Did my tax return get lost in the mail?

[mschallert]

I sent it 8 weeks ago via mail and the IRS still says unknown status. I paid my taxes via turbo tax (which I've never done before) - will be I penalized still or am I in the clear since I already paid? Should I refile?

[DoninGA]

If you mailed the tax return,how did you pay the taxes owed?

How you chose to pay the taxes owed will be on the Federal Filing Instructions page included with your tax return.

Sign onto your TurboTax online account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down and click on Add a State.  This will take you back to the 2019 online tax return.

Click on Tax Tools on the left side of the online program screen. Then click on Print Center. Then click on Print, save or preview this year's return.

The IRS has not processed any paper tax returns due to the pandemic and limited staffing for several months.

They have only just recently started to process approximately 11 million paper returns in the order received.

Go to this IRS website for information - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

We’re experiencing delays in processing paper tax returns due to limited staffing. If you already filed a paper return, we will process it in the order we received it.

Do not file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

[VolvoGirl]

How did you pay the tax due via Turbo Tax if you mailed your return? Did you mail a check or pay online with a credit card?  Do you have proof of payment on your bank statement or credit card account?

And where are you looking that says unknown?  The IRS site is only to look up refunds.

Sorry the IRS has limited staff due to Covid-19.  They just started opening the mail in June that's been stacking up. Back in March the IRS closed their processing centers and stopped processing mailed tax returns.  An IRS spokesperson recently said that they have about 11 million pieces of unopened mail.  The IRS says....."We’re experiencing delays in processing paper tax returns due to limited staffing. If you already filed a paper return, we will process it in the order we received it."  So it may take longer if you mailed in June or later.  So you have to keep waiting.

See this IRS page for the latest information

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

[Critter-3]

Do NOT mail the return again ... due to the covid situation earlier the IRS is 4 months behind in processing mailed in returns so don't panic if you mailed them to the correct address timely. 

Now for the payment ... NOTHING was sent "thru TT"  if you did not successfully efile the return. The instructions you were given  when you choose to mail in the return ... they are on the filing instruction page that printed with the return.   So you are now LATE with the payment ... go to the IRS site and pay now to reduce any penalties and interest that is accruing as we speak.  https://www.irs.gov/payments

[mschallert]

I paid with my credit card on turbo tax and mailed all the necessary forms on July13th. I followed all the instructions outlined by Turbo Tax. I checked my return status on the IRS website, but it said the status was unavailable. I assumed that things are very behind due to COVID, but I just wanted to make sure.

[VolvoGirl]

If you did not efile then Turbo Tax did not send your credit card payment info to the IRS.  Maybe you only paid the Turbo Tax fees with your credit card.

You only proof of payment is your credit card statement showing the IRS or Treasury dept being paid.

[mschallert]

Okay that makes sense. Forgive me, this is the first time filing taxes on my own. I think I am now remembering that my return was more than I owed, and so owed was deducted from the return - does that make any sense? Again, forgive me as I am very new to this! 

[VolvoGirl]

Oh now you are saying you have a Refund?  Not a IRS tax due?  Yes you can have the fees deducted from your refund (there is an EXTRA Extra $40 Refund Processing Service charge (45 in California for that).  But you can only do that if you efile.  You said you mailed your return?  

Yes the IRS is taking longer to process mailed returns.  So you have to keep waiting.

[mschallert]

I believe so. I'm filing in Washington and I mailed my refund in early July. I did owe  taxes but I know that my return outweighed the owed, if that makes sense. Honestly I just followed everything that Turbo Tax asked, paid the Turbo Tax fee with my credit card (I wasn't asked to pay anything else), and then mailed my return. I am just anxious that something went wrong, but it does give me some peace of mind knowing that processing is taking longer than usual.

[VolvoGirl]

Another thought I had.....did you have a refund on the federal (or state) return and a tax due on the other one?  Federal and state are completely separate.  You can not have a tax due deducted from a refund.  But Turbo Tax just shows you the net combined amount at the end, but only for your own info. You will get the full refund and need to pay a tax due separately yourself.

[DoninGA]

OP is filing in Washington.  No state taxes.

[Critter-3]

@mschallert 

OK ... let's try this ... LOOK at your actual return & the filing instruction pages ...  do you have a refund ?  Or a balance due ?    Did you file both a federal AND state return?  LOOK at both filing instruction pages...

• Log in and at the Tax Home or in the section "Your Tax Returns & Documents" for 2019, look for a link "Add a State."
• Click on "Add a State."  (you don't really add one.  That's just to open your return back up.)
• After the return is open, click in the left menu column on TAX TOOLS, then PRINT CENTER.
• Then choose "Print, save, view this year's return."
• The next screen should offer some options:  "Just my tax returns", or "include government worksheets (optional)", or "include government and TurboTax worksheets (optional.)"

[mschallert]

This was super helpful! After following those steps, it looks like I just have a return - I must've been very mistaken. Thank you  for all of your help, I am so sorry for the confusion!

[VolvoGirl]

The RETURN is the 1040 form you fill out and file.  Then you either get a REFUND or owe a tax due.  

[jschaber56]

i mailed my return mid march i am getting a refund, the irs says they have not gotten it. do i do another return? i am lost at what to do.