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

[havelock26]

They must be REALLY behind. They received my mailed return on 2/17/22 and it's now 6/1/22 and it is still showing absolutely zero status on the Where's My Refund? I would call, but I'm pretty sure they would not be able to give me any new information and it will have just been a complete waste of my time. The IRS is a joke. I'm struggling to be patient over here. I wish I could've filed electronically. Ugh.

[NCperson]

@havelock26 - figure it's a good 6-9 month backlog on paper filing per internet articles.  80% of the backlog is paper returns.

this is from the IRS website: 

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue#coll...

"As of May 20, 2022, we had 9.8 million unprocessed individual returns which include returns received before 2022, and new tax year 2021 returns. Of these, 2 million returns require error correction or other special handling, and 7.8 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and processed" 

[toshajacks]

It wouldn't even verify my son's refund on their tool.  Finally today he received his refund.  I was just saying yesterday that the frustrating part is not knowing if they lost it after they received it.  

[toshajacks]

Even that doesn't work.  My son just received his & the "Where's My Refund" tool is still showing no update.  His was received back in February.

[xmasbaby0]

@toshajacks If the IRS has not opened the envelope containing your son's tax return, no amount of checking the refund site is going to provide information.    Until a human being opens his envelope and enters the data into the system, nothing is going to show up on the refund site.   Sorry.

MAILED RETURNS

https://www.businessinsider.com/taxpayers-filing-paper-returns-wait-6-months-tax-refund-2022-4#:~:te...

IRS link pertaining to processing of 2021 returns:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue#coll...

 It can take weeks  (or a LOT longer since the IRS is severely backlogged) for anything to show up on the IRS site when you mail a tax 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 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

If you are wondering if you should send your return again——the IRS does not want you to file a second time.   Putting two tax returns into the system at the same time can lead to confusion and even more delays.   If you did not use tracking and do not know if the return was received—-you have to make your own judgment call and decide if you want to risk further delay by sending the return again.

[toshajacks]

My son just received his refund today via direct deposit.  No update today on the Where's My Refund tool.  It literally says "you may have not entered your information correctly" which is what it's said for months. 

[xmasbaby0]

@toshajacks Well----thanks for sharing that information.   The IRS is severely backlogged and is clearly not doing things efficiently  or correctly all the time.   Rejoice that your son's refund arrived!

[Jessfg]

Hi,

We mailed our return on Nov 28 of last year and have not received our refund, nor can we check online or the phone because it just says they don't have info on our return. We used Turbo Tax as always. How can we get in touch with a live agent, please? 

Thanks!

[VolvoGirl]

Mailed returns are taking the IRS a very long time to process.  Like over 6 months or maybe 10 months.  Only the IRS can tell you.  Turbo Tax won't know anything about a mailed return and can't help.  All you can do is wait.

[xmasbaby0]

@Jessfg You mailed a 2021 tax return in November?  It could still be in its envelope waiting until a human opens it and enters it into the system.  Mailed returns are taking six to nine months to be processed by the IRS.  Until they open it and put it in the system you will not be able to see any information on the IRS site.  And no one at TurboTax can tell you anything about it.  TT gets no information after you file your tax return.  

Be patient and check the IRS site about once a week until you see something on the refund site.

You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2021 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds