Help! IRS not processing my refund and not answering phone calls while we are broke and hopeless.

[Jda2020]

I filed on Feb 1st. 5 weeks later after I did not receive my refund, I called the IRS and the agent told me that I needed to send in 1095A & form 8962. I did that right away. A couple weeks later I finally received a letter in the mail saying they needed These forms and that the fax cover page needed specific info included. So, I have been trying to fax again with the correct info on cover page. I have tried 100 times, literally, to get through with NO luck. It is busy 24/7. I just tried to call them and now it is an automated message saying that they are not taking ANY calls at this time. What am I supposed to do? We are out of work and going to lose EVERYTHING. I have been a dedicated Turbotax customer for years now.... is there anything that TurboTax can do to help me with this issue??? Does anyone else reading this have any advise or ideas???? 

[Stinkerbellkity]

Unfortunately, you will have to keep trying to respond by fax.  TurboTax, like all tax software providers, has no way and no authority to intervene on behalf of any tax filer.  You can also try the Tax Advocate's office:

https://taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/contact-us

There is a link on that page to locate a number for your local Tax Advocate office.

[CarissaM]

You can only keep trying to contact the IRS by following the instructions here, and sending in your information via fax. If they requested the specific information on the fax cover, I would send that in and retain copies of everything you send in. 

[Xfor]

Same, called they said they don’t accept phone calls, fax is busy, and US post they say they won’t be checking for a long time. And they say if I don’t respond shortly they’ll not give me my refund or reduce it. 

[Martina75]

Make copies and mail the requested documents to the address provided on your response letter. The IRS sent everyone in the offices to work from home, while some supervisors are in the offices working on files. But if you mail in the documents ASAP I’m sure they’ll receive it and begin to process most cases in the coming weeks. It’s frustrating, I know, I’m going through the same thing. But,  according to their bulletins on the irs.gov site that are updated regularly. Is how I learned of this information. And BTW the treasury secretary stated yesterday on a news briefing that they’re going to start distributing stimulus checks as early as next week, or April 9th - 13th so you'll get the 1200 plus an additional 500 for every child you claimed under the age of 17. Hope this helps. Thanks 

[Martina75]

The tax advocates are not available or in office until possibly the end of April or longer depending. 

[Jda2020]

How can they REDUCE your refund? Why would they do that when this is no fault of our own? I don’t even think that is legal for them to reduce  your tax refund amount. 

[Jda2020]

I thought about mailing them in but it says right on the paper that if you faxed first then do not also mail in. I did fax first but did not have the correct info on the cover sheet thanks to the first agent not bothering to give me that info. Smh I guess if they just disregarded that fax then it would be fine if I mailed it in, I just wish I knew for sure. This is a nightmare. All of it. Everything. I am exhausted in every way. Completely broken down and stressed. My chronic illness is flared up from the stress and I am waking up with heart rate in the 180s. Ugh. The IRS only makes things way more complicated than they have to be. Unnecessary. 

[Stinkerbellkity]

It's a tough time to need to contact the IRS.  They're not taking calls because they're under a great deal of pressure to meet the time expectations for sending out the stimulus deposits and checks.  They were given no additional personnel to achieve this and are still trying their best to process 2019 tax returns.  You only have the two options to mail in the information or fax it.  Mailing it cannot hurt.  You were sent a form letter devised for normal times and these are not normal times.  Just add a note on the cover sheet saying you are mailing in your response because the fax lines are constantly busy, but you will keep trying to fax it.

Since many other people are in the same position as you for many different reasons, the fax lines will probably continue to be busy, but there's always the possibility of getting through with the best chances probably very early in the morning or late at night.

They can indeed reduce your refund and it's perfectly legal but you will receive something and can sort out the difference with the IRS after most of the stimulus payments have been sent.  Things will calm down then and you should be able to get  a clear fax line and they may begin taking calls again then.

It's a very difficult time for many, many people and it's hard to accept that your choices are limited but things may get closer to normal in just a few weeks, as far as receiving stimulus checks and processing returns.  Try to stay calm.  Making yourself sick over something you can't change serves no purpose at all.  You're not alone in your situation and things will improve.

[Xfor]

I mean my symphony for the IRS is somewhat dampened by the fact that they’re using such antiquated systems like fax machines (which requires you to use an internet service and send your SSN in the clear on every page to some dodgy fax company, while the IRS claims its for security purposes), which clearly doesn’t scale, requires people to manually retry sending the fax at least with the service I’m using, no automated retired even.

They tell you to efile but have a huge number of exceptions that I seem to get caught by each year. Last year they kept on saying they didn’t get my return even after I finally physically went into their field office and gave it to them and got a receipt so they’d stop saying I didn’t send it in, nope they still said they didn’t get it.

And now the perfect storm has happened, the system‘s has just collapsed in to nonsensical gibberish, where they’re able to send you letters that are impossible to follow.

Why was this system not upgraded where I can just login to the website and send them a message? Or just fill out the forms online vs having to print and mail them due to all the efile exceptions? 

[Scottyzman]

Good luck with your situation. They kept 2400 of my return and never sent me the letter explaining the reason. Nobody answers the phone they just say that they are too busy and then hang up on you. 

[NCperson]

@Scottyzman - let me see if I can help....

you were entited to either the Recovery Rebate Credit or the Stimulus, but not both.

Look at Line 30 of your tax return.  The calculation is 1) the number of people on your tax return 2) TIMES $1400 3) LESS what you received last March-May, 2021 for the stimulus, but not less than zero.

for #3, it was critical that the number you entered into TT matched the IRS records for what they sent you. If they don't match the IRS will reduce your refund to match their records.   

if they reduced your refund by $2800, then that means what you entered did not match their records to the tune of $2800.

Check you Bank statements from last March - May, 2021 and see if you indeed did receive what you were entited to. 

please post back with findings.

[SweetieJean]

The letter from the IRS can take several weeks to arrive. In the meantime, go onto the IRS website and check your 2021 tax transcript.

Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)