Why is my return taking so long to process?

[Mannyangel]

We filed back 2/12 and got an email from TurboTax that our refund was approved 2/13. We went on the IRS website to check status and it didn’t even show it was accepted! Now we’re getting “still processing” this is ridiculous and it’s confusing. I want a refund for my efile! Everyone I know who has filed elsewhere after us has already received their refunds. This is crazy. You’re telling me my refund has been approved but the IRS is saying totally different. You’re feeding negative information. 

[AmyC]

If your refund included earned income credit, additional child tax credit, or stimulus, your refund is expected to be delayed. See Why is my IRS refund taking longer than 21 days?

[atullos1970]

Have you received your refund yet? I e-filed and it was accepted on Feb. 12th but I have yet to get mine back. It just keeps saying it is processing. I am going under. I am losing everything. I didn't get the second stimulus, I haven't received my tax refund, and I haven't gotten a 3rd stimulus now as of this date. I more than qualify for the stimulus so that is not the issue. How can they do this to one person yet others have gotten everything already. It's more than frustrating! You cant reach the IRS and turbo tax has no answers!

[DianeW777]

I appreciate your circumstances. There may be an avenue that can assist you in moving things along.

• First Action: Contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). 
  • Select Contact Us, then select to download and complete Form 911, Request for TAS Assistance
  • If you have not opened a case with TAS, call 877-777-4778 
  • TAS is an independent organization within the IRS. Our job is to ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and that you know and understand your rights
• You can try to Contact the Local IRS Office using this link.
• Calling is extremely time consuming right now. If you want to try, call very early or very late based on the times below.
  • January - April  800-829-1040
    • Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, unless otherwise noted.
    • Telephone service wait times can average 15 minutes. Some telephone service lines may have longer wait times. 
    • Telephone service wait times are higher on Monday and Tuesday

The first round of payments for the third stimulus was not the full amount.  The IRS will continue to send payments and process returns at the same time. They are behind and also follow the instruction they have been given.  Continue to watch for the rest of your third stimulus payments.  Here is the most recent updated information for the third economic impact payment (EIP) stimulus payments. 

• IRS EIP3 page 

[KimberlyJ2]

It is complete B.S. TT is the only one with issues.  Everyone I know received them. Only issue I see is people with T.T. they are going to have so many of us not use them in the future.  They keep saying it's IRS. Well why is the only issue with T.T I read all the comments  and a lot of issues with this company.  Hopefully they fix the issue.

[KimberlyJ2]

So so messed up.  Going through the same issue with them. No answers.... Good luck

[atullos1970]

I tried calling the taxpayer advocates office. After sitting on hold for two hours, the man that answered didn't even want to listen to me before he transferred me to someone else. Played cat and mouse for almost 5 hours today and still no answer. On the last transfer they hung up when trying to transfer me to another person. This is crazy! Turbo tax needs to get answers for their customers cuz obviously the help that you give us is no help at all!

[KatrinaLO]

There are a lot of delays for federal refunds this year. The IRS is working overtime to get stimulus payments sent out to you and process your tax returns. Per the IRS website IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue: Please visit here and see all services that have slowed down or been delayed due to Covid-19.

Once your tax return has been submitted, the most up to date information will come from the IRS. The IRS releases most refunds within 21 calendar days after the e-filed return has been accepted (received), not 21 days from the e-filing date. 

To check on regular tax refund status via automated phone, call 800-829-1954. (This line has no information on Economic Impact Payments.)The only other way to know when your refund will be released is to use the IRS Where's My Refund tool. Until the IRS starts processing it on their own, you may not find record of it or the website may say that you have put in incorrect information when tracking your federal refund. As your return moves through the system, the status of it will be updated accordingly. Please see here  for more information on checking the status of an e-filed return.

If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status as it moves through the process here.

See the video in this link for a really good explanation of the process: 

https://www.refundschedule.com/irs-wheres-refund-status-bars-disappeared/

[atullos1970]

You saying you appreciate my circumstances does not help me. You giving me numbers and I still get no answers does not help me. You wanna show some sincerity to your customers then get some answers for us!!! Show your sympathy by helping me resolve this so I am not homeless. All my credit cards are behind or Is now in collections. My credit had fell 300 points. My home business is under. My electric is about to be shut off. I'm still paying on my husband's funeral and have collection calls all the time. All while you sit and tell me you appreciate my circumstances and give me some bogus vs of places to call... Really ?

[atullos1970]

https://nypost.com/2021/03/18/turbotax-hr-block-customers-suffer-stim[product key removed]h/

HERE IS PART OF THE PROBLEM FOR SOME OF YOU

[Ceo89]

It’s been almost 5 weeks since I received the acceptance email and my refund is still being processed!! 

[MichelleLO]

Most refunds are received within 21 days from the time a return has been accepted (received). However, some returns take longer than others. It's possible your return may require additional review and take longer to process.

The IRS is also experiencing delays in processing returns due to a later than usual start to the tax season, a backlog of mailed returns, and current tax season returns. 

For more information, please see My return is accepted but still not approved. Is there a problem? Should I be worried?

@Ceo89

[Johnny20]

Turbo Tax says mine was accepted on 02/12. When I check on the IRS site, says it's still being processed. When I call the 800-829-1040. It's just the same as the Where's my refund site. I need to speak to a live person at the IRS for help. IS there another number ?  

[Johnny20]

Same here. 

[cyanosh1]

The IRS said they deposited my return yesterday and you have not released my money!!!! Why!!!?????