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Level 1
posted Mar 4, 2021 11:37:50 AM

Is the recovery rebate credit causing return delays?

I e-filed Feb14th and got an accepted status by the 16th. A lot of people around me have already gotten they return deposited but mine still shows as processing. The 21st day would be March 9th. I did not get the second stimulus so I applied for the recovery rebate credit and I'm wondering if people who are claiming this rebate are experiencing more delays as opposed as those who aren't? Usually my refund is deposited quite fast the past few years.  

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24 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 4, 2021 11:52:59 AM

If you e-filed, those returns are being processed as they normally are even those with the recovery rebate credit.  Keep in mind, however, that if you have the EIC or ACTC on your return, those returns started being processed this week, due to the Path Act.   

 

Under the PATH Act, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds and claims from being issued, including to identity thieves.

 

The IRS anticipates a first week of March refund for many EITC and ACTC taxpayers if they file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns.  This would be the same experience for taxpayers if the filing season opened in late January.  Taxpayers will need to check Where's My Refund for their personalized refund date.

 

Overall, the IRS anticipates nine out of 10 taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically with direct deposit if there are no issues with their tax return. 

Level 1
Mar 4, 2021 12:31:38 PM

Thank you. I did not claim the EIC or ACTC on my return which is why I found it odd that my status is still processing.

New Member
Mar 8, 2021 7:28:29 PM

 my baby was born in oct of 2019. they used 2018 taxes for the first stimulus so we never got it for her.  so with my other kids me and the mom switch years, one year me one year her.  when i filed this year i put in the total amount "we" received for me and the kids. even though she received the stimulus for my son. i put it in my taxes since if i didn't i would have gotten an overpayment. in the end they owed me 500 for my baby. i filed jan 30 still waiting on my federal return got my state. i called irs today and was told my refund was put on hold and to expect a letter in the mail. they didnt say why but most likely for that situation. turbo tax needs a better way too enter stimulus money recieved not just a total.  it should be a per person amount. 

Expert Alumni
Mar 8, 2021 7:42:37 PM

What do you mean by ''you would have gotten an overpayment''?   If you are not married and file separate returns, then you should have only entered what you received and she should enter what she received.   Whoever claims the baby on the 2020 tax returns is entitled to the credit; it doesn't matter what amount you received already.   Same with the other children, it doesn't matter what you received as stimulus payments, you qualify for payment for the children you claim on your 2020 return.   If you received too much money, you don't have to pay it back, but if you did not receive what you qualify for, you will receive it as the recovery rebate.   If you put down that you received more than was actually sent to you, then that is probably what is causing the delay.   But it may be something completely unrelated to that.   @aodmisery

New Member
Mar 8, 2021 7:52:21 PM

so my sons mom received both stimulus payments.  but since i was claiming him this year i entered in stimulus amount his mom received. reason for this was if i didn't enter it it was trying to give me both stimulus amounts. meaning we would have received both stimulus payments twice for the same kid.

Expert Alumni
Mar 8, 2021 8:39:54 PM

In your situation, when one child is claimed by two parents differently in different tax years, that child WILL generate a stimulus payment for each parent. It had been decided to let this happen, allow both parents to get the stimulus for the same child. 

 

Whether this is holding up your return or not I'm not sure, but the IRS is certainly under a lot of pressure so I suggest you give a little more time. You may get the additional amount and if so, don't worry about that being in error. 

Returning Member
Mar 9, 2021 2:44:39 PM

Mine got delayed as well. I applied for recovery rebate credit for first stimulus in addition to regular return. Not sure how long is the wait time.

Expert Alumni
Mar 9, 2021 2:58:34 PM

The IRS says that it will issue 9 out of 10 refunds to taxpayers in less than 21 days.  However, if:

  • You have e-filed your 2020 Federal tax return,
  • You are claiming a Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on line 30 of the 2020 1040 tax return, and
  • Your tax return has been accepted by the IRS. 

We suspect that the IRS will scrutinize stimulus payments that were issued against the tax returns that claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. We do not know how much delay that the IRS will incur in such cases.

 

IRS live phone assistance is extremely limited at this time.  For stimulus payment questions, call 800-919-9835.

 

Follow the TurboTax COVID Tax Center and the IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center for further developments.

Level 1
Mar 10, 2021 8:59:26 AM

I am in the same boat. Claimed the second stimulus since I didn't receive it (went to an old bank account), and I am still waiting for my refund.

Expert Alumni
Mar 10, 2021 9:29:46 AM

The IRS says that it will issue 9 out of 10 refunds to taxpayers in less than 21 days.  However, if: 

  • You have e-filed your 2020 Federal tax return,
  • You are claiming a Recovery Rebate Credit (RRC) on line 30 of the 2020 1040 tax return, and
  • Your tax return has been accepted by the IRS.  

We suspect that the IRS will scrutinize stimulus payments that were issued against the tax returns that claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. We do not know how much delay that the IRS will incur in such cases.

 

IRS live phone assistance is extremely limited at this time.  For stimulus payment questions, call 800-919-9835.

 

Follow the TurboTax COVID Tax Center and the IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center for further developments.

Level 1
Mar 12, 2021 7:06:09 AM

I have never had issues getting mine on time either but I did have to use the reclaim rebate this year for my daughter’s stimulus and I am in the same boat. It has been over 21 days and my accepted status disappeared from the “where’s my refund?” Page and it now says that it is being processed. 

Level 1
Mar 12, 2021 8:01:55 AM

same here with it just saying it is being processed. So annoying!

Level 2
Mar 14, 2021 7:57:55 AM

I am close to the 21 day marker which is unusual. I used the Recovery Rebate Credit to claim the first stimulus due to being in a Mixed Status Family. I received second stimulus and the first had to be claimed on the 2020 return thanks to the retroactive approving of it for citizens in mixed families. But my status has been sitting at accepted much longer than expected. It is not comforting to have the whole return stalled for this credit. I hope they find away to relieve the backlog, as these filing situations should have been expected.  Just tell us the  real deal.

Level 1
Mar 14, 2021 8:59:15 AM

Mine had the same issue. I submitted on the 12th and my refund status just posted saying that it will be released on march 19th (so about two weeks after it was supposed to be). I hope that helps and gives some hope. 

New Member
Mar 17, 2021 1:12:05 AM

I filed Feb 11th was accepted on turbotax on Feb 12th. where's my refund tool says it is still processing and a date will be provided. Today is march 17th and I still have no information. I filed for a recovery rebate for my daughter who was born in 2020 and I'm not sure if that is why. 

New Member
Mar 17, 2021 2:46:09 AM

Same thing for me. I called and after being on hold for nearly 3 hours they said mine was in further review because having a baby in 2020 didn’t qualify for it. TurboTax calculated that it qualified and literally everything else on the internet says a baby born in 2020 qualifies you for it. It’s so frustrating. 

Expert Alumni
Mar 17, 2021 6:13:03 AM

It depends, the IRS says that claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit will not delay your return unless the amount is incorrect. Babies born in 2020 are eligible to get the stimulus payment if they qualifying children. A qualifying child must meet the 2020 Child Tax Credit rules and have a valid social security number.

 

From the IRS, 2020 Publication 972 (2020) Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents

Qualifying Child for the CTC

A child qualifies you for the CTC if the child meets all of the following conditions.

  1. The child is your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, or a descendant of any of them (for example, your grandchild, niece, or nephew).

  2. The child was under age 17 at the end of 2020.

  3. The child did not provide over half of his or her own support for 2020.

  4. The child lived with you for more than half of 2020 (see Exceptions to time lived with you , later).

  5. The child is claimed as a dependent on your return. See Pub. 501 for more information about claiming someone as a dependent.

  6. The child does not file a joint return for the year (or files it only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid).

  7. The child was a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. resident alien. For more information, see Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. If the child was adopted, see Adopted child , later.

......In addition to being a qualifying child for the CTC (defined earlier), your child must have the required SSN. 

 

See the screenshot below or go to this link for more information: Recovery Rebate Credit — Topic E: Receiving the Credit | Internal Revenue Service, question 5.

@Csmitt1210

@Cbart55

 

New Member
Mar 17, 2021 11:13:45 AM

I dont usally file taxes but i did this year for the stimulus and was told i was approved and accepted for the recovery rebate credit and was supposed to get march 9th but its still processing why?

New Member
Mar 17, 2021 11:17:22 AM

I dont usally file taxes but i did this year for the stimulus and was told i was approved and accepted for the recovery rebate credit and was supposed to get march 9th but its still processing why?

Level 9
Mar 17, 2021 11:55:20 AM

It's possible that the IRS is examining your return but it's hard to know if it's because of the stimulus or something else.  When the IRS accepts a return, it means that their scanning didn't find any mismatches that it has to pass before the numbers and calculations are performed.  

 

Here is a TurboTax article with the latest information about the third stimulus payment.

 

If you didn't receive your stimulus and it went to the form of a refund due to the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 tax return, please check this link for more information.

If you never received the stimulus at all and did not declare it on your tax return, please check this link.

Level 2
Mar 20, 2021 2:02:35 AM

  • Same thing with me I filed recovery rebate cause my stimulus went to closed account but I got my check 48 hrs after filing my tax now we are 38 days into me filing and it still says processing. I finally got a live person at the irs and she told me to call back may 5 but she didn't see anything wrong with my refund. If filing the recovery rebate is the hold up why even tell people to file it that way . So now the 3 rd stimulus payment was sent to the same closed account because the irs hasn't processed my updated tax return info yet . Fyi I don't file child tax credit just me and disabled dependent should have been a simple return has been for the last 8 years until this year 

Employee Tax Expert
Mar 20, 2021 7:31:09 AM

The IRS has actually issued the guidance in regards to the Recovery Rebate Credit.  The instructions provided within TurboTax are actually provided to assist taxpayers comply with the tax laws.  

 

The IRS has stated in the attached link why your return could possibly be delayed due to the credit.  As long as your information matches what is in the IRS's system, the delay may be part of the normal processing time by the IRS at this point in time.

 

Correcting Recovery Rebate Credits on returns already filed

New Member
Apr 2, 2021 9:25:05 AM

I've spoken with three separate irs employees on the phone and they all said that the recovery rebate credit is causing delays

Level 2
Apr 2, 2021 12:36:52 PM

Yes it was the recovery rebate I finally got mine and it was 600 less because the recovery rebate and something about they took 600 from my refund didn't really understand but still hadn't gotten my 3 stimmy suppose to be mailed on march 26 and noting