Tax Topic 152: what it means.
Topic 152 is the IRS's general page about refunds. Seeing a link to it on the tracker usually means your return is still processing, with nothing to act on yet.
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What Topic 152 says
E-filed returns: about 3 weeks from the day you e-filed. Mailed returns: 6 weeks or more from the day the IRS received them. Refunds with the Earned Income Tax Credit are held by law until mid-February.
Delays happen when a return needs corrections or review, for example a missing signature or a math error, or when an amended return or an injured spouse claim has to be processed by hand.
What to do
Nothing, until the 3-week or 6-week mark passes. After that, your account transcript shows the specific code behind the wait.
Questions people ask
Does Topic 152 mean my return is under review?
Not by itself. It is general information. A review shows up as a reference code, a code 570 on your transcript, or a letter.
Sources
Checked against these sources on October 30, 2026.