IRS posted this update today.  As I recall, that was just about the same number of returns in the processing pipeline a month ago.  Lots of events in D.C. last month, but isn't most of this work being done in the hinterland?  And I wonder about the advice to keep checking Where's My Refund.  Aren't they going to be using that by next week, for 2020 returns?  It's not set up to look for prior-year returns, is it?

"As of January 29, 2021, we had 6.7 million individual tax returns in the processing pipeline. For refunds that could not be issued in 2020 because the tax return is being corrected, reviewed or awaiting correspondence from a taxpayer, the refund will be issued as a paper check in 2021 per our normal processes. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Where’s My Refund for their personalized refund status."