WMR Says 'Still Being Processed' with PATH Message - Do I Need to Verify Identity?

The 'still being processed' message with PATH Act reference doesn't automatically indicate identity verification is needed. According to IRS Publication 5027, the PATH Act requires the IRS to hold refunds claiming Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until at least February 15th each year. This is a fraud prevention measure instituted under IRC §6402(m). Did you claim either of these credits on your return? If so, this delay is statutory and not indicative of any issues with your filing.

This happened to me earlier this filing season. It's probably not identity verification - that usually comes with a different message asking you to take action. Like the previous commenter said, if you claimed certain credits, it's just the PATH Act doing its thing. In my case, I just had to wait about 3 weeks after the February 15th date before seeing movement. Similar situations on other forums showed people waiting between 2-4 weeks. Have you checked your tax transcript? That sometimes updates before WMR does.

Watch out for this PATH Act thing - it got me last year! 😅 I thought it was just a small delay, but ended up waiting almost 6 weeks after February 15th. The funny part? I only claimed a tiny EITC amount (like $300) but still got caught in the full delay. What nobody tells you is that even after the PATH hold lifts, your return still has to go through normal processing. It's like waiting in line twice! 🙄

I was FREAKING OUT about this exact message last month! After days of trying the IRS phone number (and getting nowhere), I used Claimyr.com to get through to an agent. OMG what a difference! The agent confirmed it was just a standard PATH Act review and nothing was flagged on my account. No identity verification needed in my case. Literally saved me weeks of anxiety wondering if I needed to do something. If you're really worried, it might be worth connecting with an actual agent through their service: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Before panicking about identity verification, try checking your tax transcript! Back in 2022, I had the same PATH message, but my transcript showed cycle codes that indicated normal processing. The WMR tool is notoriously vague compared to what your actual transcript shows. Look for codes 570/971 which might indicate an actual issue, versus just seeing the standard PATH delay codes. If you filed early in the season, you're probably just in the standard queue that started moving after February 15th.

I filed on January 29th this year. Got PATH message immediately. Stayed that way until March 2nd. Then it changed to approved. Got my deposit on March 7th. No verification needed. The PATH message is normal. It's just frustrating. The IRS won't even look at returns with certain credits until February 15th. Then they process in order received. Your date matters.