You wrote: "I mailed my federal return 6 weeks ago it still says that haven't received / can't provide any information about my refund? Should I be concerned?"
So did you print, sign, date, and physically mail the return yourself to the IRS? TurboTax does not mail it for you.
And if you also had a state return, hopefully you mailed the two returns separately--the Federal return to the IRS and the state return to the state tax agency. We have seen some filers mail both to the state by mistake and nothing to the IRS (or vice versa).
Normally it's best when mailing things to a tax agency to use a method that has tracking such as certified mail, priority mail, etc.
So if you DID physically mail the return correctly to the IRS, you can use the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool. Is it saying it can't find your information?
First be sure you are using the tool correctly; i.e., correct SSN and filing status.
For the Federal refund amount, use only the Federal refund amount. Do not use any combined total refund figure that includes the state refund.
Look at your actual 2019 return to get the Federal refund amount. Be sure you are using what is displayed on your Federal Form 1040, Line 21a for the Federal refund amount.
If it still doesn't find your information, you are going to be in limbo, since you won't know if it's been received (if you didn't use tracking), whether it's hung up in processing due to Coronavirus, or what. And the IRS call centers are closed for the time being.
In the best of circumstances, it normally takes 4 weeks for a mailed return to show up in the IRS WMR tool. It "normally" takes at least 6 weeks to get a refund after a mailed paper return. With the Coronavirus situation, however, all bets are off, with the IRS severely limited. In fact, with so many personnel on leave I don't believe they are processing any paper returns right now.
Yes sweetie I physically printed, signed, dated and mailed my returns, in two separate envelopes 😉 I already recieved my state refund but they have no information on my federal return. I know I'm entering the information correctly on wheres my refund. I mailed my return march 1st and still cannot track it on w.m.r. and of course I cant call the irs either lol
If you haven't already done so, you can also try phoning the IRS Refund Hotline. I've seen it work for some users before when the WMR tool didn't.
800-829-1954
Otherwise, unfortunately it's a limbo period for many folks with the IRS not processing paper returns for the most part and with the IRS live assistance call centers not taking calls.
Did you get any information on your taxes? i am in the same boat i mailed my taxes to kansas missouri in the middle of march. until today i have no update on my taxes. i tried calling in local offices and they are all closed. i got back my state taxes but nothing from my federal. i know its not recommended but what would happen if i refile by electronic if i filed by paper?
Thanks for any help
@needtaxhelp22 wrote:Did you get any information on your taxes? i am in the same boat i mailed my taxes to kansas missouri in the middle of march. until today i have no update on my taxes. i tried calling in local offices and they are all closed. i got back my state taxes but nothing from my federal. i know its not recommended but what would happen if i refile by electronic if i filed by paper?
Thanks for any help
The IRS has not been processing any mailed paper returns the last several weeks due to the Coronavirus situation. There will be a backlog once they start processing again. The IRS also says not to file a second return.
If you file 2 returns, it might confuse the IRS and lead to even further delays, IRS letters, etc. The following is the current info displayed at the IRS website and dated May 19:
"The IRS is not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your Economic Impact Payment. "
You can check the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool every few days to see if it starts to show up there.
When using the IRS WMR tool, be sure you enter the correct SSN and filing status.
Use only the Federal refund amount. Do not use any combined total refund figure that includes the state refund. Look at your actual 2019 return to get the Federal refund amount. Be sure you are using what is displayed on your Federal Form 1040, Line 21a for the Federal refund amount.
And if you are paying your TurboTax fees out of the Federal refund, use the Federal amount without regard to the fee subtraction; i.e., the amount before any fees are subtracted.
It has been 3 months since I mailed my 2019 federal tax return and still nothing. They cannot provide any information about my refund when I inquire. I received my state return in less then 3 weeks. Yes I mailed it to the correct address. Should I refile , since you can't get in touch with anyone to give you a answer. This is getting very frustrating since we pay so much in taxes and there is no one to help us!
You should not refile. The IRS is not processing or scanning tax returns at this time as offices are not currently staffed with workers to perform these tasks. It is not yet known when the processing of paper returns will take place.
The IRS is storing documents securely until workers return to offices and will process the returns in the order received once processing resumes.
Have to received your refund yet? Just wondering because I helped my mother in law with her returns which were mailed the beginning of March and she still has not received her federal refund either.
needtaxhelp22- have you received your refund yet? Just trying to gauge if anyone has had any luck yet?
They just started opening the mail in June that's been stacking up. So you have to keep waiting.
See this IRS page for the latest information
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue
Do you know if that is all the locations where returns were mailed?
All offices and processing centers where closed for some or all of the past 3 months so mail has been stacking up everywhere ... if you are sure you mailed it to the correct address then all you can do is wait patiently while the IRS gets back up to speed and tries to catch up.
Yes I understand that. What I meant was that online I only see information that some of the locations are starting to process mail. Trying to find out if they are all now starting to process mail or not?
The IRS has only posted general information ... it is unknown which offices/processing centers are doing what and when.
It is now july. I filed my taxes in mid march. I have not got any refund yet. Sorry for the late reply. There is no information about my taxes either. I called the hotline i spoke to a representative and forced me back into the voice recording function. I tried calling the local office they are also closed too. So i will continue to wait and hopefully have some response by august
@needtaxhelp22 wrote:It is now july. I filed my taxes in mid march. I have not got any refund yet. Sorry for the late reply. There is no information about my taxes either. I called the hotline i spoke to a representative and forced me back into the voice recording function. I tried calling the local office they are also closed too. So i will continue to wait and hopefully have some response by august
Many people are in this situation. There have even been news articles about it. I'll tell you a way to reach an IRS agent (if you're lucky), and also how to reach the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.
Here are some things to do first, which you may have already done. If you efiled, you should double-check to be sure the return was efiled successfully and accepted. If you used Online TurboTax, you can sign into your Online Account and check the efile status at the Tax Home.
If that showed it was accepted, you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool at the IRS website below to monitor the status of your Federal refund.
https://www.irs.gov/Refunds
NOTE: When using that tool, be sure to enter the correct SSN and filing status. Use only the Federal refund amount, and not any total refund amount that includes a state refund. The amount to use is on your Federal Form 1040, Line 21a.
If the IRS tool says it is still being processed, here's how to reach the IRS, but it may not be easy. Part of it is luck. Due to the Coronavirus, some of the IRS call centers are closed, some are operating with reduced personnel, some are gradually opening back up. Some users have reported this week that they have finally reached someone. Here is the normal method to reach an IRS live agent when they are operating smoothly, and I'll also tell you below how to reach the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.
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.
If you continue to have no luck reaching the IRS, you can try contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your area. They are still taking phone calls in most states. 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
I got my refund last friday by direct deposit after waiting nearly 4 months
We got ours yesterday after waiting since March as well. Saw it was received over the weekend when I checked and it was direct deposited yesterday.
We are still waiting for ours - mailed it in 4/2/20 - does anyone know an update? I'm just worried that they don't have it and we will be dinged for not filing. I have a certified tracking that it is "in transit to next facility"
@FFK wrote:We are still waiting for ours - mailed it in 4/2/20 - does anyone know an update? I'm just worried that they don't have it and we will be dinged for not filing. I have a certified tracking that it is "in transit to next facility"
For several months the IRS was not processing any mailed returns due to Covid-19, but they have recently begun processing them again, but there is a huge backlog. The IRS also does not necessarily acknowledge delivery receipt, especially in this circumstance when they were stockpiling them. Your return was likely delivered in bulk amidst a massive number of returns.
The IRS website continues to say:
Processing Delays for Paper Tax Returns
We continue to process electronic and paper tax returns, issue refunds, and accept payments. 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 call the IRS.
Hang on to your tracking info that shows when you mailed it in case you need it, but the IRS is aware that many people are in your situation this year. If you are due a Federal refund, there is no penalty for a late return anyway.
You can check the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool periodically to see when they start processing your return:
I mailed out my Fed Return and State Return over a month ago. Tracking shows that they arrived at the destination cities (Ogden, UT for the fed return) and (Sacramento CA for the state return.). But there they sit, both returns not delivered yet. Seems they are in a holding tank. Guessing they are backlogged, in part due to the Corona Virus, and not even picking up their mail. How much longer can they neglect these returns?
Mailed in federal returns are taking 6 months or longer to process ... hang in there.
I am in a similar situation, on 11/5/21 mailed state taxes to (Salt Lake City, Utah) and got my refund check last week, federal went to (Ogden, Utah) sent certified mail and was received on 11/12/21 and 6 weeks later, still hasn't updated to received. It seems like the IRS website is mocking me saying "it takes up to 3 weeks to show on your account"