When will IRS release my refund? Been waiting 4 months and desperately need the money

Based on what you're describing, your return is likely under manual review in the Error Resolution Department. This happens for various reasons - it could be a simple discrepancy between reported income and what the IRS has on file, or potential identity verification issues. Here's what you need to know: • When a return enters the Error department, the standard processing time is extended by 8-10 weeks from the date it was flagged • The cycle dates on your transcript will remain unchanged until the review is complete • The fact that you're getting different answers from IRS reps is unfortunately common because they often only see partial notes on your account I recommend requesting a Tax Advocate by calling 1-877-777-4778 if you're experiencing financial hardship due to this delay. You'll need to explain your situation and how the delay is causing significant financial difficulties. Also, check your transcript for specific codes that might give more insight - particularly look for 570/971 combinations which often indicate the type of review happening.

I was in the exact same situation a couple months ago and i was going crazy trying to understand what was happening with my refund. Sick of all the IRS non-answers and the waiting game. I tried using taxr.ai to actually read my transcript and understand what was going on instead of just guessing. It explained all the codes and told me exactly why my refund was delayed, even gave me a timeline of what happened and what to expect next. Turned out it was a simple verification issue that I was able to resolve once I understood what was happening. The tool literally saved me weeks of stress and confusion. I recommend checking it out (https://taxr.ai) if you're trying to make sense of your transcript.

After waiting 3 months and hitting dead ends on the IRS phone maze, I finally got through to a real person using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They basically hold your place in the phone queue and call you when they have an agent on the line. I had been trying for weeks to get through on my own with no luck. The agent I spoke to was able to identify the issue with my return (missing document) and I got my refund released within two weeks after providing it. Talking to a real person made all the difference - sometimes you just need someone to look at your specific case.

welcome to the club my friend. been waiting 6 months for my $2700 refund. Called them like 50 times. Absolute joke of a system. I finally got thru last week after 2.5 hours on hold and they told me "its being processed, just keep waiting" LIKE WTF??? It's OUR MONEY they sitting on collecting interest while we struggle. Hang in there bro 😤

Have you checked your account transcript for specific codes? If you have a 570 code that means they froze your refund for review. Usually followed by a 971 which means they sent you a notice. If you see both of those codes, check the dates associated with them. The resolution usually comes about 4-8 weeks after those codes appear. After that you might see a 571 code (unfreezing your refund) and 846 (refund issued).

I filed in March and just got my refund last week. 5 MONTHS of waiting with no explanation. The IRS is a joke and they don't care about the financial hardship they cause. The system is designed to be confusing and frustrating. What helped me was calling my congressional representative's office - they have caseworkers who can contact the IRS on your behalf. Worth a try since nothing else seems to work.

Do you have access to your transcript? Look for specific codes that might explain the holdup. Most common for delays are: 570 - refund hold 971 - notice issued to you 420 - audit examination 424 - examination closed 846 - refund issued (this is what you want to see!) Also check if you claimed EITC or ACTC as those credits trigger automatic additional review.

same boat, filed in febuary... still waiting. had to take out a loan to cover what i was counting on from the refund. Called 8 times and got 8 different answers. IRS is literally the worst agency in the governmet 🤮

4 months is actually normal these days, especially if you claimed certain credits. My sister-in-law just got hers after 7 MONTHS. The IRS is severely understaffed and working through a backlog from the pandemic still. Not saying it's right but that's the reality. Hang in there.

protip: ALWAYS file paper returns. been doing this for years with zero issues, refund always comes in 3-4 weeks. everyone I know who e-files has problems with delays

The IRS is holding MILLIONS of refunds hostage right now. They're purposely delaying to collect interest on OUR money. It's theft plain and simple. I waited 11 months for my 2024 refund. The system is broken beyond repair.

Have you tried calling the IRS first thing in the morning? I had success getting through at exactly 7:00am when they open. Wait times are much shorter and you might get someone more helpful.

Check if you have an ID.me account set up and can access your transcripts online. Theres specific codes that tell you exactly whats happening with your return. If you see code 570 thats a refund hold. 971 means they sent a notice. If you have those you need to wait for further action or call to find out why.

i felt this in my SOUL. the IRS is running the biggest scam in America and nobody talks about it. they take our money instantly but when its time to give refunds suddenly everything moves at turtle speed 🤬

Did you file with a tax preparer or DIY software? Some of those free tax prep services are flagging returns more often resulting in delays. I've heard H&R Block and TurboTax customers seeing fewer delays than the free options.

Look for tax advocate service in your area. They can help push your refund through if you're experiencing financial hardship because of the delay. Call 1-877-777-4778 and explain your situation. They've helped a lot of people on this sub.

The IRS is complete trash. Im convinced they have monkeys throwing darts to decide which returns to process. Total joke of an agency.

If you filed with earned income tax credit or child tax credit, those returns automatically get extra scrutiny and take longer to process. The IRS is trying to cut down on fraudulent claims of these credits, but in the process, they're making honest taxpayers wait forever.

I totally feel your frustration - the waiting game with the IRS is absolutely maddening, especially when you're dealing with financial stress. Based on what you've described and the transcript codes you mentioned (570 and 971 from June 22), it sounds like your return is definitely under review in their Error Resolution Department. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. Call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 since you mentioned this is causing financial hardship with moving expenses and bills piling up. They can sometimes expedite cases when there's genuine hardship. 2. When you call the IRS again, specifically ask about the notice dated June 22 that shows as code 971 on your transcript. Even if you didn't receive it, they should be able to tell you what it said and potentially email or fax you a copy. 3. Since you have EITC and multiple income sources (W-2s + unemployment), your return likely got flagged for income verification. This is super common but unfortunately adds weeks to processing time. The silver lining is that once they resolve whatever they're reviewing, you should see your refund released pretty quickly. And if they've held it longer than 45 days past the filing deadline, you'll get interest added to your refund amount. Hang in there - I know it's incredibly stressful when it's your money they're sitting on!