Missing Refund

[murreybowles]

I mailed my taxes in February and still haven't received my refund.  I've tried the automated system, where's my refund, but they don't have any information.  What should I do?

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

Mailed 2021 tax returns are taking the IRS six months or longer to process.  Until the tax return starts to be processed by the IRS there will not be any information on the IRS federal tax refund website.

IRS website for tax return status information - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of June 10, 2022, we had 11 million unprocessed individual returns which include returns received before 2022, and new tax year 2021 returns. Of these, 1.9 million returns require error correction or other special handling, and 9.1 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and processed. This work does not typically require us to correspond with taxpayers but does require special handling by an IRS employee so, in these instances, it is taking the IRS more than 21 days to issue any related refund and in some cases this work could take 90 to 120 days. If a correction is made to any Recovery Rebate Credit, Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

[murreybowles]

Thanks, I appreciate your response.  I was getting stressed wondering if my tax returns were lost in the mail.

[NCperson]

@murreybowles - the IRS processes paper filed returns in the order received.  They announced yesterday that they were completing everything received through Dec, 2021 this week, meaning they have not processes ANY 2021 tax returns that were paper filed!!!!!! figure 6-9 months from the time you filed. Patience is key!