When the IRS takes your refund out of auto-processing and into human review

One of the most unsettling refund experiences for taxpayers is checking Where’s My Refund and suddenly seeing the status bar disappear. Instead of a clear progress indicator, you’re left with a vague message — or worse — a generic “processing” statement that tells you nothing.

This isn’t random.
It’s meaningful.
And in most cases, it signals a very specific shift in handling your return.

What the WMR Bar Used to Show

When everything is normal, WMR displays:

• Return Received
• Refund Approved
• Refund Sent

That bar means your return is still moving through automated IRS processing, which is the fast lane.

If all goes smoothly, you’ll eventually see a direct deposit date or the return of the green bars confirming progress.

But when the bar disappears — everything changes.

What It Means When the WMR Bar Vanishes

When the WMR bar is removed, it usually means:

• Your return has been pulled for manual human review
• The automated system can no longer update the status
• Additional verification or analysis is required
• WMR is no longer the correct tracking tool

This happens most frequently after the 21-day mark, though it can happen earlier for selected returns.

WMR Goes Silent, but the Transcript Speaks

Once the WMR bar disappears, the real action occurs behind the scenes on your IRS account transcript.

You may see:

• TC 570 — Refund Hold
• TC 971 — Notice Issued
• TC 420 — Audit Initiated
• TC 810 — Refund Freeze
• TC 570 followed by TC 571 — Hold Cleared
• TC 846 — Refund Issued (only when resolved)

The transcript becomes the source of truth.

Why Returns Get Pulled for Manual Review

Some of the most common triggers include:

Income discrepancies

IRS data doesn’t match reported income.

Dependent conflicts

Another taxpayer might have claimed the same dependent.

Credit claims

Like EITC, CTC, ACTC, Tax Credits for seniors or working families.

Refund flagged as high-risk or unusual

Especially larger-than-normal refunds.

Identity concerns

Government wants proof you are the legitimate filer.

Missing or mismatched forms

Example: Form 8962 for health insurance credits.

What You’ll See on WMR When the Bar Is Gone

The disappearance of the status bar usually leaves you with:

“Your return is still being processed.”

That’s it.
No date.
No estimate.
No explanation.

The IRS is intentionally vague — because at this stage, processing is unpredictable.

How Long Does the Manual Review Last?

Manual review timelines vary:

• 2–4 weeks for minor corrections
• 60–120 days for verification issues
• longer if identity or fraud is suspected

Calling the IRS rarely accelerates resolution, especially if TC 570 is in play.

What You Should Do Next

Step 1 — Access your IRS account transcript

Do not rely on WMR once the bar is gone.

Step 2 — Look for transaction codes

They tell the real story.

Step 3 — Watch for letters or digital notifications

Many notices now only arrive through IRS Online Account.

Step 4 — Do not re-file or amend unless instructed

This can restart or complicate processing.

Step 5 — If a letter arrives, respond immediately

Most refund delays persist because taxpayers wait too long.

Once the WMR status bar disappears, your return has left the automated queue. It is now being reviewed by human IRS personnel.

That means:

• WMR won’t update
• status bars won’t return
• waiting for a direct deposit date on WMR is pointless
• your transcript becomes your real-time progress tracker

Understanding this transition prevents unnecessary stress — and helps you know exactly where to look for refund movement.