The PATH law has been in effect since 2015. The IRS is required to hold refunds until mid-February if you are getting earned income credit or the additional child tax credit. It is a fraud prevention measure. So if you have amounts on either line 27 or line 28 of your tax return, you are going to wait until at least late February for your refund.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3397970-path-act-delayed-refunds-for-some-filers
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