This is so frustrating but unfortunately very common right now. I went through the exact same thing earlier this year - verified my identity in early February and the portal kept showing "Action Required" until mid-March. The key thing to remember is that once you successfully completed the identity verification process (and hopefully got some kind of confirmation screen or reference number), you're done on your end. The "Action Required" message is basically a glitch in their system display. What helped me track actual progress was checking my tax transcript weekly instead of the portal. The transcript will show processing codes and movement even when the portal status hasn't updated. Look for codes like 971 or 570 which indicate your return is moving through their system. I know it's nerve-wracking when you need that refund for reinvestment, but try not to stress too much. Based on what I've seen here and experienced myself, most people see their accounts update within 4-6 weeks, not the full 9 weeks they quote. Hang in there!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Verified my identity about 12 days ago and that "Action Required" message is still mocking me every time I check. Reading everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like this is just a known issue with their system not updating the display properly. The most reassuring thing I'm taking away from this thread is that once you've completed the verification successfully, you're actually done. The portal just doesn't know how to communicate that to us. I had no idea about checking the transcript for more current information - that's a game changer! It's frustrating that the IRS hasn't fixed this display issue when they clearly know it's confusing people. But at least now I know I'm not alone in this waiting game and that 2 weeks is actually pretty normal. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's saved me from calling and potentially making things worse by re-verifying!

Just a heads up - make sure none of that $1,260 was for state taxes! Everyone here is talking about federal, but depending on what state you live in, you might have state income tax too. Some states don't have income tax (like Texas and Florida) but if you're in a state that does, the rules might be different.

@Victoria Scott - Based on your situation, you should definitely get most of that $1,260 back! Since your income is under $12,000 and well below the standard deduction, you won't owe federal income tax. Just keep in mind that part of what was withheld might be FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare) which are about 7.65% of your income - so roughly $918 if you made exactly $12,000. Those aren't refundable. But any federal income tax withheld should come back to you. Also, don't forget to check if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) - with your income level, you might actually get back MORE than what you paid in! The EITC is a refundable credit that can result in a larger refund than your withholding. For timing, definitely file electronically with direct deposit as others mentioned. 21 days is typical, but early in tax season (January-February) it's often faster.

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Got an EIN in March for a consulting business I was planning to start, opened a business checking account, even bought a laptop specifically for the business. Then I got a fantastic job offer that's been keeping me incredibly busy, so the business idea got shelved indefinitely. I've been stressing about this tax question for months - wondering if I somehow created an obligation just by getting the EIN. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief! It's clear from both the professional advice and people who actually called the IRS that no business activity means no filing requirement. What really helped me understand it was that library card analogy someone mentioned - just having the number doesn't create any obligations unless you actually use it for business purposes. I'm definitely going to close my business checking account this week after reading about potential issues with interest or fees. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who went through the hassle of calling the IRS directly. It's amazing how much anxiety this can cause when you're just trying to do everything correctly! Nice to know this is actually a pretty common situation.

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! Got my EIN in late February for what was going to be a freelance web development business, even went ahead and registered a domain and bought some basic equipment. Then an amazing opportunity came up at my current company for a senior developer role that's been consuming all my time and energy. I've been losing sleep over whether I created some kind of tax obligation just by getting the EIN, so this whole discussion has been incredibly helpful! It's really reassuring to see so many people have been through identical situations and gotten clear answers from tax professionals and the IRS directly. The consistent message seems to be that simply having an EIN without any actual business activity doesn't trigger filing requirements. I love that library card analogy - it really puts things in perspective. Just because you have the card doesn't mean you checked out any books! I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice and close my business checking account this week. I think I may have earned a few dollars in interest that I'll need to check on, but better to deal with that now and keep everything clean going forward. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially those who took the time to actually call the IRS for confirmation. It's amazing how much stress this seemingly simple question can cause when you're just trying to do everything by the book!

You're definitely making the right call by listening to your instincts here. As someone who works in banking compliance, I can tell you that large deposits absolutely do trigger reporting requirements, and while that doesn't automatically mean trouble, it does create a paper trail that connects you to that money. The "passing through" argument sounds logical, but from the IRS perspective, you had control and access to those funds, which can sometimes be enough to create complications. Plus, if your parents have existing tax issues like you mentioned, there's always the risk that the IRS could place a levy on accounts where they've deposited funds - even if you transfer the money out immediately. I've seen cases where well-meaning family members ended up spending months trying to prove to the IRS that large deposits weren't actually their income. Even when everything gets resolved correctly, it's a huge hassle that's easily avoided. Your plan to help them find proper banking solutions is much smarter. Many credit unions have "fresh start" programs specifically designed for people with past banking problems, and some online banks are surprisingly accommodating. It might take a few applications, but getting them their own account is definitely worth the effort compared to the potential headaches of mixing your finances with theirs.

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and experiences! As someone who's dealt with similar family financial situations, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to trust your gut when something feels risky. What really stands out to me from all these responses is how many different ways this seemingly simple arrangement could create complications - from tax implications and bank reporting requirements to potential creditor issues and IRS levies. Even if each individual risk is manageable, the combination of all these factors makes it clear why keeping your finances separate is the smart choice. I love that the conversation evolved from just answering the tax question to providing actual constructive solutions like credit union fresh start programs and nonprofit financial counseling services. That's exactly the kind of practical help that can turn a difficult situation into an opportunity for your parents to establish better banking relationships going forward. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation - the key takeaway seems to be that helping family members find their own financial solutions is almost always better than getting your own accounts involved, no matter how temporary the arrangement is supposed to be. The short-term convenience is rarely worth the potential long-term complications.

I'm SO ANGRY right now! I finally got through to SBTPG yesterday after calling 800-901-6663 and waiting for 1 hour and 22 minutes. The agent confirmed my refund had been sitting in their system since April 2nd, but there was a "verification hold" they never notified me about! They released it immediately after I called and my bank showed the deposit this morning. Don't give up - keep calling until you get answers!

I feel your frustration - went through the same nightmare last month! After reading through all these suggestions, here's what finally worked for me: I called 800-901-6663 at 7:58 AM Eastern (right before they opened) and selected option 1. The key was having ALL my information ready - SSN, exact refund amount, filing date, and the dates from my IRS transcript showing when they sent the refund to SBTPG. When I got through after about 45 minutes, I calmly explained that my refund had been with them for over a week and I needed to know the specific reason for the delay. Turns out there was a "manual review flag" that required a supervisor to clear. The rep escalated it immediately and I had my money 2 days later. Don't let them give you vague answers - ask for specifics about what's holding up YOUR money. You've got this!