I have not received my federal refund

[Anonymous]

I filed state and federal taxes back in February. Both have been accepted but only got state return back. It has been months and my federal return have not been... well, returned. Could someone help me find out what's going on?

[Texas Roger · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately TurboTax gets no information about the status of your refund.
In normal times, the IRS says that most filers get their refunds within 21 days from the time their tax return is accepted.
Many returns are taking longer now since the IRS did not process returns for a while and there is now a big backlog of unprocessed returns.
Some press reports stated the IRS has started reopening offices and processing centers and are starting to process mailed returns again after not processing any for several weeks but no IRS press release has confirmed this.
They are now taking phone calls with a limited staff but it's hard to get through.

If you efiled your return, have you confirmed that the return was submitted by TurboTax and accepted by the IRS?
https://shop.turbotax.intuit.com/efile/efile_status_lookup.jsp

If accepted, what does the IRS tracking web site say about the status of your refund?
https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Here is an IRS Q&A with information about refunds:
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

[Anonymous]

Both state and federal returns are accepted. I checked into the IRS website and the state return is still being processed. Thank you for your help. I will continue to keep my eyes out.

[wmal10178]

I filed my tax return using filing status as single. I am widowed but could not use that status since I have no dependents.  Previous year status was widowed.

[m2damax]

I also filed my 2019 tax returns on April 11, 2020, I received my state refund almost immediately. However, I still have no federal tax return I've gone to the where's my refund IRS site, and below is what I got: 

Refund Status Results

We cannot provide any information about your refund. Be sure to:

• verify your filing date;
• check with your tax preparer or tax software provider; or
• verify you received your electronically filed acknowledgment e-mail.

If you filed a complete and accurate tax return, your refund should be issued within 21 days of the received date. However, processing may take longer under certain circumstances.

I'm going into almost 3 months with no federal return the estimated refund date was 5/02/20 and I can't even get a hold of someone to talk to. My son filed on the 12th of April and he got both his state and Federal right away. I get that this Covid-19 has slowed things down and they have a ton of work. Why don't they hire more people? I'm sure that there are people out there that need jobs even temp jobs. I have to wonder when we are late paying our taxes we get fined or a penalty. It would be nice if the IRS would pay us for them being late in giving us back the taxes that we filed on time. I'm getting off my soapbox now. Thank you for hearing me.

[Texas Roger]

You didn't say whether you efiled your return or printed and mailed it. If efiled, you should have received an email from TurboTax saying whether it was accepted or rejected. Did you get that email? You can verify submission and acceptance or rejection using this link: https://shop.turbotax.intuit.com/efile/efile_status_lookup.jsp

If it was accepted, the IRS tracking web site should say that it is processing or further along in the process. Make sure you are entering only your federal refund amount and not the combined federal and state refunds when logging into the IRS site.

If you printed and mailed your return, the IRS is taking much longer to process those. You must print and mail the return yourself. TurboTax does not print and mail it for you. You won't be able to track the progress at the IRS until they open your return and start processing it. There are still millions of return sitting in stacks at regional centers unopened.

Here is an IRS Q&A with information about refunds:
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

See this info about the current status of IRS operations:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

[jackson073007]

I have been depending on my return for several months and have received nothing. [phone number removed]

[DoninGA]

---

@jackson073007 wrote:

I have been depending on my return for several months and have received nothing. [phone number removed]

---

Did you e-file your tax return and was it accepted?
Only the IRS and your State control when and if a Federal or State tax refund is Approved and Issued.

You complete your tax return by finishing all 3 Steps in the File section. In Step 3, to e-file your tax return, you must click on the large Orange button labeled "Transmit my returns now".

After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.

Note - Once a tax return has been Accepted by the IRS or a State, TurboTax receives no further information concerning the tax return or the status of any tax refund.  Only the taxpayer listed on the tax return can obtain the status of a tax refund or a tax return.

To check the status of an e-filed return, open up your desktop product or log into your TurboTax Online Account. You can find your status within the TurboTax product.
If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds
If accepted by the state use this TurboTax support FAQ to check the state tax refund status - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

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.

[teh1]

I filed by mail in February and received no acceptance information.  I refiled by mail late April and still have nothing accepted or pending.  I have called the IRS several times and only automated information(same as online tracking) with a response of "there is no information provided for this individual "  I am very frustrated, I completely understand about the current state of the world, but to have 0 information and filing 2 times with no response is ridiculous.  I am at a loss right now and in need of the return money. 

[xmasbaby0]

MAILED RETURNS

Per the IRS website IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue: The IRS is not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your economic impact payment. Paper returns will be processed  once processing centers are able to reopen. 

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

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/irs-mail-trailers-covid/index.html

[DoninGA]

@marlene dixon 

Your prior post was answered here - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/after-you-file/discussion/i-have-not-received-my-tax-turn/01/17072...

[arizonaone]

You have to call the IRS- otherwise you'll probably never receive it. 

I had filed in February and then received a letter asking for a form to be completed. Which I faxed back in early March. Never got an updated status on where's my refund. 

So, a couple of weeks ago I called the # listed on my letter. Waited 45 min but finally got to speak to someone. She confirmed they did receive the form and sent a referral to the dept handling my refund.   A few days ago my status changed and will  be DD by 8/12. - 2 weeks after I spoke to someone. 

[teh1]

I have called around 20 times since April,  the last call was 2 weeks ago. I have never received a letter confirming they ever received the two returns I sent ,1 from Feb one from April (becauseI was afraidit was lost in the mail). They continue to tell me there is no filing status available, nothingto be shown for my ssn.  The website says they have a delay on paper returns, but to still have no status at all that they even received my tax return is getting ridiculous.  I completely understand the shut down due to the pandemic, I am obviously pretty patient with all of this. It is just frustrating to continuously get the same answers and no headway.  

[xmasbaby0]

@teh1 

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

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/irs-mail-trailers-covid/index.html

[Polywog]

my return said it would be here march 5th