HELP! NO REFUND STILL

[mytax1123]

I e-filed my return late January and was immediately rejected due to my social security number of my dependent already being claimed for the second year in a row... I printed that off and mailed it in early February received a letter in March stating they had received my return and no further action was needed on my behalf and that's the last thing I heard and I still have not received my refund. could that mean I am not getting one? 

[mesquitebean · Accepted solution]

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@ mytax1123 wrote:

I e-filed my return late January and was immediately rejected due to my social security number of my dependent already being claimed for the second year in a row... I printed that off and mailed it in early February received a letter in March stating they had received my return and no further action was needed on my behalf and that's the last thing I heard and I still have not received my refund. could that mean I am not getting one? 

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No, it does not mean that.  If you are due a Federal refund, you should eventually get it.   Due to the Coronavirus, the IRS essentially shut down all manual processing in March and for the subsequent 3 or so months.   They gradually started up again in late June/July.  They now have a huge backlog of returns, so there are a lot of folks with delayed refunds.   I'll tell you how to check with the IRS to see if they can give you any update, and if necessary, how to contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.

If there's a specific phone number on your IRS letter, you might try that first.   Otherwise, here's how to reach the IRS general customer service to inquire about the delay, but it may not be easy.  Part of it is luck.    Due to the Coronavirus, some of the IRS call centers had been closed the last few weeks, some are operating with reduced personnel, and others are gradually opening back up.  Users have been reporting that they are finally now reaching someone.    Here is the normal method 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.

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

[mytax1123]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.VERY INSIGHTFUL.

[mesquitebean]

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@mytax1123 wrote:

THANK YOU SO MUCH.VERY INSIGHTFUL.

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You're welcome.  Good luck.

[1961Mman]

Today's date 12/16/2020 Still NO refund!

[xmasbaby0]

@1961Mman

You do not say how long ago you filed your tax return.

There are a lot of delays for federal refunds.  Did you mail your return or 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

Or......

Did you e-file?  Did you click a big orange button that said “Transmit my returns now?”

When you e-file your federal return you will receive two emails from TurboTax.  The first one will say that your return was submitted.  The second email will tell you if your federal return was accepted or rejected.  If you e-filed a state return, there will be a third email to tell you if the state accepted or rejected your state return.

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted:

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

If the IRS accepted it, what does it say here? 

https://www.irs.gov/refunds        

  Or does your account say “Ready to Mail?”

Note: If it says “Ready to Mail” or “Printed” that means YOU have to mail it yourself.  TurboTax does not mail your tax return for you.

If your e-file was accepted:

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

[sleazyone666]

I have waited for a year the its told me to call another number that has me waiting another 60 days from the last 60 days they are no help turbo tax didnt help me either and the tax advocate if you live in Pennsylvania told me they only help for the state tax but try them but the wheres my refund app hasnt worked since there update around christmas

[CarissaM]

Turbo Tax does not receive any updates to your refund once it has ben accepted. 

If you have not received your refund, please click here to contact the IRS.