This is perfectly normal early in the season ... and later as your return goes thru processing there are times when no info is available.
Here are my annual words of caution since some are so eager to
file the returns early….remember patience is a virtue and don't plan on your
refund being in your account on a certain date then you won't be disappointed
or overdrawn. It is very possible that you get a DD date then it
gets put on hold while the IRS reviews the account which can delay it for
months. Do not be in a rush to transmit the return … once you press that button
you cannot stop the filing or make any changes until the IRS accepts or rejects
the return.
Last year the IRS started verifying W-2 forms before issuing a
refund which means filing your return before the W-2 is issued will not work
since your return will be held up until the employer has filed the W-2 with the
IRS. And if you have Earned Income Credit or the Additional Child Tax credit
the returns cannot be processed at all until 2/15 so those refunds will not hit
until late February at the earliest … see this page :
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2018-tax-filing-season-begins-jan-29-tax-returns-due-april-17-help-avai...
The IRS no longer processes returns in first in first out batches. They are
processed individually so returns sent in at the same time will not necessarily
process together.
The IRS states that 9 of 10 returns will process in 21 days or
less from being accepted not filed. However considering that the IRS processes
more than 140 million returns that means 14 million will be delayed for more
than 21 days.
Think of the IRS process as a long pipe line. Some returns will be rejected
before being allowed into the pipe and the rest will be accepted. Then once
accepted into the pipeline many will process directly through without any
delays and some will not. Some returns will be siphoned off for further
review of some kind. The basis of what triggers these reviews is a well guarded
secret but some are just picked randomly every year.
Some reviews are automated and some will require human attention. The
processing times will vary and due to the continued understaffing situation and
the gov shutdown they are likely to take much longer this year than last.
