Why is my 2025 tax refund taking so long to come back? It's been weeks!

I filed my taxes through TaxSlayer back on February 9th and got a confirmation text almost immediately that the IRS accepted my return. But it's now been almost a month and my refund still hasn't shown up in my bank account! When I check the "Where's My Refund" tool, it just says "Your return is being processed" with no other details. This is driving me crazy because I was counting on that money ($2,380) to pay for some car repairs that I really need to get done. Last year I got my refund within like 10 days, so I don't understand why it's taking forever this time. I claimed the standard deduction, have a simple W-2 job, and didn't do anything different from previous years. Has anyone else been waiting a super long time for their refund this year? Is there something going on with the IRS that I don't know about? I'm starting to get worried that something's wrong with my return.

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18 comments

Elijah Knight

•8M

The IRS is definitely experiencing some delays this tax season. What you're seeing is unfortunately pretty common right now. The "Where's My Refund" tool showing "Your return is being processed" just means they've received it but haven't completed the review process yet. For simple returns with just W-2 income and standard deductions, the IRS typically aims for the 21-day timeframe, but that's not guaranteed. Several factors can cause delays: identity verification needs, certain credits being claimed (though you didn't mention any), or simply the volume of returns they're processing. I'd recommend continuing to check the "Where's My Refund" tool every 24 hours - it usually updates overnight. If you reach 45 days without your refund, that's when you might want to contact the IRS directly as they're required to pay interest on refunds issued after 45 days.

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Elijah Knight

•8M

Yes, the IRS does randomly select returns for additional review as part of their fraud prevention measures. It doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong with your return. They use sophisticated algorithms to flag certain returns, and sometimes it's completely random. The difference in timing between your return and your brother's could also be related to other factors like whether you requested direct deposit versus a paper check, which processing center received your return, or even something as simple as your last name falling into a different batch. The IRS processes returns in batches, and sometimes that creates these timing discrepancies.

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Jay Lincoln

•8M

I was in the exact same boat last month! Filed on January 30th and was stuck on "processing" for almost 5 weeks. I was getting so frustrated checking the IRS website every day and seeing no progress. What finally helped me was using https://taxr.ai to analyze my return transcript. I uploaded my return confirmation and it spotted that my employer had reported slightly different wages than what I entered (off by like $23). The tool explained exactly what was causing the delay and what I needed to do. The analysis took just a few minutes and I was able to call the IRS with specific information about what was wrong instead of waiting on hold forever just to be told "it's still processing." Seriously saved me weeks of anxiety and waiting.

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Jay Lincoln

•8M

The tool analyzes your tax transcript which has more detailed codes and information than the public-facing "Where's My Refund" tool. It looks for specific transaction codes and dates that indicate what stage of processing you're in and what might be causing delays. It's not just guessing - it's interpreting the actual data from your IRS record. It works by having you authorize access to your tax transcript (either by uploading one you've already downloaded or helping you request one). Then it scans for specific IRS codes and provides plain English explanations. In my case, it found code 922 which indicated a mismatch between reported information.

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Marcus Williams

•8M

Okay I'm eating my words! I was skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it anyway since my refund has been stuck for 33 days. The tool actually showed me that I had an IP PIN issue - apparently I had been assigned one after that data breach last year but completely forgot about it and didn't enter it on my return! No wonder my refund was stuck. The analysis explained exactly what I needed to do (file an amended return with the correct IP PIN) and even showed me where to find my PIN on previous IRS correspondence. Just submitted the amendment yesterday so now I wait again, but at least I know what was wrong and that it's being fixed!

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Lily Young

•8M

If you need to actually talk to someone at the IRS about your refund, good luck getting through on their phone lines. I tried calling for 2 weeks straight - always got the "high call volume" message and disconnected. Then I found this service called https://claimyr.com that got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes! They have this system that basically waits on hold for you and calls you back when an actual human picks up. I was really impressed - you can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was able to tell me that my return was flagged for a simple identity verification and I just needed to answer a few questions. Issue resolved in one call instead of weeks of wondering! My refund was deposited a week later.

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Lily Young

•8M

It doesn't jump the queue - it just automates the calling and waiting process. They use technology to keep dialing until they get through, then their system waits on hold so you don't have to. When a real agent answers, you get a call back and are connected. You still wait your turn, but you don't have to sit by your phone for hours. I spent over 5 hours across multiple days trying to get through myself and kept getting disconnected. With Claimyr, I just entered my number, went about my day, and got a call when an agent was on the line. It was worth it to me to not waste any more time on failed call attempts.

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Wesley Hallow

•8M

Ok I need to publicly admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After commenting here last week, my refund situation got desperate (needed the money for rent) so I tried the service. It actually worked exactly as described! Their system called the IRS, navigated the menu, waited on hold for 67 minutes (which I didn't have to do), and then called me when an agent was ready. The IRS agent told me my return had been pulled for manual review because I had changed jobs mid-year and there was a slight overlap in my W-2s that triggered a fraud alert. She verified my identity, confirmed the return looked correct, and released the hold right there on the call. My refund was deposited yesterday - exactly 6 days after the call. Would have been waiting forever without knowing what was happening if I hadn't gotten through to them.

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Justin Chang

•8M

Have you checked your return for any potential red flags? Things that commonly delay refunds include: - Claiming Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit - Missing or incorrect Social Security numbers - Math errors that need manual correction - Filing a paper return instead of e-filing - Claiming certain deductions that are frequently audited (home office, large charitable contributions) Also, did you file Form 8379 (Injured Spouse) or Form 8888 (Split Refund)? Those can add weeks to processing time.

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Justin Chang

•8M

In that case, it's likely just the general processing backlog the IRS is experiencing this year. There have been reports that they're still working through a backlog from previous tax seasons, which affects current processing times. If it helps ease your mind, returns with no red flags almost always process successfully, it's just a matter of waiting. The 21-day guideline is just that - a guideline, not a guarantee. Many people are reporting waits of 30-45 days this year even for simple returns.

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