FYI - Some test batch filers have 2 bars

[ny-apple]

PSA To all the textbook High Level Contributors:   As I said before, the IRS was processing returns in test batches.  My co-worker viewed her filled in transcript yesterday and updated to the second bar on WMR this morning.   She has a ddd for mon. Jan. 27th!!!   

You kept telling people the IRS doesn't start processing returns until Jan. 27th, instead of letting them know there were test batches and they could possibly be accepted.  smh   

You guys should go to www.igotmyrefund.com  at least the folks on that tell you like it is and are a lot more helpful than this one!!!

[amandabrown9226]

Did your friend have child dependents ?

[ny-apple]

Yes, but she doesn’t qualify for EIC or ACTC so she wasn’t delayed.  My daughter however has those credits and she updated to the path act message.  So once the freeze lifts on Feb.  15 th she should update to a ddd.

[Critter]

We passed on the information we had when we had it ... the IRS later changed their tune when they posted the info below on the test batches (first time they have ever posted the actual testing dates by the way) and in the past it NEVER included processing of the returns (another improvement in the system).    I am glad the system was tested and they did not find major glitches this year (yet) ... it is always better to be safe than sorry when estimating when the IRS will do anything ... remember there is always the possibility that things can still be delayed. 

https://refundtalk.com/irs-announces-the-start-of-e-file-test-batchhub-testing-for-2020/

What is an IRS HUB Testing or Test Batch?

HUB Testing or (Test Batch) is an initial run of a batch of tax returns. The IRS will pull a few early tax returns from all their registered tax preparers to make sure the software is running up to speed.

Every tax season about a week in advance the IRS routinely runs a Controlled Release Process(“test batch”) from various e-file providers (including free online e-file services) every year to test their systems. A small number of e-filed tax returns may be transmitted to the IRS, and taxpayers may see real acknowledgments and rejects as a result. The income tax returns included in this testing procedure are randomly selected from “batches” of completed tax returns that are queued for transmission for the official opening date January 27th when the general e-file processing begins.

This testing period DOES include not only the acceptance of these tax returns via e-file but also the processing of the returns including the issuing of any tax refunds. Based on previous years we have seen test batch returns actually receive their tax refunds usually in the first batch of deposits as long as they filed an accurate and honest return that had no processing issues.

How many tax returns does the IRS pull for test batches? 

• The IRS Processed around 150,000,000 E-Filed Returns in 2019 and the number of early filed tax returns selected for test batches could be fewer than 10 million.

Please Don’t Get Your Hopes Too High… The majority of all e-filed returns submitted early will be held until the IRS Modernized e-File (MeF) system opens this year on January 27th.