Here's what worked for me last week: • Called the collections department at 1-800-829-3903 • Told them I received a collection notice (even though I hadn't) • When I got a human, explained I was transferred incorrectly • They transferred me to the correct department This bypassed 90 minutes of waiting. The collections line always has staff available because they prioritize collecting money.

Have you considered going to your local Taxpayer Assistance Center in person? You need an appointment, but they're much easier to schedule than phone calls. What specific issue are you trying to resolve? That might help determine which approach is best.

I understand how stressful this waiting game can be. Here's what I'd recommend: Step 1: Check your tax transcript at IRS.gov to confirm the 2/26 date is still showing. Step 2: Look for any TC846 code which indicates the refund was sent. Step 3: Check for any TC971 codes which might indicate an issue. I used taxr.ai to analyze my transcript when I was in your situation. It decoded all the transaction codes and explained exactly what was happening with my refund. It also predicted when I'd actually receive my money, which was spot on. Might save you some headache trying to decipher all those codes yourself.

Direct deposits can fail. Banks reject them sometimes. Account numbers matter. Check your return. DD date plus 5 business days is standard wait time. After that, call IRS. Request a trace if needed. They'll tell you next steps. Keep checking WMR daily.

Let me clarify something important - amended returns don't work on a stack system like you're imagining. It's more like a conveyor belt with multiple inspection stations. Your return is somewhere on that belt, but certain issues can cause it to be pulled aside for additional review. The 9-month mark is definitely concerning, but not entirely unusual in the current environment. What's important is whether your amended return was properly received and entered into their system. Have you checked the Where's My Amended Return tool on the IRS website? If it shows as "received," then at least you know it's in their system.

I keep a spreadsheet of all my tax submissions like I'm tracking packages during Christmas shopping season 😂 My amended return from March 2023 took exactly 13 months to process. The funny thing is, after nothing for a year, it suddenly went from "received" to "completed" and I had my refund within 8 days. The IRS amended return department is like that friend who never texts back but then suddenly shows up at your door without warning!

I had exactly the same issue last year and waited exactly 9 days with my money already in my account but WMR still showing processing. I tried calling the IRS to make sure everything was actually finalized (was worried they might take the money back!) but couldn't get through after 127 minutes on hold. Finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and got connected to an agent in 18 minutes who confirmed everything was complete on their end and the WMR tool just hadn't caught up yet. Saved me hours of waiting and worrying about whether my case was actually closed.

WMR is notoriously unreliable during peak filing season. Many taxpayers experience this disconnect between actual deposit and status updates. Always verify deposit dates on your transcript (cycle code 20240905) rather than relying on WMR. The IRS prioritizes payment processing over status updates. Check your account transcript for TC 846 code - that's your actual refund issued confirmation. The status tool is simply the last priority in their workflow.

Got thru to the IRS last month for my penalty abatement! Here's what worked: - Called the # on my notice (not the main IRS #) - Used phone menu option for "payment questions" not "tax help" - Called at 8:15am ET on a Tues (mid-week is less busy) - Had my notice, SSN, filing status, and tax return ready - Agent took about 10 mins to review my history - Approved on the spot! Confirmation letter arrived 2 wks later Def worth the effort - saved almost $300 in penalties. Good luck!

Had this exact situation last semester. Here's what worked for me: • Tried calling for 2 weeks with no success • Used the "Contact Us" option on IRS.gov (limited but better than nothing) • Submitted Form 843 by certified mail as backup • Found alternate number: 800-829-0922 (sometimes less busy) • Finally got through using Practitioner Priority Service trick The agent confirmed I qualified for First Time Abatement since: • No penalties in prior 3 years • Good history of filing on time before • Current year taxes were fully paid, just filed late They removed the penalty completely during the call!