Where’s my refund resources say, “ We cannot provide any information about your refund.”

[JohnnyRingo]

TurboTax says my refund was accepted 2/11/21. I e-filed 1/25/21. Where’s my refund says “ We cannot provide any information about your refund.” I have used all resources (IRS2Go App, Website and WMR phone). IRS phone disconnects at all times of the day "due to high call volume."  The Taxpayer Advocate Service does not answer their phone.

[xmasbaby0]

FROM THE IRS:

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Please note that the IRS says its own system is lagging and you do not need to call the IRS about your refund.

Sadly, the IRS refund site is behaving erratically and is not always reliable this year.   TurboTax has no control over this and cannot find out anything about your refund for you.

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; and they received over 35 million e-files when e-filing opened for 2020 returns.

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

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

 If accepted, they try to process it within three weeks but it can be longer.  if you have earned income credit or additional child tax credit, it will be at least the end of February before you see your refund, due to the PATH act that requires that they hold your refund 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 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...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3397970-path-act-delayed-refunds-for-some-filers

https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc152

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/refund-timing

[kjb207943]

This comprehensive response fails to indicate what the message, "We cannot provide any information about your refund", is trying to say.   It attempts to indicate the user entered incorrect/inaccurate information.  It would be helpful if the response would indicate something substantive like, "We have your return but has not been processed."  (This would serve to verify they have your return.  If they are unable to verify the return is in their "waiting to be processed" queue, then they have other problems and we have no recourse but to wait and see.)

But, the current response provided is much too vague and non-responsive. 

[xmasbaby0]

@kjb207943 TurboTax has no control over the messages the IRS gives you on the IRS site.  Sorry---but if your return was accepted when you e-filed then only the IRS is in control.    TurboTax cannot get any more specific explanation from the IRS for you.   Millions of people are waiting for refunds.  The IRS refund site has been erratic this year and does not always provide information to people whose returns have been accepted for processing.   

Try this for an automated response:

To check on regular tax refund status via automated phone, call 800-829-1954. (This line has no information on Economic Impact Payments.)

[Critter-3]

Well it is the only answer you are going to get from the ancient tool on the IRS site.  Between the first step and the second your return can literally get "lost" in the system so it cannot be tracked.  This happens usually as you are moving from one department to another and there is nothing you or the IRS can do about it.  

Your return doesn't just hit one department  ... there are quite a few steps in the pipeline that your return must pass thru ... even more if it goes into a another  loop ... https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/get-help/roadmap/

If you want to complain to someone call your congress person and demand they fund the IRS properly so they can upgrade their ageing computer systems, update/upgrade the WMR?  tool and hire enough people to handle all the tasks they have been forced to add the the regular jobs they need to handle.  Congress has cut the IRS budgets every year for the last decade so now the IRS has to do a lot more with less and less.