My Refund

[deambriaabner]

I filed my taxes back in February. I received a letter in the mail in April for me to identify myself. I called in and did that April 21. Letter indicated that it could take up to 9 weeks to move along the process. As of June 23rd being the 9th week and today is July 4, what is going on with my return refund? I cant get in contact with anybody, so what do I do? What does this mean? Do I amend my return?

[mesquitebean]

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@ deambriaabner wrote:

I filed my taxes back in February. I received a letter in the mail in April for me to identify myself. I called in and did that April 21. Letter indicated that it could take up to 9 weeks to move along the process. As of June 23rd being the 9th week and today is July 4, what is going on with my return refund? I cant get in contact with anybody, so what do I do? What does this mean? Do I amend my return?

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"What does this mean?

     It means the IRS is way behind on processing returns that require any manual review.   While 9 weeks after ID verification may have been a good estimate in normal years,  the last couple of years have not been normal.  The IRS has been way behind.

"What is going on with my return refund?"

     Only the IRS can know that.  I'll tell you how to phone the IRS below to see if you can learn anything about the delay.  If you have a hardship or difficulty reaching the IRS, I've also provided info on contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.

"Do I amend my return?"

      Amend it for what??   Why do you mention amending?   Do you need to correct something that would require an amendment?    If the IRS finds something wrong, they may correct it for you, or otherwise contact you again.  Or do you know that you need to amend something?   If you need to amend something from your end, you need to wait until your original return has completely finished processing and your refund, if applicable, is received.

You can phone the IRS to see if you can learn anything about the delay, but be warned the IRS is not easy to reach.   I have found that for me it was best to call just before closing time--about 6:50-6:55 PM and go through the steps below.  I figured a lot of folks would not call that close to closing, and that if I was one of the last to get into the queue, they would finish off all the people who were in the queue at closing time.   I still had to wait about 25-30 minutes.   

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.

• First choose your language.  Then listen to each menu before making the selection.
• Then 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 may then ask for your SSN, but do not enter it.  Just wait.    If it asks for SSN a second time, still do not enter it.
• Then it will get "tired", and you'll get another menu.  Choose 2 for "personal".
• Then in the next menu choose 4 for "all other inquiries", and it should transfer you to an agent but expect a long wait.
• I usually use a speakerphone so I can work on something else while waiting.

If you have no luck reaching the IRS, or don't get satisfactory information, you can try contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your area.    They are especially prone to help if you have a financial hardship, or if there have been continued delays with lack of info from the IRS.    At the following IRS website, select your state from the dropdown menu, 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 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

[mesquitebean]

@deambriaabner 

ADDENDUM

I meant to include this with my longer answer above:

Is there any clue when you use the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool to check on your refund?

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Or does it merely say "is still being processed?"

[NCperson]

@mesquitebean @deambriaabner - the IRS website implores people NOT to call,  THey are woefully behind but it is evident they have your return.  While I appreciate the purpose of the Advocate Desk, most posts I seeon these boards end up with the same result: Advocat us overwhelmed and all the calling just creates more frustration and long wait time. 

Best just to continue to be patient.  THe IRS is under a lot of pressure to get back to normal backlogs by the end of the year. 

here is what the IRS staes on their website:

What you should do: In most instances, no further action is needed but you may check Where’s My Refund? or you can view your account. If you filed electronically and received an acknowledgement, you do not need to take any further action other than promptly responding to any requests for information. If you filed on paper, check Where’s My Refund? If it tells you we have received your return or are processing or reviewing it, we are processing your return, but it may be under review. If you filed before October 2021 and Where’s My Refund? does not have any information, your return has been opened but work on it has not begun. We’re working hard to get through the carryover inventory. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue#coll...

[deambriaabner]

When I check the “Where’s my refund?” it only says “you’re return has been delayed beyond normal timeframe.” It doesn’t indicate anything about it being processed at all. 

I mentioned amend because its taking so long; I figured it was something I did wrong. I’ve called and called, utilizing the steps you listed. No answer. Straight to “due to an extremely high volume…” and then hangs up. 

[deambriaabner]

Based on my situation in particular, I would be instructed to call since it has been more than 21 days as well as over the 9 week mark. However, like I said, when I call, I can’t get through to anyone. I’ve been patient long enough, and I feel some sort of communication would clear the elephant in the room. I haven’t received any other letter - I check the mailbox frequently.

It is fairly frustrating because the IRS are sure to get their money but at the same time, they’re slow to issue it back out. Normally, I won’t have any troubles with my return, but because I indicated I wasn’t awarded something, it’s taking too long. 

[NCperson]

@deambriaabner I appreciate your frustration, but like millions of others, the IRS is asking for your patience. 

as the website states: 

Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

The agents that answer the calls (if you can get through as 70% of the calls aren't even answered) don't know anything more than what is on the your account that you can access online

Again, patience.....everyone has a "circumstance" and the IRS doesn't have the capacity to accomodate all these 'circumstances'.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue#coll...

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-continues-work-on-inventory-of-tax-returns-original-tax-returns-fil...

[deambriaabner]

I understand. Thanks. 

[deambriaabner]

I was able to get through to the state, though. My returns were accepted in Feb. but like i said i got the letter to verify myself. I did that. I contacted the state & they were able to process while I was on the phone. With this being the case, slid it possible for the IRS to notice this and move forward w processing or no?

[SweetieJean]

No, as the IRS has no way of knowing if/when your State return was processed.