Ineligible to file electronically --

[smalley5641]

I sent my TurboTax return to the IRS after having my return rejected with code R0000-198 and being told it needed to be mailed in on paper.  This was done March 3rd, and nearly 4 months later I have heard NOTHING regarding my return.  Checking the IRS website there is nothing filed, per there website.  They also leave no options to contact them for possible status.  IRS says not to refile -- but not certain they received my return; although, I did receive my State Return about a month after both were mailed to their respective offices.

What should I do??

[DoninGA]

Mailed 2021 federal tax returns are taking 6 months or longer before the IRS will start to process the return.  Until the return starts to be processed by the IRS there will not be any federal tax refund status on the IRS website - https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Go to this IRS website for the current status of 2021 tax returns - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of June 17, 2022, we had 11.2 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 9.2 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and processed. This work does not typically require us to correspond with taxpayers but does require special handling by an IRS employee so, in these instances, it is taking the IRS more than 21 days to issue any related refund and in some cases this work could take 90 to 120 days. If a correction is made to any Recovery Rebate Credit, Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

[Mike9241]

in the future when mailing tax returns, income tax payments, and the like use a method whereby you can track that thy've been delivered. this is the only way you'll know that they arrived until they are processed. Until then the iRS doesn't even know they exist. some say it takes 6 months for the IRS to process paper filings. the truth is no one knows.  some OPs have complained they have heard nothing about their 2020 refunds which were mailed over a year ago. 

[NCperson]

@smalley5641  - the IRS processes paper filed returns in the order they are received.  The IRS announced this week that they are just completing the processing of all returns received in 2021. 

That means they have NOT BEGUN processing any paper filed returns for the 2021 tax year, which obviously were submitted in 2022! (That begins next week!)

Based on that, if you submitted your 2021 tax return by paper, suggest it will be 6-9 months from the time it was mailed in until it is processed.  Just be patient.

 @Mike9241

if the return was paper filed in 2021 and there is no indication on the transcript that it has been processed, probably time to contact the IRS and / or re-file the paper (which puts you at the back of the 6-9 month queue!)...what a mess!