When Will Parents With Dependent Children Get Tax Refunds for 2024 Filing Season?

Returns with dependents and certain credits (like the Child Tax Credit) are generally processed a bit slower. The IRS typically holds these returns until at least mid-February due to the PATH Act, which is designed to prevent fraud. It's possible, though not guaranteed, that your return is taking longer because this is the first year you're claiming the children after your divorce. The IRS might be doing additional verification. In most cases, these returns are processed within 45 days, so you should hopefully see movement soon.

Have you checked your tax transcript instead of just WMR? It's like looking at the kitchen instead of just the restaurant menu - you can see what's actually cooking behind the scenes. Did you and your ex coordinate who would claim the kids this year? Sometimes the IRS gets stuck in a traffic jam when two parents try driving down the same dependent-claiming road.

Your situation aligns with standard PATH Act protocols for returns claiming dependents and refundable credits. The verification process typically extends processing by 30-45 days beyond standard returns. Given your recent divorce and first-time dependent claim status, additional verification flags may have been triggered in the Dependent Database Cross-Check system. If you need clarity on your specific situation, consider using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to connect with an IRS agent. I used it last week after waiting 52 days and discovered my return had a simple verification hold that was resolved during the call. The agent explained exactly what was happening and provided a timeline.

Have you checked the IRS2Go app or irs.gov/refunds for more detailed status information? According to the IRS website, returns with claimed dependents filed in early February should be processed by now unless there are verification issues. You might want to verify that your bank information was entered correctly, as direct deposits sometimes fail and revert to paper checks which adds 4-6 weeks.

I'm wondering if you might have received any letters from the IRS? Sometimes they send verification requests that need to be responded to before they'll release the refund. It might be worth checking if anything was sent to your address that perhaps got missed or misplaced during your post-divorce transition.

FYI for anyone in this situation - the CTC (Child Tax Credit) and dependent claims are major triggers for extra processing time. The IRS has been super backed up this yr with these checks. If ur return has been processing for 45+ days w/o update, that's when u should start looking into it further. B4 that, it's pretty normal especially for newly divorced parents claiming kids for 1st time.

I went through this exact situation last year after my divorce. Filed on January 31st, didn't get my refund until April 12th! What finally worked was pulling my tax transcript which showed code 570 (additional account action pending) and 971 (notice issued). Called the IRS and found out they needed verification that I was the custodial parent. Once I faxed over my custody agreement, the refund was released within 10 days. Check your transcript for these codes - they're crucial clues to what's happening behind the scenes!

According to Internal Revenue Code §6402 and the PATH Act provisions under §201 of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, the IRS is required to hold refunds involving Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until at least February 15th. Given your filing date of February 8th and the subsequent processing start date after February 15th, your current timeline of approximately 45 days is still within normal parameters, particularly for a first-time dependent claim following a divorce decree issued in the previous tax year.