Transcript Still Not Updated - Filed 1/30 with EIC/CTC - No PATH Act Message?
Is anyone else STILL waiting for their transcripts to update?! I filed and was accepted on January 30th and I'm BEYOND frustrated at this point! WMR hasn't even updated to show the PATH Act message even though I claimed both EIC and CTC. My husband's deployment is coming up and we were really counting on this refund before he leaves. š” I've checked my transcripts every single day and it's driving me insane. Anyone else in the same boat or know what's going on? I'd really appreciate any insight because this waiting game is killing me!
14 comments
Kyle Wallace
You're in the PATH Act processing window. The IRS won't process returns with EIC/CTC until mid-February at the earliest, regardless of when you filed. This is normal. The system doesn't always show the PATH Act message - that's just an interface issue, not a problem with your return. Your transcript won't update until they actually start processing your return. For military families, there's no special expedite process unless you're in a combat zone. Expect movement around February 27th at the earliest based on current processing patterns.
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Ryder Ross
I've been tracking this closely. PATH Act returns started processing exactly 18 days after the tax season opened. That means the first batch of refunds with credits should hit accounts around February 28th, with transcript updates 3-5 days before that. About 87% of early filers with credits see updates by March 7th.
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Gianni Serpent
How does this compare to last year though? I filed on January 28th last year with EITC and my transcript updated February 23rd. This year seems slower overall - is the IRS facing more delays than usual or is this just typical variance?
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Henry Delgado
The IRS website specifically states that "By law, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit." But has anyone actually verified if the lack of PATH Act message means anything? I've seen conflicting reports online.
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Malia Ponder
I'm in the same situation and getting worried. According to IRS Publication 1345 section 7.1, the PATH Act mandates a holding period, but shouldn't we at least see some indication of processing? My transcript has been N/A for 26 days now. Has anyone actually confirmed whether the missing PATH Act message indicates a problem?
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Olivia Kay
Thanks for mentioning the specific publication! I just looked it up and you're right about the holding period. Makes me feel a little better knowing there's an actual regulation behind this delay and not just the IRS being slow. Still frustrating though!
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Joshua Hellan
Has anyone tried pulling their transcripts through different methods? Sometimes when I check: 1. Through the online account 2. Using the Get Transcript by Mail option 3. Using the mobile app I get different results. Could this be a display issue rather than actual processing status?
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Jibriel Kohn
Just to clarify something I've noticed from previous years - the PATH Act message doesn't always appear for everyone. Last year my transcript didn't update until February 22nd despite filing January 24th with EIC. The year before was similar. It's frustrating when you're budgeting for that refund, but this delay is actually built into the system by law.
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Edison Estevez
I'm seriously struggling waiting for this money... I had to put some emergency car repairs on a credit card thinking my refund would come through by now. Last year I filed February 3rd and had my refund by March 1st. This waiting game is making me so anxious I can barely sleep.
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Emily Nguyen-Smith
Think of the IRS processing system like a highway with special lanes. The PATH Act essentially creates a traffic jam in the EIC/CTC lane that doesn't clear until mid-February. Your return is sitting in that traffic, not lost or rejected - just waiting for the signal to proceed. The system doesn't always show you where you are in that traffic jam, which is the frustrating part.
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James Johnson
Have you tried calling the IRS directly? I was in this exact situation and spent DAYS trying to get through their phone system. Isn't it ridiculous that we have to wait hours just to get basic information about our own money? I finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed my return was just waiting in the PATH Act holding pattern. Nothing wrong with it at all! Saved me so much stress knowing it wasn't lost in the system. Might be worth a try if you're worried about your military timeline?
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Sophia Rodriguez
I'm kind of nervous about using services like that... has anyone had any negative experiences? I'm a first-time filer this year and already anxious about everything. My dad always warned me about giving any personal info to third-party services when it comes to taxes. My transcript is also still showing N/A and I filed on 1/28 with EIC.
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Mia Green
As someone who's been through multiple tax seasons with a spouse on deployment, I understand your concern. The service mentioned above doesn't actually access your tax info - it just helps connect you to the IRS phone system. Some key points: ā¢ The PATH Act legally prevents the IRS from issuing certain refunds before mid-February ā¢ Military status doesn't expedite processing unless in combat zones ā¢ Transcript delays are normal for EIC/CTC claims ā¢ Missing PATH Act message doesn't indicate problems I'd recommend setting up direct deposit if you haven't already and making sure your address is current in case your spouse deploys before the refund arrives.
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Emma Bianchi
OMG I'm literally in the EXACT same situation! Filed 1/29, accepted same day, and NOTHING has updated. I check WMR and my transcript like 5 times a day and it's making me crazy! My husband is also military and we were counting on this money for some repairs before he leaves. So frustrating that they take our money instantly but take FOREVER to give refunds. Last year I had my refund by February 25th even with claiming credits. The waiting is absolutely killing me.
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