Andy | Saving to Invest

Which Tax Software Package Gets the Fastest and Largest Refund in 2023

I recently ran a poll on my YouTube channel that asked tax filers who have got their refund, or confirmation of it being paid, which tax software provider they used. Below are the result of the poll. Source and Live Poll Obviously the poll is not a scientific study, but…

IRS Codes 570 and 971 – Tax Refund Delayed or Reduced in 2026-2027

Transaction codes and tax topics are used across IRS refund status applications — WMR or IRS2Go — and account transcripts, to show filers what's happening with their tax return, why it's delayed, when a refund will be paid, or why it was lower than expected. You'll generally see Transaction Code…

When Does the IRS Update My Refund Status on WMR, IRS2Go, and Tax Transcript in 2026?

With millions of tax filers anxiously waiting for their refund — often the largest single payment they receive all year — it's not uncommon to hear frustration with the IRS systems designed to provide updates on tax processing and refund payments. The official Where's My Refund (WMR) site and IRS2Go…

Understanding Tax Topic 203 and Code 898 – Refund Reduced For Past Due Debt Obligations

Many tax filers feel a rush of relief when they see the refund approved and sent status on WMR/IRS2Go, or code 846 (refund issued) on their tax transcript. That relief can turn into frustration when an additional status message about a past-due obligation shows their estimated refund on the transcript…

IRS Tax Topic 152 vs. 151 – What These Codes Mean for Your Refund Status and Payment Delays

The IRS processes tax returns based on a standard set of guidelines and instructions, codified into tax codes used across its internal systems to process returns, manage discrepancies, and eventually pay refunds. These codes are simplified into tax topics for filers, providing insight into what's happening with a return, why…

How to Read Your IRS Transcript: Codes 150, 806, 766, and 846 Explained With Examples

Your IRS tax transcript is one of the most useful documents you can pull when you're waiting on a refund — especially once Where's My Refund (WMR) and IRS2Go stop giving you anything beyond a generic status bar. The catch is that transcripts are dense: rows of three-digit codes, dollar…

Can Student Loans Take Your Tax Refund? The 2026 Offset Rules After the Collections Pause

Short answer for 2026: yes, defaulted federal student loans can be collected from your tax refund through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) — but right now, most involuntary collections are paused again, and the window before they restart is exactly when you should act. This has whipsawed a lot in…

2026-2027 IRS Cycle Code Calendar Chart – Using Your Tax Transcript to Get Refund Processing Updates and Direct Deposit Dates

[UPDATED chart for 2026 & 2027] Every tax season there is a guessing game played by millions of American taxpayers on when they will get their refund payment deposited into their bank account. There is the so-called IRS refund schedule, which has estimated dates for when the agency will make…

PATH Act Refund Delays: 2026 IRS Release Dates, Historical Data, and What to Expect for 2027

If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) and filed early, your refund is being held by law — not because anything is wrong with your return. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act requires the IRS to hold your entire refund,…

IRS CP10 Notice Explained: What It Means When the IRS Corrects Your Estimated Tax Credit

A CP10 notice means the IRS found a math or calculation error on your filed tax return, and that correction changed the amount you'd elected to apply toward next year's estimated tax payments — usually reducing it. It's one of a family of IRS math-error notices, and it's commonly confused…

Why Is My Tax Refund Still Processing in 2025

Seeing a lot of comments from filers this year saying that not only have then not gotten their refund payments but are still waiting for their tax refund for returns filed last year! Why the Ongoing Delay in Processing Returns and Paying Refunds? The main reason for this is that…

how long does it take to get your Delayed tax refund direct deposit?

Many tax filers are now seeing messages on their IRS2Go and WMR app that confirm their tax returns are going to take longer than normal to process. Tax Topic 152, which just alludes to ongoing and potential processing delays, has not provided much help. So some are turning to their…

Tax Refund Advance Loans in 2026-2027: How Much You Can Get and Why Your Refund May Be Lower Than Expected

If you filed with a major tax software provider or storefront preparer in early 2026, you likely saw a prompt offering to get part of your refund in minutes instead of waiting on the IRS. That's a tax refund advance, and the terms vary a lot more between providers than…

Why You May owe taxes This Year or Get A Much Smaller IRS Tax Refund

Over the last few years, thanks to plenty of pandemic related support via stimulus payments and funding for expanded tax credits, the average refund payment ballooned to over $3,100. This is despite 20 million fewer Americans getting refunds. However with no further federal funding approved, several popular stimulus, family and dependent tax…