Filed February 11, still in processing. How long can IRS legally hold refund?

[dtk6802]

I still haven't received my federal refund.  It's a lot of money. I try to contact them and it directs me to call back the next biz day. What is happening 

[DoninGA]

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@dtk6802 wrote:

I still haven't received my federal refund.  It's a lot of money. I try to contact them and it directs me to call back the next biz day. What is happening 

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Use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Many users have reported that calling first thing in the morning or the last hour at night will get you an IRS agent.

After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions
If over 21 days since being Accepted by the IRS and the tax refund is still Processing you can call the IRS and speak with an IRS agent concerning your tax refund.
Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday
When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.
Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
Then press 3 "for all other questions."
Then press 2 "for all other questions."
- When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything.
- After it asks twice, you will get another menu.

Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
Then press 4 for all other inquiries
It should then transfer you to an agent.
Or you can contact your local IRS office. See this IRS website for local IRS offices - http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1 or call 1-844-545-5640 to set up an appointment
Or you may want to contact a Taxpayer Advocate in your area. See this IRS website for Taxpayer Advocate in your area and a toll free number - http://www.irs.gov/Advocate/Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

[xmasbaby0]

@dtk6802 Did you mail your tax return or did you e-file?

If you mailed it:

MAILED RETURNS

The IRS has just started to work through millions of mailed returns that have been piling up in trailers during the pandemic.  All you can do is watch the IRS refund site to see when your return makes it to the surface and goes into processing. Sorry.

Per the IRS website IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue:

IRS operational status and alternatives

Processing Delays for Paper Tax Returns: Taxpayers should file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider, or IRS Free File. 

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.

If  you mail a tax return (or a payment) to the IRS, it is a good idea to use a mailing service that will track it like UPS or certified mail so you will know it was received.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s. 

TurboTax will not know anything about your mailed return, and will continue to show “Ready to Mail” on your account.  TurboTax will not know that you put your tax return in an envelope and took it to a mailbox.  TurboTax does not get updates on mailed  (or e-filed) returns.

When the IRS finally opens its mail and begins to process mailed returns you can check the status on the IRS site. https://www.irs.gov/refunds

State returns have to be mailed to the state.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

If you e-filed:

To check on regular tax refund status via automated phone, call 800-829-1954. (This line has no information on Economic Impact Payments.)

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer.  Many refunds are taking longer during the pandemic. 

Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control. TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.

You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 20 of your Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

To track your state refund:    

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2724106-my-return-is-accepted-but-still-not-approved-is-there-a-pr...

[dtk6802]

yes January 30th efile. turbo tax

[AprilHoward84]

Have you gotten your refund yet? 

[Maghp]

I have this same problem and every time i try to find it online or on the phone systems the IRS keeps saying they can't find it or no information found. But i got the same letters in the mail saying the same thing i filed mine February 6th 2020 and was approved..

[xmasbaby0]

@Maghp There are 35 posts in this thread.  You say "I have this same problem" and "I got the same letters"  

We do not know what same problem or what same letters you mean.   If you could provide some specific details here we could understand and help more.

" i filed mine February 6th 2020 and was approved.."   Your return may have been accepted in February but that is not the same as "approved."  Approval of your refund comes later.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

It sounds like you are having trouble finding out anything on the IRS site.  Are you positive your e-file was accepted?  Use the e-file lookup to check:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2584108-why-is-there-no-record-of-my-return-at-where-s-my-refund-w...

Sometimes people get confused by the “summary” given by TurboTax and use the wrong amount for the federal refund.  Make sure you are only using the federal refund amount, and not an amount that combined your federal and state refunds. 

Your federal refund amount is on line 20 of your Form 1040

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

[Lab840]

I have not received my refund for 2019 yet either. I filed at the end of Feb,2020. When I look online it says still being processed. When I call the IRS, they say to look at the website. When I look at the site, it tells me to call. Im being thrown around in circles.My local IRS buildings are closed so I havent been able to make an appointment to go into speak to them about where the refund is. Turbotax/intuit said its been accepted. My health care company is also sayig that they are missing the health info from my taxes. They are saying I could lose coverage dueto this. This is a serious issue and I need my tax status and refund.  Did they even get it? Now I am questioning who has all of a sudden have mytaxes not transfered orif they just magically disappeared? I cant get a hold of anyone to speak to and these websites and voice operated phone systems are getting me nowhere. 

[mesquitebean]

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@ Lab840 wrote:

 I cant get a hold of anyone to speak to and these websites and voice operated phone systems are getting me nowhere. 

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"When I look online it says still being processed."

Look online at what?  Are you referring to the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool at https://www.irs.gov/Refunds ?

If the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool says your return is still being processed, then it sounds like they received it.   If you used Online TurboTax, you can also check to be sure the efiled return was accepted.  Log in and at the Tax Home, scroll down to "Your Tax Returns & Documents", expand that section, and choose tax year 2019.  It should show the status.  If efiled, I suspect it will say "accepted", or else it wouldn't show up in the IRS "Where's My Refund."

I can tell you how to hopefully reach a live IRS agent.  The Coronavirus situation has hampered the IRS customer service, but here is the normal method to get through the IRS phone tree to reach a live IRS agent when they are operating smoothly, and I'll also tell you below how to reach the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, if needed.  They are especially prone to help if you have a hardship, such as your health insurance situation.  So if you can't reach the IRS, or if they are not helpful, contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.

IRS:  800-829-1040 (7AM-7 PM local time) Monday-Friday

When calling the IRS do not choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.

• First choose your language.  Then listen to each menu before making the selection.
• Then press 2 for "personal income tax".
• Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  
• Then press 3 "for all other questions."
• Then press 2 "for all other questions." 
• It may then ask for your SSN, but do not enter it.  Just wait.    If it asks for SSN a second time, still do not enter it.
• Then it will get "tired", and you'll get another menu.  Choose 2 for "personal".
• Then in the next menu choose 4 for "all other inquiries", and it should transfer you to an agent but expect a long wait.
• I usually use a speakerphone so I can work on something else while waiting.

If you continue to have no luck reaching the IRS, you can try contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your area.    They are especially prone to help if you have an economic hardship, or if there have been continued delays with lack of info from the IRS.    At the following IRS website, find the USA map and click on your state, and it will give you the number of your IRS Taxpayer Advocate.    If the Taxpayer Advocate can't/won't help you, ask them to transfer you to an an IRS agent.  A couple of users reported that at least for them, that was a backdoor route to the IRS.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-a-Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

Also see this article for more info on how the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service works::
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc104.html

[kc1694]

I filed my 2019 taxes with turbotax on March 3, 2020 and am still being told via irs.gov that "My tax return is still being processed." I need the money and don't know what to do.  All phone numbers lead me back to the same info. Should I refile?

Please advise. Thanks.

[xmasbaby0]

@kc1694 No you should not re-file.  In fact, that could cause more problems for you.  You already filed and you can see that the IRS has your return and is processing it.  It impossible to e-file again for multiple reasons.  Mailing another 2019 return would only put it in the pile of millions of unopened pieces of mail that the IRS is trying to open and work on.  

To check on regular tax refund status via automated phone, call 800-829-1954. (This line has no information on Economic Impact Payments.)

At the following IRS website, find the USA map and click on your state, and it will give you the number of your area's IRS Taxpayer Advocate.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-a-Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

Also see this article for more info on how the Taxpayer Advocate Service works::
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc104.html

To call the IRS:IRS:  800-829-1040  hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Mon-Fri

Listen to each menu before making the selection.

First choose your language. Press 1 for English.

Then do NOT choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.

Instead, press 2 for "personal income tax".

Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  

Then press 3 "for all other questions."

Then press 2 "for all other questions."  It should then transfer you to an agent.

[kc1694]

Thank you -- I contacted the Taxpayer Advocate and got to a live person who was able to determine that in July they pulled my return when I sent them a form they requested but then they didn't put it back into the process. Whew! I now have a case number and it is moving forward again. 

[xmasbaby0]

@kc1694 Glad you are getting the help you need!

[Lab840]

Same thing  hapened to me. took forever to figureout what to do! they said itll be an  extra 8 weeks til I get my return :(

[Greg stokes]

I received my state taxes, but have not received my federal taxes. I filed February 4 this year.