After you file

No kids, so no child tax credits or child support. No earned income credits. No court fees or other expenses or state obligations we can identify.  There are student loans, but which are all Federal. I think they're current. But, if I'm wrong on that, I know Biden signed an Executive Order in January that was supposed to suspend seizure of tax refunds and stimulus payments by the Dept. of Education and any of its contractors until September 2021. I don't think the Order applies to private lenders/loans. But does apply to Federal loans. So I'm not sure yet why the delay might exist for giving the owed refund.

But at least if the return really is in the IRS' hands I have a place from which I can track it down and at least maybe at least eventually get it processed and the refund paid.

Thank you too for the idea regarding tax transcripts. That may be extremely helpful!