2018 federal refund

[pibblemom2]

Filed January 29, 2019, here it is August 19, 2019 and am still awaiting federal refund with no explanations as to why. Have contacted IRS directly, received several CP05 letters as well as 4464c,2645c , and 2644c letters. Not sure what is going on but it shouldn't take 8 months to review a return. I was told there's nothing for me to do other than wait. Conveniently after i contact IRS is when i get another letter stating they need an additional 90 days to conclude my review. Anyone else going through this? any suggestions on how i can find out what is going on? I have called the tax advocates 3 times and was either hung up on or was on hold for so long that it timed out, so they are no help.

[DoninGA]

Did you e-file your tax return and was it accepted?
Only the IRS and your State control when and if a Federal or State tax refund is Approved and Issued.

You complete your tax return by finishing all 3 Steps in the File section. In Step 3, to e-file your tax return, you must click on the large Orange button labeled "Transmit my returns now".

After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.

Note - Once a tax return has been Accepted by the IRS or a State, TurboTax receives no further information concerning the tax return or the status of any tax refund.  Only the taxpayer listed on the tax return can obtain the status of a tax refund or a tax return.

To check the status of an e-filed return, open up your desktop product or log into your TurboTax Online Account. You can find your status within the TurboTax product.
If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds
If accepted by the state use this TurboTax support FAQ to check the state tax refund status - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

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
If over 21 days since being Accepted by the IRS and the tax refund is still Processing you can call the IRS and speak with an IRS agent concerning your tax refund.
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.
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

[xmasbaby0]

You did not ask a question--so my best guess is you want to know why you have not received your refund yet.  If you have a different question, please ask it in more than three words.

TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer.

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 20a of your 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

On the IRS site you are also offered the use of an app called IRS2Go

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...

[pibblemom2]

Also, if and when i receive my refund, will the IRS give me my interest owed since the filing date of April 15?

[Critter]

The IRS doesn't pay you interest for holding your money all year if you have too much withheld, or if you pay too much in estimated tax. However, the IRS may pay you interest if they send your refund later than 45 days from the filing deadline for your return.

[pibblemom2]

yes, i filed back in January, but the interest would not accumulate until 45 days after April 15. It is now August 19, so yeah, interest should be added to refund whenever i do receive it.

[mnda0616]

I would suggest contacting the IRS and get someone who is willing to help you. I filed in Feb 2019, i am just now receiving my return(hopefully) on Friday.  After months of waiting the "wheres my refund" changed to show a date that it will be sent. I called the IRS at least 20 times and depending on who i get would determine how helpful they were. Out of the many times i called, one person at the IRS told me SEVERAL people are having issues with missing W-2's and they believe it was from the government shutdown. They had no proof of one of my W2's even though everyone else at my office already received their refund. I was advised to have my employer resend in the W2 through the same method he did previously. We did this in Mid-June and now bout 3 weeks later, i am finally getting my refund. Maybe contact your employer/HR to see if they will send in your stuff to the IRS again. I feel it is so wrong that the IRS or someone in the government lost our W2's and this many people are still waiting. Keep calling and stay on them. Hopefully you will have resolution soon. 

[pauljeribarthol]

I'm going to complicate the issue. Like you, I filed my 2018 taxes in a timely manner (4/1/2019). My return got 'reviewed'. Using representative  numbers, I filed for a $1,000 fed refund. After many letters and calls, they sent me a check for $6,000 (!) in October. I knew that was wrong... contacted the IRS and they eventually (last week) agreed: I voided out the check and sent it back and they say they will send me my original refund (+ interest). So... here's the question:  For my 2019 tax return, what do I put down as a federal refund on my return? $6,000 or $1,000 or $ 00.00?  

[DoninGA]

@pauljeribarthol You do not enter a prior year federal tax refund on a federal tax return.

[pauljeribarthol]

Thank you.. I was looking ahead too far!