Stuck on "Received" Status - IRS2Go Shows PATH Act Delay for EITC/ACTC Refund Until Mid-February

Filed my taxes and got the PATH Act message on IRS2Go. When I check the app, it shows my return is "Received" but nothing else - the "Approved" and "Sent" statuses are still empty. The app specifically tells me "The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act says that if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS cannot issue the refund before mid-February. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits. You can check the status of your refund on Where's My Refund starting in mid- to late February. The website is updated once a day and is the best way to check the status of your refund." Here's the exact screen I'm seeing on the IRS2Go app: Refund Status Return Refund Received Refund Approved [empty] Refund Sent [empty] The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act says that if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, the IRS cannot issue the refund before mid-February. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits. You can check the status of your refund on Where's My Refund starting in mid- to late February. The website is updated once a day and is the best way to check the status of your refund. Please read the following information related to your tax situation: Tax Topic 152, Refund Information Please Note: For refund information, please continue to check here, or visit the Refunds page on IRS.gov. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day. I filed as Single status. The app shows my filing status correctly. Every day I check the app hoping to see some progress, but it's still just showing "Received" with the same PATH Act message. I'm really starting to get worried since bills are piling up and I really need this money. Is anyone else stuck waiting because of EITC/Child Tax Credit delays? The app keeps saying "Please Note: For refund information, please continue to check here, or visit the Refunds page on IRS.gov. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day" but seeing that same message day after day is making me anxious. I've tried checking at different times of the day, even at 10:15 when the screenshot was taken, but no change. The app has all the tabs at the bottom (Refunds, Payments, Free Tax Help, Connect) but I keep obsessively checking just the Refund Status section. Anyone else in the same boat or have advice on when I might actually see some movement?

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14 comments

Harold Oh

•10M

The IRS2Go app is showing your return in the "Received" stage, with "Approved" and "Sent" statuses still pending. This is typical for tax returns claiming EITC or ACTC due to the PATH Act requirements. The message confirms you filed as Single status and includes Tax Topic 152, which is a standard reference for refund information. The PATH Act delay applies to your entire refund amount, not just the credit portions. Even if your return was accepted in January, the IRS is legally required to hold the full refund until mid-February. This mandatory hold period allows the IRS to verify credit eligibility and prevent fraudulent claims. While the app only updates once per day (typically overnight), you can also check your tax transcript on IRS.gov for more detailed processing information. The transcript often shows pending refund dates before they appear in IRS2Go or Where's My Refund. The presence of Tax Topic 152 on your account is actually a positive sign - it indicates your return is processing normally and includes refundable credits. Continue monitoring WMR or IRS2Go, but don't be alarmed if the status remains unchanged until mid-February when the PATH Act hold period ends.

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