EFILE REFUND NOT RECEIVED - approximate 8 weeks

[JALNJ]

Returned filed  and accepted on 2/25/21.  Refund still not received.  How can I contact IRS to determine status other than "where's my refund" which only states "being processed"?

[ColeenD3]

Even though the IRS issues 9 out of 10 tax refunds within 21 days, it's possible your return may require additional review and take longer to process.

For some taxpayers, PATH Act requirements and other identity-protection safeguards implemented by the IRS may account for longer wait times.

Other things that can delay your refund include, but are not limited to:

• Liens, back taxes, or refund offsets

• Errors, inconsistencies, or missing information
• Identity fraud
• Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, which can take 11-14 weeks to process

Also, if you chose direct deposit, your financial institution may need another day or two to post the refund to your account, so keep that in mind.

Related Information:

• What if my IRS refund is taking longer than 21 days?
• When will I get my IRS tax refund?
• Some federal refunds are delayed due to the PATH Act

See also: IRS behind

[JALNJ]

Thanks for the reply however none of the possible delay causes apply to my tax return. 

Since I have not been able to speak to a live contact at the IRS, I am in the process of setting up an "account" with the IRS that I believe will allow me to access my return in an effort to gain more insight as to what is holding up the refund.

[JALNJ]

I finally set up an account and was able to access a transcript for my account which only contained my personal ids and the quarterly tax payments I had made in 2020.  However there is a line on the transcript that stated "RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT".  This makes me believe my efile was not successful and not accepted as reported by Turbotax.  Should I attempt to redo the efile?

[AmyC]

 The  Welcome to Get Transcript states returns are normally in the system by now but nothing is normal this year. The IRS is behind on debiting accounts even for payment.

Since you have a refund coming, when you check Where's my refund it should say processing if the return is being processed. It will say no information available, if not filed. Once a payment is set, the system will change to your payment information.

Let's go through the steps people get wrong:

• You entered the primary SSN, the first name listed on the return
• You entered the actual tax refund listed on the forms, not what you are getting
• You entered the correct filing status

The IRS is having a hard time this year. 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.

• Why do some refunds take longer than others?

• Blog post: Where's My Refund? Top 5 Reasons It's Been Delayed