2023 Tax Refund Under Review: Tax Topic 151 with Reference Code 1242 - How Long to Wait?

The WMR status indicates you're under a manual review process, with several key indicators worth noting. Your status page shows "Return Received" but has question marks for both "Refund Approved" and "Refund Sent" stages, which is typical during a review period. Tax Topic 151 combined with reference number 1242 specifically points to an income verification review. The IRS is likely cross-referencing your reported income against information documents (W2s, 1099s) they've received from employers and other sources. This is particularly common with Head of Household filing status, which you've indicated. The provided contact information (1-800-829-0582 ext. 362) is a dedicated line for these types of reviews. The specific extension suggests you'll reach representatives trained in handling income verification cases. The international number (267-941-1000) and TTY/TDD line (1-800-829-4059) ensure accessibility for all taxpayers. When calling, you'll need comprehensive documentation: - The WMR status page - Your complete tax return - Social Security Number - Head of Household filing status verification - Exact refund amount claimed - Any IRS notices received These reviews typically take 60-120 days, though some resolve sooner. The morning timestamp (09:13) shows this is a recent status change, so you're at the beginning of the review timeline. Double-check that all your income documentation matches exactly what you reported on your 2023 return to potentially expedite the process.

Hey, I was in the same boat last week. I used taxr.ai to analyze my transcript and it showed exactly why I got the 151 code. Saved me hours of research and gave me a pretty accurate timeline. Only cost $1 too. Check it out: https://taxr.ai

i got this exact message last year.took about 90 days to resolve itself. hang in there!

The IRS is such a joke fr. Why they gotta make everything so complicated 🤡

Call them asap! Sometimes you can get it resolved faster if you can prove everything matches up. But good luck getting through lol

Here's what I've learned after dealing with this twice: Tax Topic 151 is basically their way of saying they need to verify something. Could be income, dependents, credits claimed etc. Best thing to do is: 1) Pull your wage transcripts 2) Compare everything carefully 3) Have all docs ready when you call 4) Use taxr.ai to get specific insights about your delay - seriously saved me so much time 5) Be patient but persistent

I went through this exact same situation with Tax Topic 151 and reference 1242 about 6 months ago. The waiting is definitely the hardest part! From my experience, the IRS is likely verifying your Head of Household status and the dependents you claimed. Since you filed HOH, they want to make sure you meet all the qualifying criteria. A few things that helped me during the process: - Keep checking WMR weekly (not daily - it'll drive you crazy) - Make sure you have documentation ready showing who lived with you and that you provided more than half their support - If you claimed any dependents, have their SSNs and birth certificates handy - Don't panic if it takes the full 60-120 days - mine took about 85 days but eventually went through without any issues The good news is that most of these reviews end up being routine verification and your refund will come through. Just hang tight and try not to stress too much about it. The IRS processes thousands of these every day and yours will get resolved!

I'm going through something similar right now - got Tax Topic 151 about 3 weeks ago and the anxiety is real! From what I've gathered from this thread and my own research, it seems like these income verification reviews are pretty standard, especially for Head of Household filers. One thing that's helped me stay sane is setting up a simple calendar reminder to check WMR once a week instead of obsessively checking daily. The status rarely changes that quickly anyway and it just adds unnecessary stress. Also, I'd recommend gathering all your supporting documents now while you're thinking about it - W2s, 1099s, dependent info, proof of HOH status, etc. That way if/when you do get through to someone on the phone, you'll have everything ready to go. The worst thing would be finally getting a rep on the line and then having to call back because you don't have the right paperwork. Hang in there Isabella! From everything I'm reading, most people do get their refunds eventually, it just takes longer than we'd like. The waiting game is brutal but you're not alone in this!

I've been dealing with Tax Topic 151 reviews for the past few years and wanted to share some practical tips that might help speed things up (even if just slightly). First, don't wait to call - the sooner you contact them, the sooner you can potentially identify what specific documentation they need. When you do call 1-800-829-0582 ext. 362, try calling right at 7am when they open - your wait times will be much shorter. For reference code 1242 specifically, this usually means they're cross-checking your reported income against third-party documents. Before calling, double-check that: - All W-2 amounts match exactly what you reported - Any 1099s are accounted for - Your AGI calculation is correct - Head of Household qualifying criteria are properly documented One thing that helped me last year was requesting my wage and income transcript online at irs.gov before calling. This shows exactly what income documents the IRS has received from your employers/payers. If there's a mismatch, you can address it proactively. The 60-120 day timeframe is accurate, but I've seen some resolve in 30-45 days when people had all their documentation ready and called early in the process. Stay organized and don't let the anxiety get to you - these reviews are way more common than people think!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now - got Tax Topic 151 with reference 1242 about two weeks ago and the stress is unreal! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring though. What really stood out to me from @Sophia Nguyen's advice is getting the wage transcript first. I just ordered mine online and it should arrive in 5-10 business days. That way I can compare everything before calling and potentially save myself multiple phone calls if there are discrepancies. @Isabella Santos - I know you're worried about the timeline, but honestly after reading all these responses, it seems like 60-90 days is pretty standard and most people do get their refunds eventually. The Head of Household verification seems to be super common right now. One thing I'm planning to do is create a simple checklist of all the documents they might ask for: - 2023 tax return (obviously) - All W-2s and 1099s - Proof of HOH status (lease, utility bills showing who lived with me) - Dependent documentation if applicable - The WMR status page printout That way when I finally get through to someone, I won't be scrambling around looking for paperwork. The waiting sucks but at least we're all in this together! Keep us posted on what happens when you call - I'm sure others going through this would appreciate the update too.