11 This might be a response to increased IRS scrutiny of tax preparers. My sister works at a tax firm and they recently implemented stricter documentation policies because they got audited. But they told clients about the policy change well in advance and explained exactly which regulation they were complying with. Your preparer's approach sounds suspicious - why wait until months after tax season? And why not explain the specific requirement?

5 I've been a client at my tax firm for over 20 years and they did something similar last year, but it was because they were implementing new security protocols after a data breach at another office in their network. They clearly explained this was for enhanced security and gave us multiple secure options for providing the information (secure portal, in-person verification, etc). The vague explanation you received is what concerns me most.

Has anyone else noticed how tax identity theft has gotten so much worse in the last couple years? My neighbor had someone file a fake return with her info last year and it took her like 8 months to get her actual refund. The IRS is completely overwhelmed with this stuff.

This is definitely a red flag. I've been preparing taxes for over a decade and there's absolutely no legitimate reason a tax preparer needs physical copies of social security cards. The SSN itself is sufficient for all tax preparation purposes, including e-filing and identity verification with the IRS. The explanation about "security purposes in case someone tries to fraudulently use your SSNs" doesn't make sense either - having copies of your cards wouldn't prevent or help with identity theft, and actually creates MORE risk by having those documents stored in their files. I'd strongly recommend finding a new preparer. A legitimate tax professional should be able to clearly explain why they need any document, and getting defensive when questioned is another warning sign. Trust your instincts on this one.

This is super frustrating! I'm in the exact same situation - filed my Michigan return in November and still waiting. The uncertainty is the worst part. Have you tried checking your account transcript online? Sometimes that shows more details than the generic "under review" status. Also wondering if anyone knows if Michigan pays interest on delayed refunds like the IRS does?

I'm going through the same exact thing! Filed my Michigan return in December and it's been "under review" ever since. The waiting game is absolutely brutal, especially when you're counting on that refund. I've tried calling but like you said, just get the same "please wait" response. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here - at least now I know I'm not alone and this seems to be a widespread issue this year. Definitely going to try that early morning call strategy someone mentioned!

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my Michigan return on 1/28 and it's been radio silence ever since. At least you're not alone in this waiting game. I've heard that Michigan's system is particularly slow this year due to some backend updates they're doing. Might be worth checking if you have any unfiled prior year returns or if they need additional verification - sometimes those can cause silent delays without any notice.

Michigan taxpayer here too - I've noticed their system has been particularly sluggish this season. From what I've experienced, if you don't see any movement by the 4-week mark, it might be worth calling their taxpayer assistance line. Sometimes returns get stuck in a verification queue without any notification. Also, double-check that your bank account info was entered correctly if you chose direct deposit - I've seen people wait weeks only to find out there was a typo in their routing number.

Did your letter mention anything about interest being included with the refund? When the IRS sends refunds for prior tax years, they actually have to pay you interest too, which is kinda cool. Downside is that the interest is taxable income you'll need to report on your taxes for this year.

This exact thing happened to me with my 2020 return! Got a CP12 notice out of nowhere saying they made adjustments that resulted in a refund. Turns out they caught that I had miscalculated my Earned Income Tax Credit - I was actually eligible for more than I claimed. The whole process was surprisingly smooth once I verified it was legitimate. Like others mentioned, check for the official notice number and your correct tax info. If everything looks right, you really don't need to do anything except wait for the refund. One thing to keep in mind - if you used a tax preparer for that return, you might want to let them know about the adjustment so they can avoid the same mistake on future returns. The IRS is pretty good at catching these computational errors, but it's better to get it right the first time!