Transcript Shows DD Date but WMR Shows Offset - What Should My Friend Expect?

This happened to me exactly 24 days ago. From what I understand, when the transcript shows a direct deposit date with no adjustment codes, that's usually a good sign that the full amount is being processed. In my case, I had a similar situation where WMR showed an offset notice but my transcript didn't reflect any reductions. I received exactly $4,872 on the date shown in my transcript, not the reduced amount WMR initially suggested. The SBTG (Santa Barbara Tax Group) reference means it's going through your friend's tax preparer's bank first, which adds exactly 1-2 days to the process.

I had this exact situation last year with conflicting information between WMR and my transcript. After spending 3 days trying to get through to the IRS, I used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in about 12 minutes. The agent confirmed that my full refund was being processed despite the WMR showing an offset. Turns out the offset was from an old debt that had already been paid, but their system hadn't updated properly. The agent was able to verify the actual amount I would receive and when.

Has your friend checked the Treasury Offset Program's phone system? You can call 800-304-3107 and verify if there's actually an offset and which agency it's for. Isn't it better to get the information directly rather than trying to interpret conflicting messages between systems? That way your friend will know exactly what to expect on 2/25.

I would recommend your friend check his transcript details carefully using a tool like taxr.ai to analyze what's actually happening. When there are discrepancies between WMR and transcripts, it's important to understand: • What specific codes are on the transcript • Whether there are any TC 898 offset indicators • If there are any pending transactions • What the actual refund amount code shows The transcript is generally more accurate than WMR, but without seeing the specific codes, it's hard to be certain what's happening.

Your friend is experiencing what's called a "split refund" situation. I went through this exact scenario last tax season. What's likely happening is that part of his refund is being offset for a debt (maybe student loans, child support, or past tax debt), but he's still getting some portion of it. The transcript shows the original approved amount, while WMR is showing the offset notification. The SBTG (Santa Barbara Tax Products Group) reference means he probably had his preparation fees deducted from his refund or used a refund advance product. Here's what will happen: SBTG will receive the post-offset amount, take out any fees owed to them or the preparer, then deposit the remainder to your friend's account. The deposit will likely still happen on or around 2/25, but the amount will be less than originally expected. Your friend should receive a notice from both the IRS and the agency claiming the debt explaining the offset amount and reason.

This tax system is like a game of telephone where nobody gets the message right! I had the same situation last year - transcript showed one thing, WMR showed another. It's like trying to navigate a maze where the walls keep moving. In my case, the offset was real (old student loan) but the amount was wrong. The transcript was showing the pre-offset amount while WMR was showing the post-offset situation. Your friend should expect to receive something on 2/25, but probably not the full amount they were expecting.

I think your friend might be dealing with what happened to me last month. My WMR showed an offset notice for about $3,200 in child support (which was sort of accurate but the amount was wrong). My transcript showed a DD date of 2/3 for the full amount. What actually happened was that the Bureau of Fiscal Service took their portion first (about $1,800, not the $3,200 they claimed), then SBTG received the remainder, took out their $39.95 fee, and then deposited what was left to my account on 2/5. The whole process was kind of messy, and the actual deposit was about 2 days after the transcript date.