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New Member
posted Jun 7, 2019 2:56:04 PM

How to check the status of a mailed paper return you already sent?

I filed my federal return online, however, I was informed to mail out my return by paper. I would like to know how I can check the status of my return and if the IRS has received it.

0 204 199413
24 Replies
New Member
Jun 7, 2019 2:56:05 PM

Hello, is it possible to find out the status of my mailed paper return.

Level 15
Jun 7, 2019 2:56:07 PM

@ fifibear
This is a thread from 4 years ago.  The TurboTax answer in the section below tells how to track a mailed paper return.  But as stated there, if you are due a Federal refund it will take 4 weeks after mailing before it shows up in the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool.
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.irs.gov/Refunds">http://www.irs.gov/Refunds</a>

If it's been longer than 6 weeks since you mailed your return, we can tell you how to reach a live agent at the IRS to check on a tax refund.

If you have an additional question or need more info, please start a new timely thread at this link:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/new">https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/new</a>

I'll close this old thread.

New Member
Jun 7, 2019 2:56:10 PM

Hello,

If you are expecting a refund you can check the IRS website Where's My Refund 4 weeks after mailing your return.

http://www.irs.gov/Refunds

If you are not expecting a refund tracking your return can be a little more complicated.  You can use the IRS's new online transcript request option to tell when your return has been processed.  Once the return shows up in the transcript request the IRS has received and processed your return.  Before that time it will show that you have not filed for the year.  You can also judge by when the IRS processes your payment (if a tax payment was sent/due)

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

After 2-3 weeks have passed you may also call the IRS customer service line at 1 800 829 1040 to inquire regarding the status of your return.


New Member
Jun 7, 2019 2:56:13 PM

I normally use TurboTax but this year I used TaxSlayer. They accepted my return and my co workers on 1/19. She got hers 21 days as expected. I'm still waiting but bc I rushed and forgot a form... stupid new obamacare laws. After I fixed it I for some weird reason double checked a week later to find out I ENTERED A SAVINGS ACCOUNT #! Then as my luck would have it I was informed THAT MY BANK CLOSED AFTER THE IRS ALREADY PROCESSED MY REFUND!! Absolutely no way of fixing it... I researched literally all weekend... even called wells Fargo to yell at them to reopen it but they couldn't!...but it was my fault! My money was stuck in limbo!! The IRS "where's my refund" link said it was sent 3/2. I paid for my efile services with my refund. Realizing Santa Barbara Tax Products Group is the 3rd party bank for online filing companies (to collect the eFILE service payment)... sbtpg.com ...has it... I contacted them to verify my DL by uploading it to their website. You should do that asap anyways I've learned... It was fixed the same day (today... but I uploaded my ID on Sunday and again today/monday just in case) and now (end of today/monday) their status says a cashiers check has been mailed.... AND THAT THEY RECEIVED IT (BEFORE THE IRS SAID THEY SENT IT) on 3/1 after I corrected my first mistake (I felt so stupid for sending it to my savings acct with out realizing it... I should have double checked). Another person with the same issue (wrong acct #) posted just recently it took hers 2-3 business days (Thursday to Monday) for her to receive the check. I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THIS 3RD PARTY BANK IF I DIDNT RESEARCH THE HECK OUT OF "WHAT IF THE ACCOUNT NUMBER I GAVE CLOSED AFTER I FILED?" bc I'm in desperate need of my money!!! The IRS has nothing to do with my refund after they sent it to sbtpg and it was before the allotted time they (IRS) make you wait before calling (5 days). Luckily I figured this out quickly!! Please make sure you go to their website ( sbtpg. ) if you choose to pay your efile tax service with your refund!! A lot of peoples direct deposits have been held simply bc they want you to upload your DL picture to verify your identity due to the rise of fraud! Everything else and if you pay for efile services with your credit card (not having payment taken out of your refund)... if your direct deposit is rejected from your bank then that's when it goes back to IRS and takes forever (4-6 weeks) to receive a paper check. I feel so much more relieved and I'm hoping and praying that I get it by Wednesday or Thursday at the latest!

Lesson Learned: never rush filing and never expect it or rely on it!!

New Member
Jun 17, 2019 9:44:14 AM

i mailed my return on april 12 and sent a check and my check has not been cashed so i do not know if they received my return

New Member
Jul 2, 2019 3:06:03 PM


I filed my federal return through mail, however, I was informed to mail out my return by paper. I would like to know how I can check the status of my return and if the IRS has received it

New Member
Jul 3, 2019 8:51:00 AM

It's been 11 weeks after I mailed my returns. And I have not heard or recieved anything. When I try to check my tax return status, all I get is the information doesnt match. Who should i contact to enquire about this.

Level 15
Jul 3, 2019 11:04:55 AM

@Zackandzarion 

What exactly do you mean by I filed it through mail, and then were informed to mail it on paper?  Those two are the SAME thing.  Did you print, sign and mail the return yourself?  TurboTax does NOT mail your return for you.  If you did not do it, it has not been filed.  When you mail a tax return to the IRS or your state you should use a mailing service with tracking --like UPS or certified mail so you will know it was received.

 

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 returns.  Wait about 4 weeks from when you mail a return and then you can check the status on the IRS site.

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

 https://www.irs.gov/refunds

 

Level 15
Jul 3, 2019 11:06:25 AM

@Gfreezy619

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

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

 

In the future, 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.

Returning Member
Jul 12, 2019 2:50:06 PM

Im 2 days away from waiting 90 days and followed everything told to me about checking refund status with no success. Since mailing my paper state return I've been in the dark, did they receive it to process?. This is unacceptable, how do i get an update or just a little common courtesy?

Level 15
Jul 12, 2019 3:48:26 PM

@Crazzysyd55 

 

TurboTax will not know anything about your mailed return;  TT does not get any feedback or information back from the IRS or your state when you file your return, and TT certainly does not know you put your state return in an envelope and took it to a mailbox.  Did you use a mailing service with tracking such as UPS or certified mail so you know it was received?  Whenever you mail a tax return or a tax payment you should do that so you know it got there.

 

To track your state refund:    

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

Returning Member
Jul 13, 2019 6:50:32 AM

Thanks for the feedback but I'm not complaining about TT.

Level 15
Jul 13, 2019 7:20:43 AM

@Crazzysyd55 If you are not complaining about TurboTax, not sure why you posted to this thread.  Do you  mean you expected the state to let you know if they received your mailed return?  What if they did not receive it?  How would anyone know to tell you anything?  It seems like you did not use a mailing service with tracking so that you would know that it was received.  Next time you mail a tax document or tax payment, use certified mail or UPS, etc. so you know they received it.  

 

There are some users who make the mistake of mailing their state return in the same envelope with their federal return.  If you did that, the IRS would have just shredded or tossed your state return.

 

You can check the status of a state return here:

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

 

Or you can contact your state yourself to see what is going on with your state return:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901670-how-do-i-contact-my-state-department-of-revenue

 

 

New Member
Feb 3, 2020 6:39:10 PM

I filed my federal return online, however, I was informed to mail out my return by paper. I would like to know how I can check the status of my return and if the IRS has received

Intuit Alumni
Feb 3, 2020 7:01:42 PM

Please click the link below for information on checking the status of a mailed in tax return.

 

Solved: How do i check the status of a paper return

Returning Member
Feb 29, 2020 6:26:31 AM

I sent my taxes paper because I was rejected from Turbo Tax Someone else file my dependent .I sent them on 2-1-2020 just want to the status 

Level 15
Feb 29, 2020 6:32:26 AM

When you mail a tax return to the IRS it takes about four weeks before you can see anything on the IRS site about the status of your refund.  

 

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

New Member
Mar 8, 2020 11:37:10 AM

I've mailed my taxes on February 5, 2020 as well as included the pin number that was established. How can I find out the status of my refund.

Intuit Alumni
Mar 8, 2020 11:41:27 AM

If you are expecting a refund you can check the IRS website Where's My Refund 4 weeks after mailing your return.

http://www.irs.gov/Refunds

If you are not expecting a refund tracking your return can be a little more complicated.  You can use the IRS's new online transcript request option to tell when your return has been processed.  Once the return shows up in the transcript request the IRS has received and processed your return.  Before that time it will show that you have not filed for the year.  You can also judge by when the IRS processes your payment (if a tax payment was sent/due)

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

After 2-3 weeks have passed you may also call the IRS customer service line at 1 800 829 1040 to inquire regarding the status of your return.

 

View solution in original post

Returning Member
Mar 11, 2020 10:06:41 AM

Did you find out anything?

New Member
Mar 11, 2020 12:15:09 PM

I want to know the status  of my federal income refund and state refund.

New Member
Mar 14, 2020 11:25:45 AM

I just want to know if my paper work made it there safely ?

Level 15
Mar 14, 2020 11:38:03 AM

 

@nickalan1987

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 emailed) returns.

 

Wait about 4 weeks from when you mail a return and then 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

 

In the future, 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.

New Member
Mar 18, 2020 3:48:06 AM

When will I get my tax money