processing timeline and codes, here's what's likely happening: • TC 152 indicates normal processing (not an issue) • Early acceptance (1/28) puts you in first batch of EIC returns • First bar only = transcript hasn't updated to reflect current status • No PATH message suggests expedited processing track If you want definitive answers instead of waiting, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to reach an IRS agent directly. They'll connect you to a live person who can check the actual processing status in their internal system. Much more reliable than the outdated WMR tool. I used it last week and confirmed my return was actually approved despite WMR showing first bar still.

I'm not convinced the lack of PATH message means anything positive. According to IRS Publication 596, all returns claiming Earned Income Credit are subject to additional review under the PATH Act provisions regardless of filing date or income level. The absence of the message could simply be a display error in the WMR system. Per Internal Revenue Manual 21.5.6.4.7, TC 152 merely indicates your return is in the processing queue, not that it's been expedited or cleared any verification hurdles. I think people are reading too much into these codes and messages.

I had almost this exact situation last year - accepted January 30th, EIC claim, no PATH message, and stuck on first bar for weeks. Back then I panicked and called the IRS multiple times with no luck. This year I used Claimyr when I had a similar issue with my state return, and it saved me hours of frustration. The agent confirmed everything was fine and my refund was actually scheduled. Worth the small fee compared to the stress of not knowing, especially if you're counting on that money like I was.

Just want to share a cautionary experience - I was in a similar situation (accepted 1/30, EIC, first bar) and assumed everything was fine because I didn't get a PATH message. According to the IRS website and TurboTax forums, this should have meant faster processing. But after 8 weeks with no updates, I discovered my return was pulled for manual review. The WMR tool never updated! I finally got my refund after 11 weeks. Moral of the story: don't assume anything with the IRS, and definitely pull your actual transcript instead of relying on WMR.