If you filed early but the IRS hasn’t released your refund, there’s a high chance they’re still waiting for wage and income forms to finish posting to your file. These documents include:
Your Wage & Income Transcript is the IRS database that stores these forms once received.
If something is missing — your return may be flagged for review, triggering codes like 570 or 810.
IRS systems use income data to validate your tax return.
If what you reported doesn’t match the documents they eventually receive, the IRS will:
| Form Type | Who Sends It | IRS Posting Starts | Fully Available By |
|---|---|---|---|
| W-2 | Employer | Late Jan–Feb | April–May |
| 1099-NEC | Self-employed clients | February | April–June |
| 1099-K | Payment Apps | March–May | June–August |
| SSA-1099 | Social Security | Mid-February | April |
| Financial 1099s | Banks + Brokers | February | May–July |
The safest time to rely on Wage & Income data is after July 1
If you file before your data posts:
Filing before the IRS receives your W-2 often delays your refund instead of speeding it up.
The IRS doesn’t upload everything at once — updates come in data waves:
If you had multiple jobs or contractors — expect multiple waves.
If IRS detects income not reported on your return:
You’ll likely see:
The IRS calls this Error Resolution processing.
| Timeframe | Recommended? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| January–March | Not ideal | Most forms missing |
| April–June | Good | Key forms mostly posted |
| July–August | Best | IRS validation complete |
To request online:
Get Transcript → “Wage & Income Transcript”
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript
If the IRS is missing a W-2 or tax form, you can:
Upload or mail documentation responding to the notice
File a corrected/amended return if needed
Verify identity quickly if asked
Prevent delays from growing worse
| Status | Transcript Shows | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Fully Posted | All wages/income match | Refund likely to release |
| Partially Posted | Some data missing | IRS still cross-checking |
| Empty | IRS has no wage data | Refund delays are likely |
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