The cycle codes are actually quite predictable once you understand the IRS processing system. Isn't it interesting how the last two digits (05) indicate weekly processing that happens on Thursdays? And didn't you notice that the first two digits indicate which processing week of the year your return was assigned to? For 0805, that's the 8th week. The real question isn't whether the cycle code means anything, but rather why some returns within the same cycle get processed faster than others. The answer typically lies in the complexity of the return and which regional processing center handles it.

I'm also on cycle 0805 and have been tracking the pattern closely. Filed on Feb 15th, transcript updated with 0805 on Feb 28th, but still no refund after 3 weeks. What's interesting is that I called the IRS taxpayer advocate line last week and they mentioned that 0805 cycles are experiencing unusual delays this year due to enhanced fraud detection protocols. They said returns with certain combinations of credits (like EITC + CTC) are getting flagged for additional review even when everything is correct. The good news is that once your transcript shows code 846, the refund typically hits your account within 3-5 business days. For anyone still waiting, I'd recommend checking your transcript twice weekly rather than daily - the updates seem to batch on Wednesdays and Fridays for our cycle code.

Don't forget to consider other fees too! I bought a car in Nevada thinking I'd save on sales tax (I live in California), but then got hit with all kinds of registration fees, highway use fees, and smog certification costs when I brought it back to CA. Ended up barely saving anything after all the extra hassle.

This is really helpful information! I'm actually dealing with this exact same situation right now - looking at a car that's about $800 cheaper in the neighboring state due to lower sales tax. From what everyone's saying, it sounds like I'll end up paying my home state's rate anyway when I register, so the savings would disappear. One thing I'm wondering though - are there any legitimate ways to actually save money on an out-of-state purchase, or is it pretty much always going to even out in the end? Like if the dealer in the other state has better incentives or lower doc fees, could that make it worthwhile even if the tax savings don't pan out?

Mine was stuck on processing forever until I used taxr.ai - showed me there was an ID verification hold I didnt know about. Fixed it and got my refund in a week!

Been waiting 3 weeks on my Maryland refund too! The "processing" status is so vague - wish they'd give us more details about what's actually happening. At least with federal returns you can see more specific codes and stages. Maryland's system feels like a black box sometimes 😤

in the same boat rn...got a letter last week and almost had a heart attack but it was just telling me my refund was adjusted by like $2 lmaooo

Pro tip: Create an online account at irs.gov - most notices show up there before you get them in the mail. Helps avoid the anxiety of mystery mail

Something else to consider - if you're under 26 and were on your parents' health insurance, or if you had health insurance for part of the year through your previous employer (COBRA or marketplace plan), make sure you understand how that affects your tax situation. The premium tax credit stuff can get complicated with partial year coverage.

Just wanted to add one more important point that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're planning to look for work again or do any freelance/gig work later in 2025, filing a return for this year (even with minimal income) can actually be helpful for establishing your tax history. Some situations where this matters: if you apply for certain loans or mortgages, they may want to see recent tax returns as proof of income history. Also, if you end up doing contract work later and need to make estimated tax payments, having filed previously makes that process smoother. Plus, given that you had withholding from your December paycheck and marketplace insurance, you're definitely going to want to file anyway to get that money back and properly reconcile your premium tax credits. The good news is that with mostly zeros to report, it should be a pretty straightforward filing!