Tax professional here (though not YOUR tax professional, so this isn't formal advice). This WMR display bug has been happening for years - I call it the "HOH Ghost" because it mysteriously appears and then vanishes. 👻 The critical thing to understand is that your return is processed based on what you actually submitted, not what WMR displays. You can verify this three ways: 1. Check your return transcript once available (usually 1-2 weeks after processing completes) 2. Look at the actual refund/amount due when processed - if it matches what you calculated with Single status, you're good 3. If you received an acknowledgment from your filing software, that confirms the IRS received what you submitted The IRS systems don't arbitrarily change your filing status during processing. If there was a legitimate filing status issue, you'd receive a notice, not just see a display difference in WMR.

I work with tax software implementation and can tell you exactly what's happening from a technical perspective. The IRS uses a legacy mainframe system called MeF (Modernized e-File) to process returns, but the WMR interface connects through an API layer that sometimes misinterprets filing status codes during peak processing periods. The code "2" (HOH) sometimes displays instead of code "1" (Single) due to a data translation error between systems. If you want to verify your actual filing status in the IRS system, request a "Record of Account Transcript" after processing completes. Look for the "Filing Status" line item code 150 - it will show the actual status used for processing. Your e-file acceptance on 2/23 confirms the return was structurally valid. The "still processing" message with your filing date (2/23) and current date (updated Monday) puts you at approximately 30-35 days in processing, which is within normal timeframes for this tax season.

According to IRS Publication 1544 section 6.2, all tax return information is categorized by the tax period it represents, not the submission date. This is consistent across all IRS databases and interfaces. The reason for this structure is that per IRC §6072(a), the standard filing period for individual returns is "on or before the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the fiscal year," which establishes the tax year as the primary organizational principle regardless of when the return is actually submitted.

I might suggest checking both, just to be safe. In most cases, you'll want to look at the 2023 transcript since that's the tax year you filed for. However, I've occasionally seen processing information show up under the current year first, especially if you filed close to or after the deadline. The IRS systems sometimes work in mysterious ways. If you don't see what you expect under 2023, it might be worth a quick check under 2024 as well, though that's not typically where it would be.

I had a similar issue last year when I got married but didn't change my name until after filing. Did the agent mention anything about whether they'll automatically adjust your tax calculation to the correct filing status? I'm curious because when this happened to me, they ended up recalculating everything and just sending a smaller refund rather than making me amend.

This is nothing compared to what happened to my brother. He got married, changed his name, AND moved to a different state all within the same month. His return was held for almost 90 days! The IRS systems really struggle with multiple identity changes at once. At least in your case they've identified the specific issue. When my cousin had a similar problem, they never even told him what was wrong - just kept saying "it's under review" for months.

Don't worry. This happens all the time. Here's what to expect: • Your bank will reject the deposit • IRS will automatically reissue as a check • Process takes about 3-4 weeks total • No action needed from you • Keep your address updated with USPS • Check your transcript weekly for updates The system handles this automatically. Your money is safe. Just requires patience.

I went through this exact situation 37 days ago. My DDD was February 6th, but I had closed my account in December. The deposit bounced back on February 7th, and exactly 19 days later, I received my paper check in the mail. The IRS didn't call or email - they just processed the paper check automatically. I was checking my informed delivery from USPS every single day, and it was such a relief when I finally saw it! Hang in there - your money is coming, just on a slightly delayed schedule.

Based on Internal Revenue Manual procedures, you should immediately submit a Form 4506-T to request your Wage and Income Transcript for Tax Year 2023. This will show exactly what 1099-R information the IRS has received from all payers. The discrepancy is likely occurring in the Information Returns Processing System (IRPS) where third-party reporting is matched against filed returns. If your 401k administrator confirms they've submitted everything correctly, request a formal verification letter from them with specific filing dates and transaction IDs. This situation sounds like a classic case of mismatched TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) reporting rather than actual fraud determination.

Had this happen to me. Exact same situation. 401k distribution. IRS claimed fraud. Took three months to resolve. Got documentation from Fidelity. Sent certified mail to IRS. Called every week. Used ID verification service. Finally reached someone helpful. They found the reporting error. Fixed it within the system. Released my refund with interest. Don't give up. Document everything. Get manager's names. Record call dates. Keep copies of all correspondence. This is a known issue with retirement distributions.