I experienced this phenomenon last filing season. The IRS implemented Enhanced Validation Protocols (EVPs) that created a processing bottleneck during peak filing periods. My return showed a Submission ID but remained in Pre-Acceptance Queue status for approximately 96 hours before receiving the Acceptance Confirmation Code. This doesn't impact your Projected Deposit Date calculation, which begins from acceptance, not submission.

Be cautious about resubmitting your return if you don't receive acceptance soon. Last year, my client resubmitted after 4 days without acceptance notification, creating a duplicate filing situation that triggered an Automated Underreporter (AUR) case. This resulted in a TC 570 hold code on their account that delayed their refund by 11 weeks while the duplication issue was resolved through the Error Resolution System (ERS).

It might be worth noting that, in some cases, SBTPG may have legitimate reasons for holding funds. Their agreement with most tax preparers allows them to hold refunds for up to 5 business days for verification purposes, regardless of how fees were paid. They're probably not doing anything technically wrong, though it seems rather inefficient. I would suggest perhaps checking your tax preparation agreement, as you might have inadvertently agreed to these terms when you signed up for their services.

Just wanted to share I had the EXACT same prob last week!! Fed refund stuck w/ SBTPG even tho my fees came outta state. Called them 3x & finally got someone who fixed it right away. Said it was a "system flag" that didn't recognize state payment. Got my $$ next day direct deposit. Def call them ASAP, don't wait for it to resolve itself cuz it prob won't. GL with ur textbooks!

Are you seeing the "funded" status on the SBTPG website or through your tax preparer's portal? Sometimes they show different information and update at different times.

Tax professional here. The ACH trace number typically appears in the SBTPG system 12-24 hours after funding, but it's important to understand that this is just an internal reference. Most banks receive the ACH transfer overnight and process deposits in their morning batch cycle (typically 2-6am). If SBTPG shows funded today, you're almost certainly going to see the deposit tomorrow morning. The trace number itself is mostly useful for troubleshooting if something goes wrong, but its absence doesn't indicate a problem with your refund.

Credit Karma Card refund deposits tend to be much more reliable than traditional banks in my experience. When I compare to my husband who uses Wells Fargo, I typically get my refund 2-3 days earlier. The IRS sends the ACH files in batches, and Credit Karma processes them as soon as they receive the notification rather than holding until the official date like many traditional banks do. This is especially true compared to tax prep debit cards like H&R Block's Emerald Card, which were notoriously slow in previous years.

I'm not entirely sure about this, but you might want to consider checking your Credit Karma Card settings to make sure you have notifications enabled for deposits. Sometimes the money arrives but the app doesn't alert you properly. Also, it might be worth logging into the actual website rather than just using the app, as I've noticed the website sometimes updates balance information more quickly than the mobile version does.

The IRS Automated Clearing House (ACH) protocol initiates transfers in designated batches throughout the day. For Direct Deposit Dates falling on Fridays (like your 2/24), the Treasury Financial Management Service (FMS) typically initiates most transfers during the Thursday afternoon processing window. Chime's Early Access feature then processes these pending ACH transfers immediately upon receipt of the payment instruction rather than waiting for final settlement. This results in what they market as "getting paid up to 2 days early" but is technically just making funds available upon ACH notification rather than settlement. You should see the deposit by approximately 10:00pm tonight based on standard processing windows.

I'm literally in the same boat with Chime and a 2/24 DDD! I've been refreshing my app every 20 minutes all day! 😅 So frustrating when you're counting on that money! From what I've read, Chime deposits can hit anytime between 3pm-10pm the day before your DDD, but sometimes they don't show up until the actual date. Don't stress too much if it doesn't hit tonight - it will definitely be there by tomorrow!