Who did you use for tax filing? So many people having trace number issues and missing refunds after 3/15 deadline

Thank you for sharing this info. Do you know how long the trace process typically takes? I filed on 2/2 and still nothing.

Once you initiate a trace, it usually takes about 6 weeks for the IRS to process it. But currently with the backlog, it could take longer. If you filed 2/2, you should definitely be eligible to start a trace now.

I used TurboTax and mine is delayed too. Been 31 days now. Do u think using a professional would have prevented this?

Not necessarily. Many delays are due to IRS processing issues or verification needs that would happen regardless of how you filed. That said, professionals can help avoid common errors that might trigger a review.

Sounds interesting. How exactly does it work? Does it just read your transcript or does it do more?

It's amazing! You upload your transcript and it breaks everything down - all those cryptic codes, cycle dates, processing stages. Shows exactly what's happening with your refund and if there are any issues. WAY better than the useless "still processing" message on the IRS site. It even predicted my deposit date to the day! I'm telling everyone I know about it now - no more guessing games with the IRS.

another app promising the world 🙄 does it actually work tho?

I was skeptical too, trust me. But after weeks of getting nowhere with the IRS, this actually gave me answers. Not saying it magically fixes processing delays, but at least you know exactly what's happening instead of being completely in the dark.

wait, you had to PAY to talk to the IRS? that seems sketchy af

I know it sounds weird but the service just helps you skip the IRS phone queue. They don't actually talk to the IRS for you - they just secure your spot in line and call when an agent is available. After trying for literal DAYS to get through on my own and always getting the "call volume too high" message, this was a lifesaver. My refund was way more than what the service cost.

How do you know that talking to the agent actually did anything? Maybe your refund was about to be released anyway?

The IRS agent literally told me my return was stuck in an error resolution dept and she was pushing it through manually. My WMR updated from "still processing" to approved that same night. After weeks of zero movement, that's not a coincidence.

i might try this... been on hold with IRS for 2+ hours three separate days 😡

Same. Used TurboTax and filed January 29th. Still nothing. And I had a super simple return with just W2 income, no credits or anything complicated. The system is just broken.

H&R block is terrible tbh. I used them 2 years ago and they missed a huge deduction that my new CPA caught this year. Ended up filing an amendment and got back $1200 more.

Maybe but that's not why refunds are delayed. My return was super simple. The IRS is just backed up dealing with all the new tax credit stuff from last year.

THANK YOU! Finally someone who actually understands how this works! 💯

Okay but if u did your taxes correctly in the first place, you wouldnt need a trace number. Just saying.

That's not true at all. Trace requests happen for many reasons that have NOTHING to do with how taxes were filed. Most common is when the IRS sends a refund to a closed bank account or a check gets lost in the mail. Also happens with identity theft where someone else claimed your refund.

This. I had to get a trace last year because USPS lost my paper check. Had nothing to do with my tax preparer.

This!!! 👆 Blaming the tax preparers is like blaming your mail carrier because Amazon sent you the wrong item.

so is there ANYTHING we can do to speed things up? or just wait forever? 😕

If it's been more than 21 days, check your transcript for any codes that indicate issues. If you see code 570, there's an issue being reviewed. If you can't make sense of your transcript, try taxr.ai - it's a tool that explains what's happening. If you need to speak with the IRS, getting through to them is tough but claimyr.com can help get a callback.

570 means there's a hold on your account. 971 means they're sending you a notice explaining why. Usually means they're reviewing something or found a discrepancy.

ugh thanks. any idea how long that usually takes to resolve?

Honestly depends on what the issue is. Could be a week, could be months. You'll want to watch for code 571 which means the hold was released, usually followed by 846 which is your refund date.

I tried to figure all these codes out too and it was giving me a headache. I used taxr.ai and it explained everything in simple terms. Worth checking out if youre trying to decode your transcript.

Yes! That's actually by design. There's a law that prevents the IRS from issuing refunds with those credits before mid-February to give them time to verify eligibility and prevent fraud.

But it's late March now.... way past mid-February.

True, but those returns get extra scrutiny so they tend to be delayed longer than others. It's not just the mid-Feb hold, they actually review them more carefully.

some of us need that money for bills tho... easy to say "forget about it" when ur not counting on it to pay rent

i get that but the point is obsessively checking 5x a day won't make it come any faster. the system is broken and we all gotta deal with it.

I check because I don't trust the IRS to not screw something up. I've had issues in the past where they claim they sent a check but it never arrived.

How long did it take you to get through to them on the phone? I've been trying for days and always get the "call volume too high" message.

It was a nightmare - I called at exactly 7:00am when they opened and still waited over an hour. If you can't get through, try claimyr.com - my coworker used it and got a callback same day.

i've been trying to create an account on the irs website for weeks but it keeps saying it can't verify my information 🤬

That happened to me too! Such a hassle. They should really have a better system for verifying bank accounts before sending payments.

For real!!! It's like they designed it to be as vague and unhelpful as possible 🙄

I gave up on that tool years ago. Transcript is the only way to see what's really happening.

try taxr.ai - it explains all those transcript codes in plain english. saved me a TON of time trying to google what all the different codes meant

2-3 more" weeks is IRS code "for we have no idea but we need to tell you something so'you ll hang" uplol

how did you even get through? I've called 8 times and always get the "try again later" message

I used claimyr.com - it skips the hold line and gets you a callback when an agent is available. Totally worth it after wasting hours trying to get through myself.

Do you have codes 570/971 on your transcript? That usually indicates they found an issue and are sending you a letter.

I see a 570 from 3/11 and then a 971 dated 3/18. What does that mean exactly?

570 is a hold/freeze on your account and 971 means a notice is being generated. You should get a letter explaining what the issue is. Could be something simple they can fix or might need info from you.

I was in this exact position. Taxr.ai explained all those codes to me when I couldn't figure them out. Turns out I had a simple math error they fixed automatically. Got my refund about 2 weeks after seeing those codes.

Actually they do pay interest on late refunds! If your refund is issued more than 45 days after the filing deadline (or the date you filed if you filed after the deadline), they're required to pay interest.

wait seriously? I didn't know that. Is it automatic or do we need to request it?

It's automatic - you'll see it as an additional amount added to your refund. The current rate is around 7% annually, which isn't bad actually.