What does "Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available." Exactly mean?

[mack823]

My federal was accepted by it's on April 2 it's now June 1st what is going on. When I check the IRS site it still says being processed no refund date available. Is this normal? My refund is directly deposited into my acct not being mailed. I have never waited so long? Help please. 

[mesquitebean]

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@mack823  wrote:

My federal was accepted by it's on April 2 it's now June 1st what is going on. When I check the IRS site it still says being processed no refund date available. Is this normal? My refund is directly deposited into my acct not being mailed. I have never waited so long? Help please. 

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While it's not "normal", it certainly is not uncommon this year, since the IRS has been mired down in processing leftover 2019 and current 2020 returns as well as stimulus payments and other duties they've been assigned when they were tasked with sudden and unexpected tax law changes.

If the WMR tool says "still" being processed, then the return has probably been pulled for manual processing for some reason that we won't specifically know in a user community forum.  Only the IRS knows what all they are doing with your return.  

Here's a long IRS article about the delays and some possible reasons.  Expand the section that pertains to your situation.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

The IRS prefers that people don't call and tie them up even more, but if you wish to do so, you may be able to get an IRS agent to tell you the reason for the delay, but it is hard to reach them.

IRS:  800-829-1040 (7AM-7 PM local time) Monday-Friday

When calling the IRS do not choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.

• First choose your language.  Then listen to each menu before making the selection.
• Then press 2 for "personal income tax".
• Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  
• Then press 3 "for all other questions."
• Then press 2 "for all other questions." 
• It may then ask for your SSN, but do not enter it.  Just wait.    If it asks for SSN a second time, still do not enter it.
• Then it will get "tired", and you'll get another menu.  Choose 2 for "personal".
• Then in the next menu choose 4 for "all other inquiries", and it should transfer you to an agent but expect a long wait.
• I usually use a speakerphone so I can work on something else while waiting.

If you're having an economic hardship, we can tell you how you may be able to get assistance from the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.

[Boblee21 1]

Can someone please help me my return was excepted March 1 I have called and called when I finally got someone the guy was rude for no reason!! I check everyday on were my refund tool says still processing. 

[xmasbaby0]

@Boblee21 1

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/taxes/the-irs-is-behind-in-processing-nearly-7-million-tax-returns-s...

https://abc7.com/irs-refund-tax-delay-returns-status/10435366/

https://money.yahoo.com/irs-employees-say-out-of-ink-printers-are-delaying-tax-returns-171522801.htm...

Called the IRS lately? Agency struggles to hire customer service reps despite pandemic unemployment ...

https://money.yahoo.com/taxpayers-waiting-to-get-last-years-tax-refund-190333088.html

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/where-is-my-damn-irs-tax-refund-new-answers-emerge-a...

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.  “21 days”  is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS.   Many refunds are taking longer during the pandemic.  The IRS is backlogged —-they are still trying to process millions of 2019 returns; they received millions of e-filed on the day they opened for 2020 returns, and now they are burdened with sending out another round of stimulus checks.   

Some delays are resulting from incorrect amounts that folks entered for stimulus checks they received.   Many people have been confused by the recovery rebate credit and completed it incorrectly.  The IRS may delay your refund while they cross-check to see what you received.  Some refunds are delayed because of the tax law changes that went into effect recently.   If your return has unemployment or the premium tax credit on it, that may be delaying it.

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

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 34of your 2020 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

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...

From this IRS website - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of May 15, 2021, we had 300,000 individual tax returns received prior to 2021 in the processing pipeline. Including current year returns, as of May 15, 2021, we had 16.4 million unprocessed individual returns in the pipeline. Unprocessed returns include those requiring correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount or validation of 2019 income used to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This work does not 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. If, as a result, a correction is made to any RRC, EITC or ACTC claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund status and can review Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

[Queenhily]

Been over 21 days since I filed . 
I filed March 8 and still been waiting 

[BenMary1991]

There are many of us in the same situation.  I filed in feb and was accepted.  I did manage to get through to the irs.  They said it had been pulled for manual review due to simple error.  There are several million pulled for manual review so it’s going to be awhile. They still have 2019 returns to process as well.  The irs said the where’s my refund tool is the fastest way to see any updates.  Repeated calling won’t give any information.  Soooo we wait. 

[thisserviceisterrible]

This is such garbage.  I submitted my return April 27, it was accepted by the IRS the SAME DAY.  Intuit says my refund anticipation date was May 18....and it's now 6/2, no refund and still showing that I'm processing.  36 days since filing/accepted by IRS and 15 days past the anticipated date of return.  Can't get through to the phone  lines, no matter what combination you use, it's always the message that they have a high call volume.  I mean, tax season is literally NOT a new concept.  They laid off people, sure, I get that, but wow.......

[Leabroyles1]

Is there any way I can find out if I've done something wrong on my tax return and that's why its taking so long?

[xmasbaby0]

@Leabroyles1 You can check to see if there are any messages on the Where's My Refund site.   It is possible that you are simply one of the millions of people whose refund is delayed by the backlog at the IRS.

From this IRS website - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of May 15, 2021, we had 300,000 individual tax returns received prior to 2021 in the processing pipeline. Including current year returns, as of May 15, 2021, we had 16.4 million unprocessed individual returns in the pipeline. Unprocessed returns include those requiring correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount or validation of 2019 income used to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This work does not 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. If, as a result, a correction is made to any RRC, EITC or ACTC claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund status and can review Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

[Boblee21 1]

I agree 100 percent with you!!! 

[Cebbie71]

It’s been three months. It was accepted March 3. I’m just worried I done something wrong. It was only my second time using turbo tax. I just hope I didn’t mess anything up. I also heard they’re being back logged 12-18 weeks is that true?

[pat5]

Mine has also been held up for going on 4 months.  Seems that there were some stimulus rebate calculations only known to the IRS and I am getting a couple of dollars more back (like $27).  The return was kicked out for manual review.  They are saying I should get refund no later than July.  Oh well, so much for filing early 

[NJtaxpayerNJ]

help

[xmasbaby0]

@NJtaxpayerNJ This is not live chat.   If you need help please ask a complete question that tells us what the problem is.

[dmuto-comcast-ne]

Be patient it took me I think about three weeks and finally I get notice that it was processed and it’ll be put into my checking account plus . I receive $3.98 interest which I’ll probably have to pay taxes on next year