My tax refund is last and it’s been over 3 months since I filed my taxes

[AmyC]

s your return processing or pending?

• Pending - it will either accept or reject. If reject, fix and refile.
• Processing - IRS is working on it.

You can check the IRS website  to check the status of your return.  You  must enter the primary SSN, filing status, and the gross amount of the refund. You may also call IRS @ 1-800-829-1040. The gross amount is what is on your actual tax form, not what you may receive after fees, etc.

The IRS is hard to contact, see this.  Each return must be cross checked for the normal and now with the new laws:

• stimulus- is it correct, pay missing amounts, do they need to be added for the new stimulus
• unemployment - is it on there, was it filed with the $10,200 subtraction, does it need to be adjusted
• premium tax credit - is it on there, is there an amount due, adjust the return
• EIC - is it on, were they banned, is there a record of release to claim?
• Child credit -anybody else claim, how old are kids, what is allowed
• Typos, offsets, and so on for still more, it is a long process this year to check each return for so many things.
• If there is a problem, you will get a letter explaining the issue.

The IRS is also processing returns mailed in last year and handling the current stimulus. They have scheduled this summer to adjust unemployment on returns.

The more items on your return, the more complicated the processing. Some people are getting their refund in two parts.

@bettylmoore1969

[Sramboz]

I filed my taxes over 3 months ago too and have gotten through 3 times to the IRS.  Each time I was given a different excuse, from there was a glitch in the system the day I filed and no-one knows when it will be fixed, to not enough people working, and, my favorite, it’s been reviewed and you will see it Monday. Of course, that was over a month ago.  Long and short is that there is nothing I can do.  😐 Of course, they did withdraw my Maryland taxes from my checking and put us in trouble because we were expecting our Federal in time to cover it.  The representative at Turbo Tax assured me that I would have my Federal back long before that happened.  In other words, I’m screwed. 

[mesquitebean]

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@Sramboz  wrote:

I filed my taxes over 3 months ago too and have gotten through 3 times to the IRS.  Each time I was given a different excuse, from there was a glitch in the system the day I filed and no-one knows when it will be fixed, to not enough people working, and, my favorite, it’s been reviewed and you will see it Monday. Of course, that was over a month ago.  Long and short is that there is nothing I can do.  😐 Of course, they did withdraw my Maryland taxes from my checking and put us in trouble because we were expecting our Federal in time to cover it.  The representative at Turbo Tax assured me that I would have my Federal back long before that happened.  In other words, I’m screwed. 

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If you can't get good info from the IRS about what is causing your delay, you can try contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your area.    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

[Sramboz]

Those last three phone calls I was referring to were the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service!!  All they do is make excuses for the IRS. They don’t actually do anything to help and I am getting further and further messed up financially since Maryland took out without my Federal deposited. If I don’t get my refund within days, I can’t imagine that I can get out of this financial mess!! Even then, it maybe too late.  

[mesquitebean]

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@ Sramboz  wrote:

Those last three phone calls I was referring to were the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service!!  All they do is make excuses for the IRS. They don’t actually do anything to help and I am getting further and further messed up financially since Maryland took out without my Federal deposited. If I don’t get my refund within days, I can’t imagine that I can get out of this financial mess!! Even then, it maybe too late.  

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You have not yet said if you actually talked to an IRS agent or not before phoning the Taxpayer Advocate Service.   I'll assume you did, but couldn't get good info from the IRS so you went the Taxpayer Advocate Service approach.  If you have not spoken to an IRS agent, we can tell you how you may be able to reach a live IRS agent, or you can ask the Taxpayer Advocate Service to transfer you to an IRS agent.

Did you phone the local or national Taxpayer Advocate Service?  Try the other one; i.e., if you phoned your local IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your state without luck, you could try the national contact for the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service to see if they give you any different info. 

877-777-4778

If you've already been phoning the national Taxpayer Advocate Service, then try your local Taxpayer Advocate Service:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-a-Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

Stress the following 3 points:

Financial difficulties

Your problem is causing financial difficulty for you, your family, or your business.

Immediate threat

You face (or your business is facing) an immediate threat of adverse action

No response from the IRS

An IRS office does not grant the tax assistance you requested, or does not grant the tax assistance your requested in time.

If no luck, then you can contact your US Congressman's local/district office, explain your hardship, and ask for assistance through them.

[YMatthews2608]

Same it’s completely frustrating 

[MrsGorgeous]

Hey did they end of charging you twice? They did the same thing to me except they sent an email saying they were going to charge me it was in my spam folder. I was about to call and give somebody choice words when that happend. 

[Chifreakyone]

Year later and I'm still right there.  🤬

[mesquitebean]

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@ Chifreakyone wrote:

Year later and I'm still right there.  🤬

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If you successfully filed a 2019 return last year, were due a Federal refund, and have not received it after a year, then you should check with the IRS and, if needed, the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service as explained below.

Here is the normal method to reach a live IRS agent, but it won't be easy.  I've read that only about 10% of calls get through.

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 continue to have no luck reaching the IRS, you can try contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your area.    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

[Lcor]

I submitted my tax return on May 28 and it was approved a few hours later. I have not received any stimulus package and I am not working. I was counted on with this refund to cope with some expenses. It has passed 7months and the status is: "your tax return is still being processed."

I wish to know a telephone number to call them and to get some insight. Please, if somebody knows it, let me know as well.

[DoninGA]

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@Lcor wrote:

I submitted my tax return on May 28 and it was approved a few hours later. I have not received any stimulus package and I am not working. I was counted on with this refund to cope with some expenses. It has passed 7months and the status is: "your tax return is still being processed."

I wish to know a telephone number to call them and to get some insight. Please, if somebody knows it, let me know as well.

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After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

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.

[Pretzelpresley97]

I filed January 29 and I got my Michigan return on February 9 and I still have not gotten my federal return and it’s saying that it has Send a way beyond the normal time frame and it’s been almost 3 months this is ridiculous I’m getting mad I need to get to talk to someone

[mesquitebean]

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@Pretzelpresley97 wrote:

I filed January 29 and I got my Michigan return on February 9 and I still have not gotten my federal return and it’s saying that it has Send a way beyond the normal time frame and it’s been almost 3 months this is ridiculous I’m getting mad I need to get to talk to someone

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What message do you get at the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool?

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

If that IRS tool says your refund has been sent, how long has it been since say they sent it?   

And did you have any TurboTax fees that you chose to pay out of your Federal refund?

How did you choose to get your refund?  Is your Federal refund supposed to be sdeposited to a bank account, a debit card, or come by check in the mail?

[MrCollin]

I filed on January 21st. I haven't gotten any answers. It's ridiculous that this many people are waiting at the end of tax season and still haven't received my money. When But when its time for them to collect from us they will surely get it. We were early filers and we got screwed over by the IRS. I talked to the IRS and they have no answers for me on why it's taking so long. First, they told me 60 days. Then 60 days came and went, so I called them back and they told me its actually 120 days. Then why did I receive a letter in the mail saying 60 days?

[MrCollin]

Absolutely all they do is say "Covid has caused delays" "It takes 21 days or longer..if not then click here.." I am a single filer here as well no children. How is it people are getting back these huge refunds of $14,0000. But then us single filers with $1,000 refunds are put on a "120 day hold". Its absurd