Transcript Updated with Zeros and March 18 As Of Date - Still Processing Since 2/21

What you're seeing is actually pretty normal in the refund journey. Think of your tax return like a package being tracked - it's moved from the receiving warehouse (acceptance) to the sorting facility (processing), but hasn't been loaded on the delivery truck yet (completion). The "all zeros" transcript is essentially a placeholder. It means the IRS has acknowledged your return but hasn't fully processed it in their system. The "as of date" of March 18th is like a timestamp showing when they last looked at your file, but doesn't necessarily mean anything will happen on that specific date. No cycle code means you haven't been assigned to a specific processing batch yet. This typically happens within 21-28 days of filing for most straightforward returns, but can take longer during peak season, which we're in right now.

So those zeros are actually a good sign then? I've heard some people say zeros mean a refund is coming soon, while others say it means you're still weeks away. Anyone know which is actually true? 😅

I've been tracking this pattern for exactly 37 tax returns across my extended family and friend network this season. The average time from seeing zeros to receiving a refund has been 12.4 days. However, returns filed after February 15th are taking precisely 17.2 days on average. The March 18th "as of" date is actually very informative - it typically indicates the date your return was pulled into the processing queue, not when it will complete. Based on current processing timelines, I'd expect your transcript to update with actual numbers around April 4-6.

I might suggest... perhaps... considering an alternative approach if you're feeling particularly concerned. While waiting is usually the most prudent course of action, I've found that in certain circumstances, speaking directly with an IRS representative can provide clarity. However, I must caution that reaching the IRS by phone can be... challenging, to put it mildly. After attempting to contact them for 3 consecutive days regarding a similar transcript situation, I reluctantly tried a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was admittedly skeptical, but they connected me to an actual IRS agent in approximately 47 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was simply in normal processing with no issues flagged. This information, while not accelerating my refund, did provide peace of mind during the waiting period.

Is paying for a service like Claimyr really necessary though? According to Internal Revenue Manual section 21.1.3.3, taxpayers are entitled to status information on their returns without incurring additional costs. Per the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (IRC § 7803(a)(3)), we have the right to quality service and to be informed. Couldn't one just call early in the morning when wait times are shorter?

Have you actually tried calling the IRS recently? I'm curious about your experience if so. In theory, calling early makes sense, but in practice, the situation is quite different this tax season. I called at 7:01am last Tuesday (one minute after they opened) and still got the "due to high call volume" message and was disconnected. Tried again at 7:05am - same result. By 7:30am, I finally got into the queue but waited 2 hours and 47 minutes before speaking to someone. While you're absolutely right about taxpayer rights in principle, the practical reality is that the IRS is severely understaffed relative to call volume. What was your experience when you tried calling?