No, the PATH message does NOT mean you are approved. It verifies that you have been accepted and are processing and you will not have a confirmation of your status until A) AFTER February 15th as the message says or B) when you receive a letter in the mail from the IRS or C) when you wake to a deposit in your account.
There is far too much speculation going on, as there is every year. Yes, it's nice to have hope but the fact is until whatever is going to happen for you happens, you honestly have no idea what is going on just like everyone else. You could call the IRS 5 times and speak to 5 different people and you will more than likely hear 5 different things. Several people on another forum said that PATH meant approved until 4 members came back within a week of getting the message to report they had received the 4464c letter or the CP05 notice or some other form of letter/notice from the IRS.
As far as transcripts are concerned: Being able to order them and receiving them with information means you have been processed, only. Until your Account Transcript includes 846 Refund Issued on the bottom left, you have NOT been approved. Your Return Transcript is a read out of what you have filed on your return. Your Account Transcript includes information about the actions taken with your account and can/does change periodically throughout the year. The "cycle code" on your Account Transcript is an internal marker of the date your IMF (Individual Master File) was created, in common terms, the day you entered the system. The IRS states that it never tells your deposit date but those of us who have used that method in the past can say that in fact it did used to work.....this year, because of PATH, all of that is out the window. An example of that is: I was accepted in an early test batch on 1/12 and my Account Transcript cycle code is 20170405 which would have been either Wednesday Feb 1 or Thursday Feb 2 (in past years day 05 was Wednesday, apparently this year 05 is Thursday but I do know of a forum member with no credits who was 20170405 who had their deposit on Wednesday, 2/1) since I have income of less than $25,000 and 3 dependents and I qualify for the EITC and ACTC I already knew I would not see a refund before 2/15 because it has been reported a myriad of times.
Today is 2/12, it's just a couple of more days until we all start seeing changes, and if you do not see them right away DON'T PANIC! They have said results will start AFTER 2/15 and that deposits may not be seen until the week of the 27th so just hang in there. Remember that the IRS will NOT call you and they will NOT email you, they will contact you via U.S. Postal mail if necessary. Keep an eye on your Tax Topic at Where's My Refund? Tax Topic 152 is a generic message you receive if you've requested direct deposit of your funds.
Keep in mind, it is totally possible that you will have your refund before WMR even updates. It happens more often than you think.
If you are having your filing fees deducted from your refund, TurboTax uses Santa Barbara Taxpayer Group for that purpose and your funds will go from the IRS to SBTPG and then to your bank. You can go here https://taxpayer.sbtpg.com/login to see if/when your money passes through there.
This has in fact been the most stressful tax season to date, especially for those with the refundable credits included on their returns. Most of that has to do with false information and speculation. What I have posted here is fact and can be verified with a few simple searches of IRS publications. Just because you "saw it on a forum" does not make it a fact. Always research what you see/hear.
Happy Taxmas y'all.
some people have path message and topic is being audit
Yes you can absolutely have the PATH message and receive a letter in the mail regarding a manual review that is why I said above: you will not have a confirmation of your status until A) AFTER February 15th as the message says or B) when you receive a letter in the mail from the IRS or C) when you wake to a deposit in your account.
I got the PATH message on WMR however I did not qualify for the EITC and I only have one child so there was no additional child tax credit for me either. It's been really frustrating feeling like I am in the dark and getting that message when I did not qualify for either of the credits that are associated with the PATH Act.
@chentalm In that case, I honestly would recommend calling the IRS to ask questions. (800) 829-0582 Ext. 652
So I have a 20180405 cycle process 2-12 accepted 1-22. Been on path message for a few weeks. Can see transcripts online. Normal codes 150 766 768 EIC codes. So I can still be audited and am not safe to prepare for my return on time
@adbeckwith I would say that having been processed 2-12 enough time has passed that a notice would have been mailed if there was an issue. Since you can see your transcripts online you should check them Friday night to see if there is an update in the codes.
Mines has just been approved and states its being processed. I filed on 2/6.
mine's say being processed when will it be approved
mine took the bars away and gave the path act message now it has taken that message away no bars and is back saying my return has been received and is processing. What does that mean?
Ok so I had the bar and it read accepted then the path act message but now there's another message saying its processing. IDK but I'm broke n just got paid yesterday so my money would be nice
I filed on 2/1 next day on wmr it said refund accepted. On 2/8 status bars went away and I got the PATH act message. Mine also on 2/16 changed to status is processing with no bars. Use the link above somethingaboutmary has left. I checked mine through that link and it shows the SB bank has received both my irs and state refunds. So check through the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://taxpayer.sbtpg.com/login">https://taxpayer.sbtpg.com/login</a> and hopefully you will see your tax return money there. I did WMR still shows being processed and bank shows money is there waiting for deposit. Hope this is helpful
Mines changed to the same thing also I pray we all get it soon
I filed 1/22, got accepted 1/29 and as of today my transcripts gave me the 846 refund issued for 2/22 I have EITC and got the PATH act message
Things are being processed. The IRS stated that most people who filed early and claimed ACTC and EIC are going to get updated with direct deposit dates by the 17th. So for all of you asking, just check tmrw. Trust me, I need the money just as much as the next guy, but it's only been ONE day since the PATH Act waiting period ended. And most people may not even see their return until the week of the 27th. Do not call the IRS unless you're instructed to do so, or you have been waiting a significant amount of time without changes (not just a week or two. More like 6-8 weeks). It's way to early in the tax season for people to be calling asking where their money is. It hasn't even been a full 3 weeks since the season opened. Everyone is freaking out over nothing. Give them some time and I assure you, you'll see changes and money soon! I know it's frustrating, but there isn't anything you can do. Unfortunately the only thing that any of us can do is wait!
@kt0rr3s90 I'm right here. @kaylajean1989. Is correct, we are only 18 calendar days from season's open and truthfully PATH ended at 11:59 PM last night. Many people think it drops at the stroke of midnight as it becomes the 15th which is untrue, it ends at the stroke of midnight as the 15th ends. You should never call the IRS without instructions to do so via the WMR site or a letter received in the mail. If you call them in regard to a code you saw on your current year's taxes it WILL cause a delay....the codes on your account transcript are ever changing.
My wheres my refund says now its processing and I just checked my transcript a little bit ago and it has a ddd of 2-22-18. I checked it this morning and it didnt say anything so it much have just changed!
Congrats @radio_drone I know that is a weight off your mind