Prolonged Federal Efile Return

[larsonwtl1]

I Efiled both my State and Federal returns back on April 2nd. Both were approved on April 2nd. I received my State return within 10 days and nothing from Federal yet. When I check the status of the Federal return it says it is still being processed. What might this mean and has anyone else had the same issue with waiting for so long for their return? Is this a Covid backup?

[PML1995]

My Federal return for 2020 was eFiled by TurboTax on 15 February 2021 and Accepted by the IRS a few minutes later. This morning, 22 May 2021, on the IRS Refund page, it shows that my return, which was "Processsing" until now, was approved and that my refund should be in the bank next week. They reduced the amount of my refund by 600 USD so probably they think they mailed a check to me, which I did not receive. There are MANY reasons  why your return might be waiting for Processing and the IRS is way behind so you need to try to be patient. They have millions of returns that need to be processed...

[VolvoGirl]

@PML1995   Did you have 600 on line 30 for a second Stimulus payment you didn't get?  It may have come after you filed.

If you claimed a missing stimulus payment on your return but the IRS took it off you have to ask the IRS. They think they already sent it to you. Maybe it went to an account you don't remember. Or you got a check or a card. It was probably easy to miss the debit card in the mail and think it was junk mail. They have to put a trace on it.

How to put a trace on a missing 1st or 2nd Stimulus payment

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/second-eip-faqs

[SweetieJean]

I Efiled both my State and Federal returns back on April 2nd. Both were approved on April 2nd.

No; they were Accepted for processing then.  Approved is a later step.  The IRS has been (and remains) seriously backlogged due to all the new tax laws and extra stimulus filings, as well as unprocessed 2019 returns still left over from the COVID shutdown.  Lots of other folks are still waiting (some since mid-February), so please continue to be patient.  Also see:

Tax refund delays could continue as backlog of tax returns is growing, tax advocate says - CBS News

[PML1995]

@VolvoGirl  Thank  you for replying to me.  No, on Line 30   I have $1800.  The IRS reduced that to $1203.46.  Apparently, they mailed a Check to me for $600, which is lost in the mail, for EIP 2.  Mail sent via USPS is not delivered to our overseas address. 

After the $1203.46 is received (Direct Deposit) and finalized, then I will try to get them to put a "Stop Payment" on the check for $600 and replace that with a Direct Deposit to the bank account in the USA. 

[larsonwtl1]

IRS message still says tax return still being processed. It was accepted by TurboTax back on April 2nd. Audit risk was basically zero. 
any ideas on a possible reason for holdup? Still Covid?

[VolvoGirl]

You are not alone.  Millions are still waiting.

Turbo Tax only gives you an estimated date. The IRS usually pays most refunds within 21 days. But these are not normal times. This year is taking the IRS longer to send the refunds. There are millions more people filing returns to get the Stimulus payment.

See this news article on Refunds being delayed
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/where-is-my-damn-irs-tax-refund-new-answers-emerge-a...

Only the IRS can tell you. If your return was Accepted then check IRS Where's my refund
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/

When will you get your refund?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refund-status/help/when-will-i-get-my-irs-tax-refund/01/25589

IRS - Questions about Refunds
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions