01/11/2026
Before the IRS starts accepting returns and releasing refunds, let’s talk about why your tax return might get flagged—and what happens if it does.
Every year, the IRS puts filters in place that automatically flag returns for additional verification. The most common reasons are:
• Identity verification
• Income verification
• Dependent verification
But that’s not all. Returns can also get flagged due to IRS system errors—yes, sometimes the IRS has technical glitches that wrongly flag returns.
Every year, they also add new filters based on what’s trending on their Dirty Dozen list (that’s the list of credits and deductions they’re watching closely). The thing is—tax pros won’t know what those filters are until returns start getting sent in and specific returns start getting held up.
Now here’s what most people don’t know:
👉 Your return can be flagged even if there’s nothing wrong with it.
It just gets picked up by a filter, and you have to go through the process.
The most important thing to remember:
🚫 No tax pro—nobody—can stop your return from getting flagged
🚫 We can’t speed it up
🚫 It doesn’t matter if you’ve NEVER had a problem before—any year, it can be you
If your return gets flagged, expect delays. It could take weeks or even months for your refund to be released, because now an actual IRS agent has to manually review it before it moves forward.
Normal returns get released by the system in 8 to 21 days. If your refund isn’t released by day 21, that’s usually a sign it was flagged. And just know—the IRS won’t even talk about your return until those 21 days are up.
📌 If you’re filing with EITC or ACTC, your process doesn’t even start until after Feb 15, which is why those refunds never drop until at least a week after Feb 15.
Just be patient. File early. Be accurate.
