If I understand correctly, this might be related to the software provider's business model, rather than something you selected. Most, though not all, tax preparation companies use SBTPG as their financial processor, even for their free filing options. It seems somewhat counterintuitive, but perhaps it's more cost-effective for them to use a single system for all filings? I'm wondering if anyone has found tax software that bypasses SBTPG entirely?

Unlike online shopping where you can go straight to the manufacturer, tax filing is more like buying through a marketplace that has its own payment processor. I was in the same boat last year - filed completely free but still saw SBTPG handling my refund. The difference? When I paid for premium service in 2022, they took $39.95 off the top. With free filing in 2023, my full amount came through untouched. It took about 36 hours longer than when I filed directly with the IRS in previous years, but every penny arrived safely.

According to IRS Publication 5348, refund status updates can temporarily revert during the final verification process. If your refund was scheduled for today, I recommend checking your bank account directly rather than relying on the TurboTax tracker. Many financial institutions post deposits throughout the day, not just in the morning. If nothing appears by tomorrow, you can request your tax transcript online through the IRS website which will show the exact status with action codes.

This happened to me last year and I nearly had a heart attack! I was checking my account every hour like a crazy person. The status went back to pending around 6am, but the money actually hit my account around 3pm that same day. TurboTax never updated the status again - it still showed pending even after I had the money. Their tracking system isn't perfect, especially during high volume periods.

I had the exact same experience this year! Filed February 5th, accepted February 6th, and then... nothing. Just that one bar on WMR for weeks. Isn't it frustrating when you see others who filed after you already receiving their refunds? I finally got my deposit date yesterday - a full 46 days after filing. The IRS seems to be processing returns in batches rather than first-come-first-served this year. Your patience will be rewarded, I promise.

OMG this is so frustrating!!! 😡 I'm in the EXACT same boat! Filed 2/09, accepted 2/15, and STILL stuck on one bar! My coworker filed AFTER me and got her refund TWO WEEKS AGO! I'm worried this means there's a problem with my return or that I'm being audited or something. Has anyone had this happen and then suddenly got their refund without any issues? I'm starting to panic because I need this money for my daughter's braces appointment next month!

I experienced this exact situation on February 12th. My direct deposit was scheduled for February 15th, but Santa Barbara showed "account not found" until February 14th - literally the day before my deposit. Then suddenly it updated and showed my correct information. My refund arrived exactly as scheduled on February 15th at 3:27am. This appears to be a database synchronization issue that happens every tax season, especially between February 10th and March 5th when their systems are most stressed.

According to IRS Publication 5136 (Electronic Return Filing Guidelines), third-party processors like Santa Barbara are required to display accurate information but are not considered official sources of refund status. Per IRS Directive 2023-17, taxpayers should rely on official IRS channels for definitive status information. I recommend checking your refund status through the official IRS 'Where's My Refund' tool or by accessing your transcript directly. These official sources supersede any third-party information and are the legally binding indicators of your refund status.

Has anyone tried calling the specific Identity Verification number instead of the main IRS line? Last year when I had to verify, I called 800-830-5084 directly and they were able to verify me over the phone without the letter. I'm wondering if that's still an option or if they've changed the process for 2024 returns?

I had almost exactly the same situation, possibly with a slightly different timeline. My verification was posted April 2nd, and I didn't get any portal notification whatsoever. The letter arrived around April 15th (a bit later than expected), and I verified online the same day. My refund was processed about 9 days later, which seems to be fairly typical for verification cases. You might want to check your mailbox carefully, as the envelope looks somewhat generic and could be mistaken for junk mail.