PATH Act message on refund status

[Bonnie]

What exactly does that mean? Has refund been processed? Do it mean approved?

[Gracie]

UPDATE
https://www.refundschedule.com/wheres-my-refund-update-path-act/

well….I am sorry we are bombarding their system by checking too often but maybe the “congress” shouldn’t have decided to withhold funds especially most of us are needing it to pay the bills and support our children.

[Gracie]

Love this mass panic that congress decides to start. smh. They’ve got nothing better to do.

[pookie1971]

Also, this article right here (that was on my FB feed from I GOT MY REFUND even tells you that the IRS does not match W2’s until later in the year. They’re not going back and verifying your submitted info against your W2. That’s not the reason for the PATH message on WMR.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article130637939.html

[pookie1971]

And again, W2’s DO NOT GO TO THE IRS. They are due to the SSA by 1/31. People should stop posting misinformation.

And right here, in black and white are the instructions for the employer to send in a W2, showing that they do not go directly to the IRS. They go to the SSA and then the SSA will transmit them to the IRS in May.

When To File
Mail Form W-3 with Copy A of Form(s) W-2 by January 31, 2017.
Where To File Paper Forms
Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to:
Social Security Administration
Direct Operations Center
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001
Note: If you use “Certied Mail” to le, change the ZIP code to
“18769-0002.” If you use an IRS-approved private delivery service, add
“ATTN: W-2 Process, 1150 E. Mountain Dr.” to the address and change
the ZIP code to “18702-7997.” See Publication 15 (Circular E),
Employer’s Tax Guide, for a list of IRS-approved private delivery

In plain terms…

Employer sends you the W-2. You file. If you e-file, you type in the information from the W-2 (be careful and do this accurately!). If you file by mail, you send a copy.

Employer sends another copy of the W-2 to the SSA which later sends a federal copy (no state information) to the IRS. That usually gets posted in May or June.

The IRS does not wait for the W-2s (in 99% of the cases) and accepts your numbers if you file before they have their copy. They will spot check the numbers in case you put fica/mc down as withholding….

The IRS *will* compare their copy to your return about 12 months later and will send you a bill if you turn out to owe taxes. (People with 5 jobs will overlook one job.)

[pookie1971]

And again, W2’s DO NOT GO TO THE IRS. They are due to the SSA by 1/31. People should stop posting misinformation.

And right here, in black and white are the instructions for the employer to send in a W2, showing that they do not go directly to the IRS. They go to the SSA and then the SSA will transmit them to the IRS. I believe it’s May

When To File
Mail Form W-3 with Copy A of Form(s) W-2 by January 31, 2017.
Where To File Paper Forms
Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to:
Social Security Administration
Direct Operations Center
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001
Note: If you use “Certied Mail” to le, change the ZIP code to
“18769-0002.” If you use an IRS-approved private delivery service, add
“ATTN: W-2 Process, 1150 E. Mountain Dr.” to the address and change
the ZIP code to “18702-7997.” See Publication 15 (Circular E),
Employer’s Tax Guide, for a list of IRS-approved private delivery

In plain terms…

Employer sends you the W-2. You file. If you e-file, you type in the information from the W-2 (be careful and do this accurately!). If you file by mail, you send a copy.

Employer sends another copy of the W-2 to the SSA which later sends a federal copy (no state information) to the IRS. That usually gets posted in May or June.

The IRS does not wait for the W-2s (in 99% of the cases) and accepts your numbers if you file before they have their copy. They will spot check the numbers in case you put fica/mc down as withholding….

The IRS *will* compare their copy to your return about 12 months later and will send you a bill if you turn out to owe taxes. (People with 5 jobs will overlook one job.)

[pookie1971]

And right here, in black and white are the instructions for the employer to send in a W2, showing that they do not go directly to the IRS. They go to the SSA and then the SSA will transmit them to the IRS. I believe it’s May

When To File
Mail Form W-3 with Copy A of Form(s) W-2 by January 31, 2017.
Where To File Paper Forms
Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to:
Social Security Administration
Direct Operations Center
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001
Note: If you use “Certied Mail” to le, change the ZIP code to
“18769-0002.” If you use an IRS-approved private delivery service, add
“ATTN: W-2 Process, 1150 E. Mountain Dr.” to the address and change
the ZIP code to “18702-7997.” See Publication 15 (Circular E),
Employer’s Tax Guide, for a list of IRS-approved private delivery

In plain terms…

Employer sends you the W-2. You file. If you e-file, you type in the information from the W-2 (be careful and do this accurately!). If you file by mail, you send a copy.

Employer sends another copy of the W-2 to the SSA which later sends a federal copy (no state information) to the IRS. That usually gets posted in May or June.

The IRS does not wait for the W-2s (in 99% of the cases) and accepts your numbers if you file before they have their copy. They will spot check the numbers in case you put fica/mc down as withholding….

The IRS *will* compare their copy to your return about 12 months later and will send you a bill if you turn out to owe taxes. (People with 5 jobs will overlook one job.)

[pookie1971]

@Kitsycat

That’s great, you used your verification code. Awesome!

That’s not really the issue here. It’s people saying the IRS is matching W2’s to the info that people with the PATH message have. They aren’t, they can’t. How can they match what they do not have yet?

W2’s DO NOT GO TO THE IRS. They are transmitted to the Social Security Administration. They were due to the SSA by 1/31 unless your employer filed for an extension, and only one 30 extension will be granted.

After filing season, the SSA then transmits W2’s to the IRS for verification and audits.

IRS Tests W-2 Verification Code for Filing Season 2017
For filing season 2017, the Internal Revenue Service will expand an initiative to verify the authenticity of Form W-2 data. This initiative is one in a series of steps to combat tax-related identity theft and refund fraud.
The objective is to verify Form W-2 data submitted by taxpayers on e-filed individual tax returns. The IRS has partnered with certain Payroll Service Providers (PSPs) to include a 16-digit code and a new Verification Code field on a limited number of Form W-2 copies provided to employees.
Verification codes will appear on approximately 50 million Forms W-2 in 2017, up from the 2 million forms in 2016. Tax professionals are urged to look for “Verification Code” on W-2s because location will vary.
The code will be displayed in four groups of four alphanumeric characters, separated by hyphens. Example: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.
The Verification Code will appear on some versions of payroll firms’ Form W-2 copies B and C, in a separate, labeled box (Copy B is “To be filed with employee’s federal tax return” and Copy C is “For employee’s records.”)
The form will include these instructions to taxpayer and tax preparers:
Verification Code. If this field is populated, enter this code when it is requested by your tax return preparation software. It is possible your software or preparer will not request the code. The code is not entered on paper-filed returns.
Some Forms W-2 employees receive will have a “Verification Code” box which is blank. These taxpayers do not need to enter any code data into their tax software product.
For the purposes of the test, omitted and incorrect W-2 Verification Codes will not delay the processing of a tax return.
The code will not be included in Forms W-2 or W-2 data submitted by the PSPs to the Social Security Administration or any state or local departments of revenue. Nor will this pilot affect state and local income tax returns or paper federal returns.

[pookie1971]

@Kitsycat

That’s great, you used your verification code. Awesome!

That’s not really the issue here. It’s people saying the IRS is matching W2’s to the info that people with the PATH message have. They aren’t, they can’t. How can they match what they do not have yet?

W2’s DO NOT GO TO THE IRS. They are transmitted to the Social Security Administration. They were due to the SSA by 1/31 unless your employer filed for an extension, and only one 30 extension will be granted.

After filing season, the SSA then transmits W2’s to the IRS for verification and audits.

IRS Tests W-2 Verification Code for Filing Season 2017
For filing season 2017, the Internal Revenue Service will expand an initiative to verify the authenticity of Form W-2 data. This initiative is one in a series of steps to combat tax-related identity theft and refund fraud.
The objective is to verify Form W-2 data submitted by taxpayers on e-filed individual tax returns. The IRS has partnered with certain Payroll Service Providers (PSPs) to include a 16-digit code and a new Verification Code field on a limited number of Form W-2 copies provided to employees.
Verification codes will appear on approximately 50 million Forms W-2 in 2017, up from the 2 million forms in 2016. Tax professionals are urged to look for “Verification Code” on W-2s because location will vary.
The code will be displayed in four groups of four alphanumeric characters, separated by hyphens. Example: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.
The Verification Code will appear on some versions of payroll firms’ Form W-2 copies B and C, in a separate, labeled box (Copy B is “To be filed with employee’s federal tax return” and Copy C is “For employee’s records.”)
The form will include these instructions to taxpayer and tax preparers:
Verification Code. If this field is populated, enter this code when it is requested by your tax return preparation software. It is possible your software or preparer will not request the code. The code is not entered on paper-filed returns.
Some Forms W-2 employees receive will have a “Verification Code” box which is blank. These taxpayers do not need to enter any code data into their tax software product.
For the purposes of the test, omitted and incorrect W-2 Verification Codes will not delay the processing of a tax return.
The code will not be included in Forms W-2 or W-2 data submitted by the PSPs to the Social Security Administration or any state or local departments of revenue. Nor will this pilot affect state and local income tax returns or paper federal returns.

And right here, in black and white are the instructions for the employer to send in a W2, showing that they do not go directly to the IRS. They go to the SSA and then the SSA will transmit them to the IRS. I believe it’s May

When To File
Mail Form W-3 with Copy A of Form(s) W-2 by January 31, 2017.
Where To File Paper Forms
Send this entire page with the entire Copy A page of Form(s) W-2 to:
Social Security Administration
Direct Operations Center
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18769-0001
Note: If you use “Certied Mail” to le, change the ZIP code to
“18769-0002.” If you use an IRS-approved private delivery service, add
“ATTN: W-2 Process, 1150 E. Mountain Dr.” to the address and change
the ZIP code to “18702-7997.” See Publication 15 (Circular E),
Employer’s Tax Guide, for a list of IRS-approved private delivery

In plain terms…

Employer sends you the W-2. You file. If you e-file, you type in the information from the W-2 (be careful and do this accurately!). If you file by mail, you send a copy.

Employer sends another copy of the W-2 to the SSA which later sends a federal copy (no state information) to the IRS. That usually gets posted in May or June.

The IRS does not wait for the W-2s (in 99% of the cases) and accepts your numbers if you file before they have their copy. They will spot check the numbers in case you put fica/mc down as withholding….

The IRS *will* compare their copy to your return about 12 months later and will send you a bill if you turn out to owe taxes. (People with 5 jobs will overlook one job.)

If the employer FAILS to file the W-2 (and this has been know to happen), your copy is now worth GOLD. Do not lose it. It’s your proof that you worked!

[Kitskycat]

Well I put my verification codes in because I didnt want a “kick back”, and all w-2s had to be in the IRS by 1/31/2017 its on the IRS website. They USED to have to have them in no later than March 31. Not this year. All w-2 from employers had to be in the IRS by 1/31/2017 its right on the IRS website under changes to tax laws 2017. If you have a verification code put it in for your own security. No fraudster will know that code unless they have a copy of your w-2.

[pookie1971]

@Jon

This is so not true and I wish people would stop saying this. They do not go through a second processing. The IRS does not even receive W2 information from the SSA until May. W2’s were due to the SSA by 1/31 but are not turned over to the IRS until after filing season. That’s when matching and audits will occur.

Holding of the refunds was a deterrent, not so W2’s and financial info could be matched but to discourage people from trying to beat the system.

Just like people reporting that the new verification codes on W2’s were “required” this year. No they are not. It’s a test and I quote, from the IRS directly “The omitting of or failure to enter the 16 digit verification code will not result in a delay of processing this year as it is in the testing phase”.

If you’ve got PATH Act on WMR and can order your return transcripts, you are through processing and a DDD will be provided soon.

[Jon]

@michael

That processing date only holds true if you don’t have path. Path returns will go through additionally processing to match up the filing claims against what’s been electronically submitted by employers and reprocessed. A new code will be generated. Until a code 846 is generated anything on a transcript isn’t indicative of a payout.

[Shane]

“According to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue refunds before February 15 for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits.
Check Where’s My Refund after February 15 for your personalized refund status. It’s updated once a day and remains the best way to check the status of your refund.”

This is a tax return message that claims either EITC or ACTC. If you got this message with a unchanged 152 topic then more than likely your taxes have been approved by the IRS. They cannot give an ETA because the refunds cannot be processed/sent until FEB 15th the Congress has strictly forbidden it until that date if either EITC or ACTC is claimed.

BEING ACCEPTED BY YOUR TAX COMPANY and APPROVED by the IRS are two different things.

[Anonymous]

@J, they send the funds out on whatever processing date you have and no it doesnt take “a week or two” its an automatic wire to your bank. Could take one day or could take 3

[Jthegreat]

guys dont expect them until the week of february 27th….just because it says hold funds until the 15th doesnt mean their gonna hit your account the same day. it will take a week or two

[QueenWS6]

I have two bars and a DDD of 2/8 as well i filed 1/30 accepted same day.
i have additional child tax credit.

[Kibbles]

@Alicia
No he does not. He’s single and claiming 0.

[Kaylee]

They’re not releasing the funds until the 15th because those who file fraudulent tax returns tend to do it very early in the tax year so they can have the money and spend it before the real person files it. This way, if there are two returns for one person, the IRS can catch the fraudulent one early on and give the money to the right person.

[Ashtin Meyer]

When you get the path messege do they hold yours state refund also ? Or just your federal won’t be deposited until Feb 15?

[Gradylady36]

I file the same job an the same kids for the past 9yrs an i quilfy for both credits the PATH ACT is the new law put in place to make sure people who file thoses credits actually quilfy you can check on irs.gov to see if you qualify for those credits

[Dragonmomma]

Not entirely true there were years past my wmr never updated until I had money in my bank account so I check that once or twice a day also. Wmr isn’t always the mist accurate way to track your refund status.

[Dragonmomma]

Not entirely true there were years past my wmr never updated until I had money in my bank account so I check that once or twice a day also. Wmr isn’t always the mist accurate way to track your refund status.

[Alicia]

@kibbles Does your brother have dependents?

[Alicia]

@Bonnie I got the same message: It could mean its done processing we just have to wait due to the child tax credit….or it could just be a generic message….hopefully we’ll have good news soon. :)

According to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue refunds before February 15 for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits.
Check Where’s My Refund after February 15 for your personalized refund status. It’s updated once a day and remains the best way to check the status of your refund.

Please read the following information related to your tax situation:
Tax Topic 152, Refund Information
Please Note:
For refund information, please continue to check here, or use our free mobile app, IRS2Go. Updates to refund status are made no more than once a day.

[grace tsia]

My coworker and I have dependents and we filed at the same time. He got DDD and I got Path messages. The only difference is he has been claiming dependents for years and I just had my first baby and claim dependents for the first time

[NiKesha]

I’m starting to think the path message is a glitch…ppl who don’t qualify for those credits are getting that message. If they are “holding” our refunds until the 15th, you would think they are not processing them completely until that date…who knows what’s really going on, I think if you have filed, haven’t gotten a weird letter or anything yet, we should be ok

[Kibbles]

I know it’s just speculation. My brother and I both filed and accepted on 1/27. As of this morning both of our returns had changed. I received the Path Act message due to having dependents, and he received a DDD of 2/8.

[Kat]

I agree with Tay.

It’s 100% speculation. No one but the IRS knows for sure. No one.

[Gradylady36]

Same here nita i think the same thing just waiting for them to release our funds my was updated today with that same message

[Anonymous]

You wont see a change until the 15th most likely. I was able to order my transcripts and also have a processing date of 2/13/2017

[Wulfric Roerts]

Same Here. I filed with eitc and actc and my efile was accepted on the 1st, Wheres my refund tool said received/accepted/processing or what ever the the status bar disappeared and came up with the path act description. The question that needs answered is has any one who claimed eitc or actc had there status bar switch to approved?

[Nea]

I filed 1/20 and Accepted 1/23. went from WMR 1 bar last night to waking up this morning to this message :

According to the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue refunds before February 15 for tax returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits.
Check Where’s My Refund after February 15 for your personalized refund status. It’s updated once a day and remains the best way to check the status of your refund.
Please read the following information related to your tax situation:
Tax Topic 152, Refund Information

[Nita]

I received the same message it went from 1 bar to everything completely gone with the PATH mmessage l think the process is over and it’s pretty much a wait game with IRS releasing the funds good luck everyone because we still in suspense til the 15 of February but l really tthink it’s a good thing when you see the PATH message 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[Lala14]

I am trying to figure out why I got the message, didn’t have either of those …does everyone get that message?

[Joshy]

bonnie—-i got the same message

[Tay]

Some SPECULATE that it means your return has finished processing but it is completely unknown if that is true or not.
You’ll only know you’ve been “approved” once WMR says so.

[Author]

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