Tax Advocate Just Submitted My ID Verification - How Long Until Refund Now?

I hate to say this, but... those timeline estimates from the IRS aren't always, well, accurate. The tax advocate is probably giving you their best guess based on current processing times, but there are so many variables at play. Identity verification cases generally move faster than regular processing once the verification is complete, though. I'd say their March 20th estimate might be somewhat reasonable, but I wouldn't count on it being sooner. Just... prepare yourself for possible delays.

According to Internal Revenue Manual 21.3.1.4.2, identity verification cases should be resolved within 21 days after successful verification. However, amended returns fall under a separate processing timeline per IRM 21.5.3.4.6, which typically extends to 16 weeks from the date of acceptance. Have you confirmed whether your advocate submitted the case with expedited processing code 7?

I've been through this exact situation and can share what helped me track progress: • Check your tax transcript every Tuesday morning (that's when they typically update) • Look specifically for TC 971 code with action code 63 (shows verification complete) • Watch for TC 290 code which usually appears 7-10 days after verification • Don't rely on WMR tool - it lags behind transcript updates Your advocate's timeline sounds about right if everything goes smoothly.

Have you considered what you'll do if the March 20th date passes without any update? Many taxpayers find themselves in this frustrating cycle of waiting, calling, and getting nowhere. When I needed answers on my delayed refund last year, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an actual IRS agent instead of wasting hours on hold. Isn't your time worth more than sitting through the IRS hold music for 3+ hours? Their service put me through to an agent who could actually see what was happening with my return.

OMG I literally just went through this exact same process last month!! I was freaking out because my transcript kept showing all these weird codes. I finally broke down and pulled my transcript, took screenshots of everything and uploaded them to taxr.ai to analyze what was happening. It showed me EXACTLY where I was in the process and explained all those cryptic codes! Turns out my ID verification was completed but there was another hold I didn't know about. Such a relief to actually understand what was going on!

Based on what I've observed with approximately 12-15 similar cases in our tax community, the timeline might possibly be somewhat accurate, depending on several potential factors. Most identity verification cases seem to follow a pattern of roughly 14-21 days post-verification, but amended returns could potentially add another 1-2 weeks to that timeline. You might want to mark March 27th on your calendar as a more realistic target date, just to be safe. If you're counting on these funds for something time-sensitive, perhaps consider alternative arrangements.