Still waiting on my 2023 tax return but receiving monthly CTC payments - makes no sense!

Omg this happened to me too! The IRS is processing diff things separately rn. CTC payments are on their own system tbh, so they can send those while ur return is still stuck in processing. Have u checked ur transcript online? Sometimes that shows more info than WMR. Might be worth looking into if u haven't already. Btw how long have u been waiting? I'm on day 87 😭

It's like the IRS is running two different restaurants in the same building. The CTC kitchen is efficient and gets your appetizers out quickly, but the main course (your refund) is being prepared by a completely different chef who's overwhelmed with orders. I was in a similar boat last year - got every CTC payment like clockwork but my return took 4 months to process. Have you tried pulling your tax transcript? That might give you more insight than the vague WMR tool.

The IRS has completely separate systems for CTC payments and regular return processing - it's actually kind of hilarious how disconnected they are! 😂 I was shocked too when I learned this. I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my transcript when I was in your situation, and it explained exactly why my return was delayed (had a 570 code I didn't understand) while my CTC payments were flowing in monthly. The tool decoded all the cryptic IRS codes and gave me a clear explanation of what was happening with my account.

Here's what's likely happening with your situation: 1. First, understand that CTC payments and tax return processing operate on completely separate systems within the IRS. 2. The CTC payment system is largely automated and based on your previous year's return information. 3. Your actual tax return is likely in the manual review queue, which can take 90-120 days depending on staffing. 4. Check your tax transcript online through the IRS website - look specifically for transaction codes like 570 (holds) or 971 (notices sent). 5. If you see code 570, that typically indicates some verification is needed before processing continues. 6. If you've waited more than 60 days, you may want to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service for assistance.

After waiting exactly 76 days for my refund while still receiving CTC payments, I finally got through to an IRS agent using Claimyr.com. The agent explained that my return was flagged for a simple income verification that was taking longer due to backlog. My return was released 3 days after that call. Without Claimyr, I would have spent another 5-6 hours on hold trying to reach someone. Their service costs a bit but saved me from taking a day off work to deal with the IRS phone system.

I went through this exact situation last year! The CTC payments and tax return processing are completely separate systems at the IRS. I remember calling the IRS after waiting 3 months, only to find out my return was flagged for identity verification, but they never sent me the letter about it. Once I verified my identity, I got my refund within 2 weeks. You might want to check if there's some verification hold on your account that you weren't notified about.

Looking at the bigger picture here - what we're seeing is the result of the IRS operating multiple systems that don't always communicate well with each other. The Advanced CTC payment system was set up separately from the main tax processing system, which is why you can receive one without the other being processed. Has anyone received any notices in the mail from the IRS? Sometimes they send letters explaining delays but the letters themselves get delayed. Would you mind sharing what your tax situation is like - did you claim any credits besides the CTC?

Have you checked your transcript online at IRS.gov/transcripts? According to the r/IRS community, many people find more detailed information there than WMR shows. If you see a TC 570 code, that typically indicates a hold on your account. What filing status did you use, and did you claim any other credits like EITC? These factors can significantly impact processing times.