Direct Deposit went to a non existing bank account number

[gracelb18]

Hello, I filed my 2020 taxes back in March of 2021. My E-file/ direct deposit was accepted but I never received my refund. I went to my bank, they had told me that I put the wrong routing/ account number. The one I put did not exist, so no one else got my refund, yet I still have not received it. How do I get my refund now? 

[DoninGA]

The direct deposit would have been rejected by the bank and returned to the IRS.  The IRS would then issue a refund check and mail it to the address on the tax return.

[VolvoGirl]

Your Direct Deposit is not accepted.  Only the tax return efile is accepted for processing.   Then the IRS approves your refund.   Has the IRS even sent it yet?  They are taking a long time to send refunds.  Millions  are still waiting even from February.

IRS Where's my refund     

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/

Were you having the Turbo Tax fees deducted from your refund?   Then it goes through a 3rd party bank to take the fees out.  If the account number is wrong then the bank will send it back to the IRS.  The IRS will then mail a check to the address on your return.

[gracelb18]

They never sent that, and it has been 5 months lol. I have also reached out to my bank and called the IRS and they just tell me to contact turbo tax. 

[VolvoGirl]

Who never sent what?  The IRS probably hasn't sent your refund yet.

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

[gracelb18]

When I go to the IRS website to track it says it was already transferred to my bank. The bank routing number had one too many digits in it which was my mistake. So the bank then told me that that number did nit exist. That is the last I have heard on it. Are you saying that you think the IRS is still in the process of sending it and I just have not received it yet? Thank you for all your help. 

[VolvoGirl]

Yes if the IRS got it back they will mail a check to the address on your return.  You have to ask the IRS to put a trace on it.  When did the IRS send the deposit?  Everything is taking longer this year at the IRS.  You may have to wait a couple weeks.  

[gracelb18]

It says my direct deposit was sent to my bank on April 5, 2021. Should I try and call the IRS?

[DoninGA]

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@gracelb18 wrote:

It says my direct deposit was sent to my bank on April 5, 2021. Should I try and call the IRS?

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Go to this IRS website for how initiate a trace on the federal tax refund check - https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/refund-inquiries/refund-inquiries-0