Filed my taxes on 7/14/20 electronically. The IRS says that I should get my refund in 21 days. It's been far more and I still have not received my tax refund. Why?

[spm2293]

To my knowledge, I have filed my taxes accurately, so I'm not sure why I have received my refund yet.

[VolvoGirl]

Yes they are taking longer this year.  See this IRS page for the latest information
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

If you efiled....Was your return Accepted? First double check your efile status here
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

When you efile you get back 2 emails. The first email only confirms the transmission. The second email says if the IRS (or state) Accepted or Rejected your efile.

Then only the IRS can tell you. IRS Where's my refund https://www.irs.gov/refunds/
Make sure you are using the refund amount from your actual federal tax return and not the combined amount Turbo Tax showed you at the end. That was for federal and state combined.

When you log into your account you should also see the status and if it was Accepted or Rejected, Started, Printed, Ready to Mail, etc.  what does it say?

When will you get your refund,
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refund-status/help/when-will-i-get-my-irs-tax-refund/01/25589

[spm2293]

It says that it is Federally Printed. Ready to Mail. What does that mean? What do I do?

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry but Printed or Ready to Mail means you have to actually print out your tax return and mail it to the IRS or state yourself.  So if you didn't mail it then it has not been filed yet.  And it will always say Ready to Mail.  Turbo Tax doesn’t know if or when you mailed it and the IRS doesn’t update Turbo Tax when they get your mailed return.    You can try to switch to efile.   Click on Add a State to let you back into your retun.

  https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/e-file/help/how-do-i-change-from-mail-to-e-file-in-turbotax-online...

Or if you want to mail a return from the Online version

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/printing/help/how-do-i-print-and-mail-my-return-in-turbotax-online...

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. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS received the return. Don’t forget state.

Important! Mail Federal and State in separate envelopes and mail each year in separate envelopes.

[spm2293]

So now that I file them electronically a month and a half after the due date, will the IRS reject it because of how late they were sent? (Even though I completed my taxes on time)

[VolvoGirl]

No.  You can efile until Oct 15.  If you are getting a refund there is no interest or penalty for filing late.  Did you go back though to the very end and hit the big orange Transmit Returns Now button?  Then watch for the emails saying it was submitted and one saying it was Accepted.  And check back to make sure the IRS accepts it.

[spm2293]

It's asking for my 2018 tax return to verify myself. I'm having to find it at the moment. Is there anyway I can do it without that? Perhaps another way to verify myself?  

[VolvoGirl]

You need your 2018 AGI to efile 2019. The AGI is on 2018 1040 line 7. If you filed a Joint return you use the same AGI for each spouse.

How to find the AGI.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/agi/help/how-do-i-find-last-year-s-agi/01/25947

If you didn't file 2018 or filed it later in the year then try entering 0 for the AGI. If that doesn't work you will have to print and mail your return.

[spm2293]

Can I use any information on my 2018 W-2 to move forward with my Efile? Or does it have to be the 1040 form? 

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry no.  It has to be the AGI on your 2018 tax return 1040.

[spm2293]

What if I can’t find my 1040 form? 

[VolvoGirl]

Did you use Turbo Tax to do 2018?  When did you file 2018?  If you used the Online version you can log in and get it.  See my link up above for how to get the AGI.

Otherwise you will have to print and mail it.

[spm2293]

I did not use TurboTax last year.  This is the first time I’ve used TurboTax or filed electronically. A friend of the families did our taxes last year. Hopefully they have a copy of it 

[VolvoGirl]

If you can't get your AGI from Turbo Tax or didn't use Turbo Tax you can get a transcript from the IRS.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

[spm2293]

If I file my federal taxes right now and my state tax later, will I have to wait until my state taxes are accepted to get my refund? Reason I ask is because there is not an option to E-file my state tax returns like their is for federal.