As of March 29, 2024, the IRS has received approximately 86.4 million returns, which is about 1.2% more than the same time last year. Their systems are definitely overloaded right now. If your return isn't accepted by April 2nd, then I'd start to worry. The closer we get to the April 15th deadline, the worse these delays typically become. I'd recommend filing as early as possible next year - I submitted mine on January 29th this year and it was accepted within 3 hours.

According to IRS Publication 1345 (Rev. 01-2023), the normal timeframe for acceptance acknowledgment is 24-48 hours, but this is not a regulatory requirement. I've seen numerous cases where perfectly valid returns took 5-7 days for acceptance this season. In my experience working with tax preparation, these delays often occur in batches - the IRS processing centers seem to get backed up for a few days, then suddenly catch up and process a large number of returns at once. Your return is likely just caught in one of these processing backlogs.

I've successfully navigated this situation this tax season. What you're experiencing is the standard procedure for Refund Advance products. The Electronic Return Originator (ERO) - in this case TurboTax - coordinates with Santa Barbara Tax Products Group (SBTPG) as the Refund Settlement Provider. Your refund's Designated Financial Institution (DFI) routing has been preset to direct to SBTPG, who already disbursed funds to you. The inability to track via SBTPG's portal is normal because your transaction is classified as completed in their system. Your IRS cycle code and processing are still occurring normally behind the scenes.

Just to clarify something I found on TurboTax's support page (https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support): When you choose the refund advance option, SBTPG creates a temporary bank account where your refund will be deposited. The advance is given based on your expected refund, and when the actual refund arrives, it goes to that temporary account. According to their FAQ, you can still check your refund status on the IRS Where's My Refund tool or the IRS2Go app, but the SBTPG tracking won't work because they've already processed your advance payment.

Be careful with counting on exact dates. Last year I was expecting my refund right after Feb 15th because of PATH Act, told my landlord I'd pay late rent then, and ended up waiting until March 11th! Turns out my return got randomly selected for additional review AFTER the PATH hold was over. No explanation, no letter, nothing - just silence for weeks. Had to borrow money from family which was embarrassing. Just saying, even when you get past the PATH hold, there can be other delays.

I just went through this exact situation. Had you changed anything significant on your tax return this year compared to previous years? Did you claim any new credits? Have you moved to a different state? In my case, I received the PATH message for the first time after 5 years of claiming EITC when I moved from Illinois to Texas. My refund was deposited exactly 8 days after February 15th, which was actually faster than previous years when I never saw the message. Strange, isn't it?

Based on IRS processing statistics, approximately 27.4% of returns with ITINs are experiencing extended processing times this tax season. The average wait time has increased from 21 days to 47 days for these returns. This isn't just anecdotal - it's a systemic issue affecting international filers disproportionately. I'm skeptical of any quick-fix solutions being suggested. Your best approach is to request a Tax Account Transcript (not just a Return Transcript) and look for TC 570/971 combination codes which would indicate a specific issue.

Here's what you need to do in this situation: 1. First, verify your return was actually accepted by checking your e-file confirmation. 2. Check both your Return Transcript AND Account Transcript for any indicators. 3. If it's been more than 21 days, use the "Where's My Refund" tool for status updates. 4. After 45 days, you're entitled to call the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service. 5. Document all your communication attempts with the IRS. 6. If you have financial hardship, specifically mention this when contacting them. 7. Check if your state return has processed - sometimes this provides clues. Remember that ITIN processing can take longer, but that doesn't mean there's a problem with your return. The system is simply overloaded this year.

Have you received any letters from the IRS yet? It's like getting a check engine light in your car - sometimes it's just a loose gas cap and sometimes it's something serious. The 420 code is similar - could be routine or could need your attention.

The Automated Underreporter (AUR) program often generates TC 420 codes during initial processing phases. The system compares reported income on your return against information returns filed by third parties. With multiple gig economy jobs, there's a higher probability of automated verification triggers due to threshold matching algorithms. The sequential "As Of" date progression indicates normal systemic processing rather than manual intervention by an examiner.