Many tax filers are again seeing the message below on the IRS’ Where is My Refund (WMR) page or IRS2Go app days after their return is filed and accepted by the IRS, including after PATH restrictions have lifted.
Unfortunately this message just seems to create more frustration and confusion for many filers, because it does not tell them much.
In this article I will try and shed some light on what this general IRS message means for your tax return processing and potential refund payment timeline.
Feel free to leave a comment below with your individual circumstance or experience. As you can see you are not alone.
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What Does This Message Mean?
This processing message is essentially the default IRS notice that pops when your return is likely to take more than the standard 21 day IRS refund processing timeline.
Unfortunately for many tax filers it will mean a delay to their refund payment and a likely downward adjustment or offset, if the IRS cannot reconcile the amounts claimed versus what they have on their records.
Many filers have also reported seeing more details on their tax transcript following the message. This is generally shown via transaction codes 570 and 971. See more in the sections below.
The reference to Tax Topic 152 in the WMR/IRS2Go status box is a general or informational link to their standard refund processing timeline and potential causes of delays.
It is basically the IRS telling you to stay patient and hold on until they finish processing. It also lists several reasons why your return may be delayed, in order to set future expectations.
There is nothing you can do at this stage and often this message results in your status bars disappearing or your tax transcript showing “N/A” for filing activities in the current tax season.
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Options and next steps
You can try and use your IRS master file cycle code on your account transcript to get more insight, but this may be of limited value in understanding when your return will progress to the next stage of processing.
Once your tax return does progress (anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks) it will either go for further manual reviews, a more comprehensive IRS examination, or you will be notified that the refund was adjusted (TC570) or offset (TC898), before the final refund amount is paid (TC 846).
Note that in some cases this message may also be the result of pending identity verification checks (e.g. via ID.me) that that IRS is waiting for the filer to complete or respond to.
So ensure you check your mail for any official IRS letters or your IRS account, that require you to take action on an IRS request.
Tax Season Update – IRS refund delays
Due to IRS funding cuts and many new tax provisions under Trump’s OBBB, and despite on time PATH processing, there is clear frustration and stress being expressed by many tax filers.
Per the IRS operations page for the current tax season, where the extended delays have been acknowledged, the IRS is saying it can take 60 to 120 days for them to deal with tax returns that require special handling. This is two to three times what it normally takes.
Other causes for extended delays are due to the manual processing of past year amended returns and tax returns which still need to be adjusted for incorrectly claimed refundable credit amounts related to the EITC, RRC or CTC. The backlog however is much smaller than a few months ago.
While tax returns are opened and processed in the order received by the IRS, they have also said that paper filed returns, filings with errors or missing information, or where is suspected identity theft or fraud, will also face longer than normal delays because of special/manual handling required to resolve issues.
The IRS will first try and fix these internally before contacting the tax filer, which is why you may be seeing the return processing has been delayed beyond the normal timeframe message on WMR or IRS2Go.
If they cannot fix it they will contact you (via mail) and update your processing status and subsequent tax transaction codes accordingly.
Contacting the IRS for refund processing delays
Many have tried contact the IRS to see if they can find out what is taking so long with their refund.
But getting a live agent has been a challenge, and even when they reach someone they are basically told what I referenced above. You can see more feedback and examples in the comments forum below this article.
Until the IRS finishes processing these under review returns, a lot of their customer service agents will not know much more than you are being told.
They may however have more insight into the root cause (e.g tax credit reconciliation issue, identity related delays) but they will still need to wait till a formal determination is made and the next steps determined.
The good news, and I wanted to finish this article with some hope, is that select filers are seeing a faster than predicted turn around in their refund payments, even if they see the above message. So fingers crossed that the IRS is able to move faster as tax season progress.
See more on this topic discussed in this related video.
How Long Is it Taking For Refund Payments After This Message?
The good news is that many tax payers are reporting a change in status from “processing” to “refund sent” within four weeks, versus the 90 to 120 day official guidance.
Messages like the one below are appearing more frequently, showing that the IRS is now processing backlogs more efficiently. Good news for those stuck in this situation!
This has happen to me I filed on 1 22- and I should have got 2-11 and I have not heard anything and can not get a live person
I filed my taxes through H&R block on Feb 9th. I just received the same message. I contacted H&R block they told me to look for it the same time I received it last year. I filed Feb 12th last year got my refund in April.
For 5 weeks now my where’s my refund status keeps saying still processing. I talked to a live person finally and they told me they didn’t see anything worth being flagged just be patient because it’s still processing. Then all the sudden I get a letter saying that they need to verify my identity and let me tell you it is a process. Who knows how long it’s going to take now. I don’t know why they need to verify it they’ve never had to verify it before when I filed, so who knows what is going on
Exactly it’s funny how if we should happen to owe them money they want it now ! But they take there sweet time giving us are money.
I filed on Feb. 11 my status was “still not processed” but not I don’t even have a status at all.
I don’t understand why some got theirs and some didn’t… nothing changed with my info and I’ve never had an issue in the past…filed on Jan 28th, nothing yet… well I thought they were suppose to start sending them out today, smdh
Hi everyone. Same issue with me. 1st year ever for me being delayed. It’s also my 1st year NOT claiming my children because they are on their own now. I went from head of household to filing single. I tried to get my transcript online however couldn’t get it. I filed on Jan 24th also. The grid went back to processing a few days ago. State no info yet either this year. Every year I would have my refund within a week of filing efile. This sucks this year.
Filed the end of Jan got a date of Feb 25th then all of a sudden we are still processing your refund so sick of the irs and their bs the only thing that changed was an added dependent. You can bet they won’t pay any interest on the money they owe anyone but they sure want their money right away!
Same
I got some of my refund but that’s it can’t get a hold of them they they give you the runaround there’s no way you can talk to him the IRS is full of it they take your money and they think that’s the end of it I don’t appreciate it I want my money you need to contact me cuz I’ve been trying to contact them for almost a month and it’s not fair to me or none of the other taxpayers and that’s my comment my name is George Jackson
Still waiting on taxes from last year got a letter saying they will issue a check in 4 to 6 weeks now its 2022 and still waiting. I’m sure if I owed taxes the irs would be demanding money right along with penalty
Yep complete bs ,you owe them money,they freeze your accounts,seize your assets and garnish wages ,they owe you money their full of excuses and delays,its not our fault that incompetent president wants to give us thousands in credits and stimulants so quit printing money you dont have and give us our damn money owed
You are still waiting for last year’s taxes?? If so I am as well. Super frustrating!
I’m still waiting on my 2020 refund was told back in August that it would be 8-10 weeks and now it’s a new year
Its unbelievable for my taxes filed last year took months and still never even received my state with no information able to be found as a reason. I have a family who depends on the rebates as a worker and tax payer, i should be given immediate information of an issue or reason for delay.
I totally agree!! I’m owed a refund from last year as well as the first two stimulus allotments!! Can’t talk to Anyone!! Continued prompt following- & then an automated response of- High call volume, try website or try back tomorrow I’m VERY FRUSTRATED! For years I owed taxes. Now that I am owed a refund- that i can’t I still don’t have!!Received a letter in June of 21, saying it was being processed. Now- message says No Information! Ughhhhh!!Almost a Year later!!Where is my money!??
I filed my taxes on the 14th of January they were accepted on 15th I checked 14th of February and had this message turns out I put the wrong amount in for taxes credit I got so they had to adjust the amount I checked Sunday now It says I will get it on the 7th
I filled on January 26 and was accepted on the 27th everything was done correctly and now the amount showing is completely different for no apparent reason no letters letting me know why I only received a letter asking me to pay back taxes for a fraudulent unemployment claim when the pandemic started that I was working and someone stole my identity and claim all that money they did their investigation and I was sent a letter saying I was cleared and had nothing to do with that why now then take my taxes saying I had to pay taxes for money someone else stoled? Is not fair I dnt owe them anything but is no one to talk to so they could fix it neither…
I filed on January 26 and was accepted same day but refund is still processing. Can’t get a real person on the phone at the IRS. It’s been a over a month and was supposed to receive it today but nothing. Still processing.
Me too i filed on the 27th of jan and nothing but a delayed messaged. Its annoying
You should check it tonight after 12am. It should be updated by now. At least, mines updated Sunday and my deposit date is tomorrow. 3/2
Did you receive yours today?
Same here filed on the January 27th and its states that it is still processing.
I filed in 2020 for my recovery rebate and still haven’t seen anything now they telling me I need ip pin and I’d me is confusing me bad
Hi Jennifer I received a date for feb 24 no deposit..4 days later this MESSAGE DELAY IN SENDING. ….SAD PISSSED
I can’t get on the internet and I need help I’ve been calling the IRS they can’t tell me nothing I’ve been waiting since November
From this letter i got TODAY in the mail from the IRS that says we are NOT supposed to claim out child tax credit as income…WHILST TurboTax telling you to input your chold tax credit payment…now whether its a mistake on TurboTax or the IRS it seems like a pretty big mistake to just gloss over and wait until its amlost time for a person to receive taxes back to say thats not what was supposed to happen…just seems like another excuse to delay payments because they need to shift money around because honestly they probably dont have the “money” to give just my opinion.
I absolutely believe this!! Girl omgosh!!!that make so much sense, because the way they have been taking people money for the strangest reasons…something is definitely wrong..it has more people who return was either offsets or audited than anyone who actually received theirs…♀️
I was under the impression I was getting a refund this year and they took my child credit, plus I owe $249. That makes no sense to me.
I got the same
Message we did our taxes Jan 31st. My daughter did hers Jan 24 that message was up then she got her federal at 6 pm on Feb 16. We are still waiting and waiting. Trying to call is the worst thing you go through all this pushing buttons then the recording says high volume of calls please call back later. They hang up. Grrrrr so frustrating. We always got it within 2 weeks in the past.
Yes so aggravating im going through the same issue
Just check your status after 12am it is most likely an error that requires an adjustment in your refund amount. You will get it just keep checking.
Yo ise mis taxe el 01/31/22 i aun no me a yegado nada
I received same message (about the delay, taking longer than expected) after a week or so got a message that they adjusted my refund due to missing last name on my kids or social didn’t match their records and took off half of my refund. I have 2 qualifying depends and I opt out of July to december monthly payments to get a large sum this return and I got screwed. I filed Feb 1st and just now got this update March 1st. I’v done my own taxes using turbo tax for 8 years and never had this problem. I mean the auto fill from previous years carries information over, it doesn’t magically disappear. Something doesn’t seem right this tax season. I called the IRS customer service to dispute and called a few minutes after business hours (704am) and already get a message to call later or another business day and then hangs up.
I throught get $1400.00 rebate never get
I have not got not any of the stimulus checks filed for the recovery rebate last yr and still nothing my taxes from last yr still says processing
They took almost half my refund too and I filed through HAnd R block and did ever right and I have 5 dependents!!!!
I file Feb 6 2022 and i got the same message this is the first time this ever happened to me and I live paycheck to paycheck I only get pay pension check I am a retired do I depend on my pension check for my rent and bills so what should I do just wait like everybody saying and I know I didn’t do anything wrong this is the first time it happened like I said in the beginning
Yes ths is my first time
We are still waiting on last yrs and filed this yr. And it been over 21 days cannt get ahold of IRS or noone but we had go over get appointment to Knox IRS revenue so hopefully can find out something it’s been really rough bills behind etc. So stressful
I need help I can’t get on the internet I haven’t got my son tax credit and I haven’t got his stimulus checks my name is Larissa Thompson my social security number is 9942 the last doll
I filed on January 23. I verified my identity on February 14. For the second time. Last year I filed in April but didn’t get my refund until September because I had to verify my identity the first time back in August. 11 days later I got my refund. The IRS also mentioned about having my return today March 1. Nothing
Yep , I have heard it’s turbo tax that has screwed everyone’s stuff up. So whoever went through turbo or h&r block are getting screwed around
I filed the beginning of February and I did it online with tax act and it’s now March 1st and I’m still getting that message and it said I was eligible for the earned income credit so I don’t know if that’s the reason why mine is being delayed or what but it’s never taken this long before and I need that money and I need answers
I filed mine on Feb 8th people i know that filed on the 7th got theres on Feb 20th with kids. I got accepted the same day 8th then two weeks passed and started to get the same message its now the 1st and still nothing. This has never happened to me i am not mad but pretty upset how i have bills to pay get back on track on them and here just making paycheck after paycheck.
I filed on the 1st of fed and irs said sent on 22 but its nowhere to be found and I gotta refund advance with TurboTax through credit karma and I’ve called everyone and everyone but I can’t get help if someone canhelp me find something out I would definitely appreciate it
Have you checked tour IRS tax transcript? also turbo tax representative should be able to help.
TurboTax can’t do anything for you once it’s hit processing status, I thought the same so I paid for MAX and still useless help.
I agree… I got the same msg… I NEED MY MONEY!!!!!
It will be on that same credit karma card
Credit karma told me to contact turbo tax while refund is pending but because your refund was apparently sent then u should be able to contact credit karma about the issue. Or you can contact irs to report stolen.
The article says there’s nothing to be concerned about with the tax topic but then says it maybe do to an issue? I filed the 29th of Feb it went from processing to a refund date will be provided when available to delayed for weeks now. I called the irs this morning and was on hold for 2 hours before I got a we’re experiencing technical difficulties and then it took me back to the main menu!
Sorry I filed the 29th on January not February
I filed jan. 14
Jan 24 excepted
Nothing can be sent OUT until mid February.
Feb 4 topic 152
BUT I should HAVE refund by March 1.
I know I have claimed recovery for 5 children NOT receiving ANY stimulus ➕ someone stale the kid’s identity FOR year’s…. NOW trying to get everything in order.
BUT irs wants ME(and YOU) to instead of telling us WHAT’S WHAT.
Soo as of today, I’ve madly deleted WHERE’S MY REFUND and IRS APP.
BECAUSE THIS SHYT IS depressing. Soo I NOW JUST tell myself I will receive a refund by June 2022 JUST to make myself feel better.
I’M totally NOT calling the irs I enjoying MY hair black don’t need it turning grey.
Good luck Y’ALL.
called at 7am today always had problems with phone system found how to get a real person Over hour then they couldn’t help me. ahh you have a computer you have the information I told her. she told me to call back and how to get ahold of right department I did didn’t work. now went to web site says to many attempt’s it’s locked.
This is because the government is more worried about paying undocumented immigrants first.. Forgetting the working class US citizens..who should come first!!!!!
That isn’t exactly accurate. The IRS has been backlogged because of the pandemic and being short staffed. Granted, its frustrating. But it has nothing to do with illegal immigrants.
Agreed Rhonda. If anything it is more to do with Congress’ lack of action to modernize the IRS and make tax laws simpler. Nothing to do with immigration Natalie – don’t conflate issues because of your limited political views.
This is an arrogant comment, this has nothing to do with immigrants, if u want to blame someone blame your government officials.
THEM AND THE SCAMMERS !! ITS BS REALLY !! HOW DOES THE SCAMMERS GET THEIRS BEFORE LEGIT TAX PAYERS !! ONES WITH ACTUAL W2S !!! And they wanna talk about how the system is better now to keep SCAMMERS out !! Hahaha what a joke
Seems it! Govs probably jacked for social scrutiny!
Covid “like” symptoms,
Forgetting the working class citizens.
Pandemic “like” symptoms
You have no idea, but the irs’s backlogged, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…
Sooooo….who is a citizen and who is an immigrant?, they could probably figure out who has been uploading Zilch to us who actually work. No problem.
I agree!! That’s where our refunds are going. We’ll never see that money that is supposed to be ours.
I’m going thru the same thing I got my state taxes after showing my identity now my federal I don’t know what going on cause I did my taxes right and I didn’t leave nothing out but I have a job to survive on until I get my federal and I save up my state taxes for emergency for my five kids
Yes same here I have never had mine being reviewed I file then exactly the same way each year this is the 1st time mi e is taking longer due to they also randomly choose people to review
The IRS Been backed up since 1970s so come on with the excuse why open the tax year if you still handling a load of others from 2020
I got this same message. I filed January 27, 2022 and stil to this day donot have any info. Still says it hasn’t been processed yet.
I understand what you mean I filed on December 31 and it was accepted on January 21 or 22
Same I filed January 23rd and was accepted on Jan 24th still nothing and still the same message!?….
This!
Mines said the same thing for about 3-4 business days went back checked again it had been approved and my date is set but it was only a few days beyond the 21 days just be patient they seem to just be processing slower to make sure the money we get is the right amount especially if you have children
It has been past 30 days and still nothing. I go online to check and says processing, I call the hotline and says unavailable?! It is very frustrating because my bills DO NOT understand this delay.
I e-filed January 27th 2022 and two weeks Into processing I got the message saying my return is taking longer than normal. It’s now March 1st 2022 and I’m still receiving the same message.. still processing. I called the hotline and the agent was able to tell me so far there hasn’t been any errors due to the fact no mail has been issued. So what should I do?
How did you get a actual person to talk to? I keep calling and get the “due to high volume calls” message and then it hangs up on me
Trying some tips in this article to get a live person.
Yea that happens to me allot too but I jus keep trying back to back to back etc. I heard and read March 1st for allot of ppl but I’m still waiting for processing
I filed on February 10th got accepted Feb 11th. Been waiting and still getting that message. I filed my 2 kids for the child tax rebates and the other credit. My sister filed January 24th and got their return date on the website for march 7th. This is ridiculous 21 days my butt some of us rely on this money every year.
Ow did you get ahold of a agent?! I cannot get ahold of a real person
I filed mines on the 27th of January and still haven’t seen anything yet except that timeframe delayed stuff.
I filed mine on 2/28 and when I xheck where my refund it says still being processed and it’s well over 21 days
If you filed on 2/28 that was just on Monday and now it is 3/1,not even close to 21 days later
My taxes r delayed and it say refinance code 1121 and i call and cant get throught to the irs so whats 1121 code mean
Code 1121 means that your tax return is being reviewed. The IRS automated system has flagged something as being out of the ordinary, and your return is being queued for review by a human. Will likely result in some delays.
Same thing happen to me, i filed February 7th and i got my state back on feb 25th but still no federal
I filed on the 2nd and it was approved but now the irs website says delay longer than normal I hope nothing is wrong really in need of my return. They were saying it should be in by the first of March. I’m not sure what to do but wait.
It tells me still being processed been over 21days now I filed in Jan 28th
This message is pretty much for that purpose, to say it will be delayed. See 45 to 60 day timeframes for returns flagged for additional review.
Mine say they took it for back fed obligation but I haven’t filed taxes in 20 years until this year and no one can tell me what I where I owe it but job I did when I did it nothing can’t get a hold of nobody can’t get on my account for ID me they can’t ID me
That’s due to an offset for other unpaid debt. Check your free IRS transcript for details. See more in this article.
I filed on January 24th, return was accepted on January 25th, still nothing. And all it get is that generic message on the article. No update in weeks and unable to get through to a live person.
Trying some tips in this article to get a live person.
I mean seriously how long does it take to put money into a account I am tired of waiting I need that money to pay my bills & irs taking it’s sweet time; my friends did there taxes and already got there money back like 2 weeks ago; they need to come on with it alot of people been waiting on there money; where is it at? Hello. Irs & government are slow with there job.. the money better be here this week for real… this is ridiculous filed a month ago 2 weeks my butt!!!
Um NOT to be funny BUT WHAT’S gonna happen if it doesn’t come NEXT week? Asking for a friend.
Exactly!
Filed my boyfriend’s taxes last year February 25 and still waiting for it. But for people that don’t work and gets that free money for having kids gets there’s in 2 weeks or less. Is down right WRONG!!! So when I file this year, who knows if we will ever see it.
I have kids and I am still waiting also
I filed on February 8th and I only received my state refund my tax preparation is complete and current what is the problem.
Same here, filed mined on 2/16, got my state back, but no federal. Every year I have problems with my state and have to provide them all kinds of paperwork. This year the state came right away, but no federal. Message just says should get them on March 1, thats today ..no taxes.
Mine is saying delayed longer than the time frame it has been for over a week and I filed on the 2nd
Yep…it can remain in that status for a while has IRS does back end processing and potential manual reviews on your return. Not much you can do other than hang tight.
Mine too..I filed on February 02nd as well..I have never experienced delays before kind of make me hate I needed or excepted CTC..RIDICULOUS!!!
I filed on the second as well and have the same delay message at first I had the 3 bars and all of a sudden I get the delayed message
Please send my tax return we need that money lost family this past year I’m in need
Consider calling the Tax payer advocate service if its been more than 21 days and no word on your refund. See this article for more: https://savingtoinvest.com/contact-a-tax-advocate-to-help-get-your-refund-released-from-the-irs/
I think I need to call this number I still am waiting on last year’s refund 2020. I filed it on April 14, 2021. I’ve been checking and says the same message for all these months. we have received your tax return and it is processing. GET THIS LAST WEEK I Got MY STATE TAX REFUND IN THE MAIL. BUT I Haven’t RECEIVED MY FEDERAL THE One I REALLY NEED. I’m fearful to file my current tax return until I get last year’s refund first. I try call the IRS and never get through to anyone
I wouldn’t called those people either cause I just got off the phone with them and they said their not taking any new cases until after may 15 like wth
I called them and recording is saying they are not even returning phone calls for at least 4 weeks. It’s just a very very sad process this year. At the time when people are in most need, they are delaying people’s lifeline!! I pray they get it together soon, people are trying to survive!!!
When I check on the app it says that the information does not match. But when I call the hot line and enter the same information it says it’s being processed. Im confused. And tomorrow will be 21 days.
What number did you call and how did u get to talk to an agent I’m having the same issue with mine and can’t seem to find the number
I got same comment delay messages got ahold irs today the lady was rude couldn’t tell me nothing only told me she I was getting a letter that comp5 was on my account need look into things but she couldn’t tell me stuff make me upset didnt get no where after 5 hours on the phone and not getting return in after 6 weeks
I filed January 27th when I check the wheres my refund it gave me topic 152 as time went on now its February 28th it’s still saying processing I haven’t received no letters or anything
Hi trace so you got that message saying process is being delayed ? And you said you checked a couple of days later and you got more on your refund?
No it not theirs extra. Funds being added this years my taxes said the same thing but when i check the nexts day they added 4,000 more dollars its really a great thing just wait some reason we getting extra money this year with our taxes are true the money is really pending deposit in my bank account forreal for tommorrow but i believe it gone post today but it their
Wow I pray mines have extra I’m trying to figure out where the extra coming from because I only seen the child care credit
If your 2019 W-2’s etc. were more income, Efile services will give you the option to select “use your 2019 income”. You could amend it but, it will hold your taxes up for a while. They could possibly be doing what they did last year and if you qualified to get more money by using the 2019 income they were changing it for people to get the maximum amount back. That would add more money to your refund, but only if you made more money in 2019 and qualify for it.