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

[KATHYJOHNG73]

I filed in Feb 26 and still nothing. IRS called and they hung up due to overwhelming calls.

[mesquitebean]

---

@KATHYJOHNG73 wrote:

I filed in Feb 26 and still nothing. IRS called and they hung up due to overwhelming calls.

---

If you efiled, I'll assume you have already checked to see that it was accepted for processing, and that you have been using the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool to check on the status.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

This is anecdotal, but I've phoned the IRS a couple of times and found that for me it was best to call just before closing time--about 6:55 PM and quickly go through the steps provided earlier in this thread to navigate their phone tree.   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. And luckily, my hunch worked for me. Still had to wait about 25 minutes.

[MrCollin]

Filed on 1-21 and was accepted 1-24 and still haven't received my refund. I have no idea what's going on. Is there anything I can do?? 

[mesquitebean]

---

@MrCollin wrote:

Filed on 1-21 and was accepted 1-24 and still haven't received my refund. I have no idea what's going on. Is there anything I can do?? 

---

If you are sure it was accepted, what are you seeing with this IRS WMR tool?

https://www.irs.gov/Refunds

If the tool says it is "still being processed", you can phone the IRS to see if you can learn anything about the delay.   The IRS is not easy to reach.   I have found that for me it was best to call just before closing time--about 6:55 PM and quickly 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 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 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

[adriandiaz]

me too. i filed january 31st. and yup still being processed

[tdt24153]

Same here. We filed Feb. 2nd., 1040SR. March 5th got a 'burden of proof' letter. Copied all necessary to prove our refund and sent it March 7th. I called today to get our status, it's all automated, got the reply that they couldn't tell me anything about it. Husband retired in 2020. We pay taxes before we get our SSI and retirement benefits. If the IRS has all that proof that is sent to them from our SSI and retirement showing we've already paid out our share, why is it taking so long? That's what I want to know. 

Yes, we always use Turbo Tax and have for years, no we don't pay all the extra $$ for audit security.

Just another way IRS is trying and keep our money and I look to get a refund some day and then a letter explaining why we didn't get all of our refund. Stick it to the tax payers! Who would get a tax lawyer for a few hundred $$$ not refunded that is actually ours? See, that's where they have you! Next year, 2022 taxes will not be done with Turbo Tax. Going to do the physical thing and take it in someplace. I'm not blaming Turbo Tax but there are things that a physical person can proofread that Turbo Tax can't. 

[MrCollin]

Filed on January 21st and still haven't received mine either. I'm frustrated it shouldn't take this long. I have gotten no answers from anyone about what is taking so long. 

[xmasbaby0]

@MrCollin

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

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...

[tdt24153]

I didn't do it online this year, I bought the software. It's not recorded on Turbotax website. 

Thanks.

[xmasbaby0]

@tdt24153 If you used the CD/download then you can check your e-file status from within your own software to see if the return was accepted.   If it was accepted then you have to track your refund on the IRS refund site.  That is the only place you are going to get any information  from once your return has been accepted.

[tdt24153]

Yes, it was accepted. When I try to track this refund it says that processing has been delayed. 

Okay, I give up now. 

[Lizardkhing6]

2022 Update

Finally got my 2019 and 2020 taxes processed by the IRS. It took 14 months for both no thanks to turbo Tax screwing up my 2019 efile. See my previous messages for that mess. Long story short, I realized I made an error on my 2019 taxes and sent an amendment in Jan 2021 for my 2019 tax return.  Because turbiotax screwed up my 2019 efile I had to paper file 5 months later. I got hit big time on penalties by the IRS. I've requested a forgiveness review as I have never been late filing and it was turbo Tax's fault. Anyway, I finally got both 2019 and 2020 tax filings processed late March 2022!!!! It took the IRS 14 months to process them.  And of course the IRS owed me several thousand back because of my 2019 tax return mistake. Do you think they would give me interest on the $$ they held for 14 months?! Nope, but they certainly had no problem charging me interest, late filing fee for the 2019 taxes! 

[MrCollin]

Thats just ridiculous and yeah Im with you im not using Turbotax next year. 

[Clife]

Its 2022, its been around 3 months for me and apparently the IRS does not have my return. I have proof of delivery and its extremely frustrating. Can't get a hold of an actual person over the phone either, just a robot

[mesquitebean]

---

@Clife wrote:

Its 2022, its been around 3 months for me and apparently the IRS does not have my return. I have proof of delivery and its extremely frustrating. Can't get a hold of an actual person over the phone either, just a robot

---

NOTE:  REVISED to add additional info 5/19/2022 at 5:18 PM Pacific

Since you said "proof of delivery", I assume you mailed a paper return.   In a normal year one would be able to see evidence of a paper return in the IRS system about 4 weeks after mailing.   However, for the last couple of years, longer periods are not uncommon for mailed paper returns since the IRS is so far behind.  

If you have an IRS online account (or want to open one), you can look to see if your return is showing up yet in a 2021 "Record of Account" transcript. 

By "IRS does not have my return", if you are referring to the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool?  If so, here are some tips:

• Be sure you enter the correct SSN and filing status.
• Be sure you are using only the Federal refund amount.   Do not include any state refund or any total refund or net refund (Fed and State) that TurboTax may have provided on a screen.  
• Look at your actual Federal return to get the Federal refund amount, i.e., your Form 1040, Line 35a.

• You can also try phoning the IRS refund hotline.  I've seen it work for some users when the WMR tool didn't.  800-829-1954

As for reaching the IRS, I realize this is anecdotal, but I have found that for me it was best to call just before closing time--about 6:50-6:55 PM and quickly 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 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.