My federal tax return was accepted six months ago, and my refund has still not been issued. How can I get this resolved?

[Al_End]

@NCperson  you have kindly answered this when the subject line was "three months ago" but ... still says in process and there's no clear way to contact the IRS for information. You have told other posters here to be patient, and to check their "transcript" ... so what is that? Also, there was an address change so IRS may have sent me paper mail and are waiting for response. Is that possible if I e-filed? Wonder if there's any way to make an appointment with local IRS to see if that is the case, or if that would help at all. At least I'd be talking to a human with access to records not available elsewhere.

[xmasbaby0]

Did you send a change of address to the IRS?

CHANGE OF ADDRESS 

https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes/address-changes

As you were told several months ago, there are a lot of delays for 2021 refunds.   TurboTax does not receive any information about your refund after you file your tax return.  Your source of information is the IRS and the IRS refund site.   

Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control.  TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.

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

To track your state refund:    

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2724106-my-return-is-accepted-but-still-not-approved-is-there-a-pr...

OR——if you filed by mail, expect a long wait.   It is taking the very backlogged IRS six to nine months to process mailed returns.   Until a human opens your envelope and enters the data into the system, nothing will even show up on the refund site, so you will have to be very patient.

To call the IRS:IRS:  800-829-1040  hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Mon-Fri

Listen to each menu before making the selection.

First choose your language. Press 1 for English.

Then do NOT choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.

Instead, press 2 for "personal income tax".

Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  

Then press 3 "for all other questions."

Then press 2 "for all other questions."  It should then transfer you to an agent.

[DoninGA]

@NCperson Has not been in this forum for a couple of months.

The IRS is taking 6 to 9 months and longer to process 2021 tax returns due to various reasons.  There are millions of taxpayers waiting for their 2021 tax return to be processed and to receive their tax refunds.

Go to this IRS website for information on the status of tax returns filed in 2022 - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

You can try calling the IRS but be prepared for a lot of frustration in getting contact with an agent.

Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday
When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.
Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
Then press 3 "for all other questions."
Then press 2 "for all other questions."
- When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything.
- After it asks twice, you will get another menu.

Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
Then press 4 for all other inquiries
It should then transfer you to an agent.
Or you can contact your local IRS office. See this IRS website for local IRS offices - http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1 or call 1-844-545-5640 to set up an appointment

[VolvoGirl]

The IRS got far behind the last couple years because of Covid-19.  They might still be processing some 2020 returns.  Try the Tax Advocate

Home - Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) - Taxpayer Advocate Service

[Al_End]

This was 2021 Return, *e*-filed 3/22/22! I will send the Change of Address f8222 but it may end up adding to the delay.

[xmasbaby0]

@Al_End If the IRS needs to send anything to you in the mail, it would be best if they have the correct address.  For example, if you give incorrect banking information to the IRS for your direct deposit, and the bank rejects the deposit,  the IRS has to mail you a check.   Or...if the IRS needs additional information in order to process your return, they send you a request for that information in the mail.

[Al_End]

Setting up a local appointment has been (for several months) been looping to "goodbye" even after making you wait 10-20 mins. on hold. I will try filing the change of address, but it isn't clear they'll resend anything they may have sent to the "old" address, and as you point out the -1040 # is largely an exercise in futility where they loop you around to the Wheres-my-refund-phone-game without ever offering a live person. Sigh ...

[Critter-3 · Accepted solution]

Have you checked the IRS website to see if they have a transcript of your return / amended return 

Request Online

What You Need

To register and use this service, you need:

• your SSN, date of birth, filing status and mailing address from latest tax return,
• access to your email account,
• your personal account number from a credit card, mortgage, home equity loan, home equity line of credit or car loan, and
• a mobile phone with your name on the account.

What You Get

• All transcript types are available online
• View, print or download your transcript
• Username and password to return later

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

Only the IRS controls when and if a tax refund is Approved and Sent.

Call the IRS:  1-800-829-1040  hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday

When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.  

So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info).  Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.

Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".   

Then press 3 "for all other questions."

Then press 2 "for all other questions."  

- When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don’t enter anything.  

- After it asks twice, you will get another menu.

Then press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.

Then press 4 for all other inquiries.

It should then transfer you to an agent.

Or you can contact your local IRS office.  See this IRS website for local IRS offices - http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1 or call 1-844-545-5640 to set up an appointment

Or you may want to contact a Taxpayer Advocate in your area.  See this IRS website for Taxpayer Advocate in your area and a toll free number - http://www.irs.gov/Advocate/Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

[Al_End]

getting an id.me set up can be a real minefield, so I'll use the valuable info provided above and do that touch-tone dance ... and get ready for some very long wait times on hold! At least this way I'll see what's holding up a return I e-filed nearly 7 months (200 days) ago, or 180 days longer than I'm supposed to have waited for it!

[Al_End]

I checked. They do not have any record of 2021 taxes being filed, even though the Where's My Refund site shows "being processed." I'm starting to wonder if this is a TurboTax/Intuit glitch. 2021 shows "N/A"???

You selected: Federal Tax
We suggest you download: Record of Account Transcript

Record of Account Transcript

• N/A
• 2020 Record of Account Transcript
• 2019 Record of Account Transcript
• 2018

[Critter-3]

@Al_End 

Until the IRS finishes processing the 2021 return the 2021 account transcript will not reflect the filing.

[Al_End]

It keeps getting worse! Now my advice from Intuit is to:

• Print two copies of the return; mark in very dark letters on p.1 "DUPLICATE"
• Mail one copy to Ogden, UT (My regional IRS center) along with a cover letter
• Find the "tracking ID" -- not exactly sure how to do this on IRS.gov, but an Intuit rep helped me and emailed it to me
• Add the email or tracking ID to the bundle going to Ogden; make sure to send the package "Return Reciept Requested" at your local PO
• Take the second copy, again with the Tracking #, to local IRS "Taxpayer Assistance Center" but (VERY important) do not relinquish it to them or you'll be shooting yourself in the foot!

Another very valuable piece of information received from the Intuit Rep: The fact that the 2021 return doesn't show up in the suggested "Account Transcript" hints VERY strongly that the IRS is not awaiting any information from me on my 2021 return, but rather the backlog is just overwhelming.

Something mentioned about 13 *million* returns having gone missing, and two IRS officials being prosecuted for that "error," has me deeply concerned, especially since there is no indication of anything like that appearing in all the reputable media sources I've checked. Anybody here heard about this? I'd think it would have leaked out by now. This 8-month-old article in the Washington Post may hint at the size of the backlog though: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/11/irs-returns-backlog/

[Affordabletaxes2021]

The tax files that went missing we’re not 1040 forms for individual tax returns. So no, that’s not the issue. They’re overwhelmed using an archaic computer system that cannot handle the volume

of returns received. So much has to be done manually and it takes a lot longer up to 6-9 months just to show up in the IRS system sometimes .