WMR Says Paper Check But Transcript Shows 846 Direct Deposit - What's Going On?

Don't stress too much abt this! The 846 code on ur transcript is def more reliable than WMR. I've seen this happen b4 where WMR says check but DD still happens. The IRS systems don't always talk to each other properly during peak season. Tbh most ppl in this sub trust transcript codes over WMR any day. Could save u some $$ on gas not having to drive to the bank to deposit a check too lol.

Your situation indicates a potential Account Verification Indicator (AVI) flag in the Integrated Data Retrieval System. This often occurs when there's a discrepancy between your Banking Information Database (BID) records and current submission. Recommend immediate reconciliation via telephone contact with IRS Refund Inquiry Unit to prevent potential Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) rejection that could result in automated paper check issuance and significant processing delays.

Trust the transcript. Not the WMR tool. This happens often. Transcript shows actual processing status. WMR lags behind. The 846 code is definitive. Your deposit will likely arrive as scheduled. No need to worry. I've seen this dozens of times. If you want clarity on your transcript codes, try taxr.ai. It explains each code. Shows processing timeline. Predicts deposit date accurately. Helps reduce anxiety during waiting period.

According to the IRS.gov FAQ section on refund status, this discrepancy happens more often than you'd think! I had the exact same issue last year - WMR showed paper check but my refund hit my account exactly on the 846 date. I kept checking the IRS2Go app thinking it would update correctly but it never did. The IRS transcript system seems to be more directly connected to the actual processing department.

This is a classic case of IRS system desynchronization. Unlike state tax systems where status updates are unified, federal systems often show conflicting information. I've seen situations where people got direct deposits despite WMR showing paper checks, and vice versa. If calling is your plan, save yourself hours of frustration with Claimyr.com - they get you past the IRS phone tree and connect you to an actual agent. Much more efficient than the 20+ redial attempts most people need. Unlike other situations where waiting resolves issues, this specific discrepancy warrants verification.

My husband and I had this exact thing happen last year! Transcript showed 846 with direct deposit but WMR said paper check. We panicked and called our bank to make sure our account was good, then spent 3 hours trying to reach the IRS. In the end, the money just showed up in our account on the exact date from the transcript. The IRS agent we eventually reached told us this happens all the time during the peak weeks of tax season. Something about their systems not updating each other quickly enough.

I work in financial services and see this backend disconnect regularly. The 846 code is generated from the IRS Master File system after final processing completion, while WMR pulls from a separate customer-facing database that updates on a different schedule. During peak season (Jan-April), these systems can lag by 24-72 hours. Your direct deposit will almost certainly process as shown on the transcript - I've never seen an 846 with DDD fail to execute properly. The transcript is essentially the "source of truth" while WMR is more like a delayed notification system. Save yourself the phone call stress and trust the 846!

I went through this exact scenario two weeks ago! My transcript showed 846 with DD date of 2/28, but WMR kept saying paper check was coming. I was so confused I even drove to my local IRS office to ask in person. The agent there confirmed what everyone's saying - the transcript is the authoritative source. She explained that during busy periods, WMR can show outdated information because it's essentially a "customer service" tool that doesn't always reflect real-time processing status. Sure enough, my refund hit my bank account exactly on 2/28 as the transcript indicated. The WMR tool didn't update to show "refund sent" until 3 days AFTER I already had the money! Trust your 846 code and save yourself the worry.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My transcript shows 846 with a DD date of 3/12, but WMR has been stuck on "paper check will be mailed" for the past week. Reading through all these responses is really reassuring - it sounds like the transcript is definitely the more reliable source. I was starting to worry that maybe there was an issue with my bank account info, but it's good to know this is a common system glitch during tax season. I'll trust the 846 code and stop obsessively checking WMR every few hours. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so helpful for first-time filers like me who don't know what's normal!