I filed my 2021 taxes in September the IRS is showing no record of my tax return. how is this possible?

[lmcashio]

how can i show proof of late filings

[VolvoGirl]

In September of what year?  2022 or 2023?  Did you efile?  Was it Accepted?  If you efiled there should be an Electronic Postmark page. Probably near the end. That is your proof and signature.   Check back though your emails. When you efile you get back 2 emails. The first email only confirms the transmission. The second email says if the IRS (or state) Accepted or Rejected your efile.

When you log into your account you should also see the status and if it was Accepted or Rejected, Started, Printed, Ready to Mail, etc. What does it say?

How to Access prior year online returns
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/00/270...

[xmasbaby0]

If you mean you filed your 2021 return in September of 2023, the only way you could have filed is by mail.   The envelope might still be in a mail bin, waiting to be opened by a human.   It takes much longer for the IRS to process mailed returns, so be patient and check back periodically.

You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2022 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

[xmasbaby0]

Your only "proof" that you filed a late 2021 return by mail would be the receipt if you used a mailing service like certified mail.  TurboTax never knows that you put your return in an envelope and mailed it.

[Mike9241]

is seems like you are saying you filed after e-filing was closed for 2021 returns (around 10/15/2022). If so, it had to be mailed. if you did not mail it the IRS doesn't have it so file immediately. If it was mailed more than 4 months ago, there is a high probability it got lost in the mail unless you have proof of delivery. in this case I would refile. if you filed within the last 4 months, then it may just be a case of the IRS not yet getting to your return.  in this case it's impossible to properly advise what to do because there's no way of knowing if the IRS got it or not. if you are due a refund there is no penalty for late filing so you could wait the 4 months before refiling. if you mailed the original and there was a payment included and you want to refile, if the IRS got the original and your refiling, both checks would be cashed but eventually after deducting any penalties a refund for any excess would be issued.  you could also stop payment on the original check for which there would be a bank fee and if the IRS does get it a penalty of at least $25 or 2% of the amount of the check if it was for $1250 or more.  refiling would also require attaching any require forms such as w-2s..