Still waiting on my taxes - why are they "still processing" for so long?

What you're experiencing is actually pretty common this year. The IRS has been dealing with significant processing backlogs for various reasons, including staffing shortages, system updates, and increased verification processes to prevent fraud. A few things to know: "Still processing" is different from "Being processed." If you see "still processing," it often means your return requires additional review. This could be triggered by something as simple as a small math error, missing information, or just random selection for verification. Have you checked your tax transcript? Go to IRS.gov and request your account transcript for 2024. This might give you more detailed information about what's happening with your return than the "Where's My Refund" tool. If it's been more than 21 days since you e-filed, you definitely have the right to call and inquire, though as you've discovered, getting through can be challenging.

I was stuck in the same situation last month - "still processing" for almost 8 weeks with no explanation. I tried calling dozens of times but couldn't get through. Then I found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that analyzed my tax transcript and explained exactly what was happening. Turns out I had a simple discrepancy between what my employer reported for my federal withholding and what I entered (off by like $50). The tool pointed this out and showed me which forms didn't match up. I wouldn't have figured this out on my own because the "Where's My Refund" tool doesn't give you these specifics. I highly recommend checking it out if you're stuck like I was. I wish I had known about it sooner instead of stressing for weeks!

Update: I was skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it since I was desperate to figure out what was going on with my refund. Honestly, it was eye-opening! The tool showed me that the IRS had flagged my return because I had income reported on a 1099 that I completely forgot about (a small freelance job from January that paid like $600). I would have been waiting forever because the IRS wasn't going to process my return until I addressed this discrepancy. The visualization of all the codes and what they meant was super helpful - much clearer than staring at those cryptic transcripts on my own. Now I'm preparing an amended return to fix the issue. Definitely worth checking out if you're stuck in processing limbo!

If you really need to talk to someone at the IRS (which I recommend if it's been over 21 days), try using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in your exact situation - stuck on "still processing" for WEEKS with no explanation. I tried calling the IRS directly dozens of times but always got the "high call volume" message and got disconnected. I was super skeptical, but I watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to give it a shot. They basically hold your place in line with the IRS and call you back when they have an agent on the line. Worked like magic - got through to the IRS within about 45 minutes instead of spending days trying to call. The agent told me my return was flagged for identity verification (which I never would have known otherwise), and I was able to clear it up right there on the phone. My refund was approved two days later.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After waiting SEVEN WEEKS with my return "still processing," I was desperate enough to try anything. Used the service yesterday, and within 35 minutes I got a call back and was talking to an actual IRS representative. Turns out my return was flagged because my ex-employer reported a different W-2 amount than what I entered (they made a correction after I filed). The IRS agent was able to verify my identity and manually update my return right on the call. Just checked the Where's My Refund tool this morning and it now shows "Refund Approved" with a direct deposit date for next week! After almost two months of stress and nothing happening, it was resolved in 24 hours once I actually got to speak to someone. Definitely worth it if you're stuck in limbo.

Another thing to check - did you receive any letters from the IRS in the mail? Sometimes they send notices requesting additional information, but those letters can take weeks to arrive. And if you miss responding to one of those letters, your refund will be on hold indefinitely.

This happened to me last year and it was because I claimed the earned income credit. The IRS automatically holds refunds with EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit for extra verification. Did you claim either of those?

I'm going through something similar right now - filed in early February and still stuck on "still processing" with no updates. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially the suggestions about checking transcripts and looking for IRS letters I might have missed. One thing I wanted to add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you moved recently, make sure the IRS has your current address. I just realized I filed with my old address because I forgot to update it in my tax software. Apparently if they send notices to the wrong address and you don't respond, your refund gets held up indefinitely. You can update your address by filing Form 8822 or calling the IRS directly. Also, for anyone else reading this thread who's dealing with delays - it seems like there are multiple tools and services that can help get answers faster than just waiting and checking the "Where's My Refund" tool every day. The transcript analysis and callback services mentioned here seem legit based on people's experiences. Sometimes you just need to take action instead of waiting in the dark!