Also, if the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool is not finding your information, here are some things you should check before phoning the IRS customer service.
First, you need to be sure the return was successfully filed. It depends on how you chose to file the return.
If you filed a paper return by mail, TurboTax does not mail it for you. If you chose that method, you would have had to print it, sign it, date it, and mail it yourself. It takes at least 4 weeks for a mailed return to show up in the IRS WMR tool.
If you efiled, double-check to be sure the return was efiled successfully and accepted. If you used Online TurboTax, you can sign into your Online Account and check the efile status at the Tax Home. If you used desktop software, you can check from within the software.
If that showed it was accepted, (or if you mailed a paper return), you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool at the IRS website below to monitor the status of your Federal refund.
https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund
If that IRS tool says it's not finding your information, here are some tips:
- If you efiled, be sure you have waited at least 24 hours after acceptance before using the IRS WMR tool. If you mailed a paper return, it won't show up in the tool for at least 4 weeks or longer.
- Be sure you enter the correct tax year, SSN, and filing status.
- Be sure you are using only the Federal refund amount. Do not include any state refund or any total refund or net refund (Fed and State) that TurboTax may have provided on a screen.
- Look at your actual Federal return to get the Federal refund amount, i.e., your Form 1040, Line 35a.
If the IRS WMR tool is not finding your information, you can also try phoning the IRS refund hotline, again using the figure from Form 1040, Line 35a. I've seen it work for some users when the WMR tool didn't. 800-829-1954
