This is normal. E-filed returns take time. System backlog exists. Transcripts update weekly. Usually Thursday night. Check again Friday morning. First-time joint filers often face verification. Paper notices may be coming. Check your mailbox regularly. IRS won't call you. Be patient for 21 days minimum.

While waiting for the IRS processing to complete, you might want to verify that your return was actually accepted by checking with your tax preparation software. Most e-file providers have a status page that shows transmission and acceptance confirmations. Additionally, ensure your identity protection PIN was correctly entered if you use one, as incorrect PINs can cause processing delays without clear error messages in the system.

I'm really worried this might take forever! My sister had an issue with her tax credit last year and it took MONTHS to resolve! I'm so anxious about this because the IRS seems to work at their own pace. Has anyone actually had this resolved quickly? I'm starting to doubt they even look at these corrections in a timely manner...

I know there's a lot of skepticism about IRS processing times, but the Child Tax Credit corrections actually have a dedicated processing team since the American Rescue Plan implementation. The Dependent Database (DDb) verification process for CTC is prioritized over general tax return processing during this tax season. While there's certainly variation in individual cases, the majority of CTC corrections with complete documentation are resolved within the 6-8 week timeframe mentioned above.

My transcript showed these exact codes on March 2nd. I received a letter on March 10th asking for identity verification. Completed it online the same day. Refund was deposited on March 23rd. The system works - it's just slow.

I filed on January 28th and got those codes on February 14th. Received a CP12 notice on February 22nd saying they adjusted my refund by $43 due to a math error. My transcript updated on March 1st with code 846 and I received my deposit on March 6th. The whole process took exactly 38 days from filing to refund.

Has anyone tried requesting their refund status through the Taxpayer Advocate Service? It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack when dealing with older returns, isn't it?

I've been through something similar with my 2019 return. Instead of dealing with the IRS directly, try contacting your local Taxpayer Advocate Service. Back in 2021, they helped me track down a missing refund when the regular IRS channels were useless. They have more direct access to your account history.

Have you checked whether your return had different elements than your husband's? Like did one of you claim education credits or have self-employment income while the other didn't? I've noticed that compared to my friends with simple W-2 income, my returns with Schedule C always get extra scrutiny and verification steps. Could that explain the different treatment?

This happens more than you'd think. The community wisdom on verification letters: • Respond to verification letters IMMEDIATELY • Use the exact method they specify (online, phone, or mail) • Have all requested documents ready before starting • Take screenshots/notes of your verification completion • Check your transcript 4-5 days after verifying • Expect 9-21 days for processing after verification I'm still surprised how many people don't realize that married couples filing separately are treated as completely independent taxpayers by the IRS systems!