Tax Return Stuck on "Return Received" Status for Over 21 Days with Tax Topic 152 - No Updates on WMR Tool

This waiting game is ridiculous! I've filed a complete and accurate tax return, and the WMR tool just keeps showing "Return Received" with that message saying "We have received your tax return and it is being processed." I'm looking at the screen right now and it's infuriating: Refund Status Results Return Received [✓] Refund Approved Refund Sent "We have received your tax return and it is being processed." They keep telling me that "If you filed a complete and accurate tax return, your refund should be issued within 21 days of the received date" but it's been way longer than that! The status bars just sit there showing "Return Received" but nothing on "Refund Approved" or "Refund Sent." I keep checking both on the website and their "free mobile app, IRS2Go" like they suggest, but nothing changes. All I get is that useless "Tax Topic 152, Refund Information" message under the "Please read the following information related to your tax situation" section. The WMR tool says "However, processing may take longer under certain circumstances" but doesn't explain what those circumstances are! There's literally nothing else on the page except "Refund Help", "Take Survey", and "Log Out" buttons at the top, and a tiny "IRS Privacy Policy" link at the bottom. No explanation, no timeline, no details about my specific situation. Anyone else stuck in this boat? I'm tired of seeing the same "Return Received" status day after day with no movement! It's like the IRS designed this system to be as uninformative and frustrating as possible.

0 coins

14 comments

Ethan Scott

Your tax return is currently in the initial "Return Received" stage, as shown by the first highlighted bar in the WMR tool. The other two stages - "Refund Approved" and "Refund Sent" - remain unlit, indicating your return hasn't progressed to those phases yet. The presence of Tax Topic 152 is actually a positive sign - it simply confirms you're eligible for a refund and your return is being processed normally. The standard IRS message about "21 days" appears in your status, but this is a general timeframe rather than a guarantee, especially during peak processing periods. Looking at the specific status message, it states "We have received your tax return and it is being processed." This is the standard language used during the initial review phase. The system is also showing the standard advisory about checking status updates either through the WMR website or the IRS2Go mobile app. While waiting at this stage can be frustrating, there's nothing in your status indicators that suggests any problems or unusual delays. The message about "processing may take longer under certain circumstances" is standard language and doesn't necessarily indicate issues with your specific return. For the most detailed updates, consider checking your tax transcript if you have access to it, as it may show processing codes that aren't visible in the WMR tool.

0 coins

- 1M