Refund Status

[smithkid1214]

Turbo Tax indicated my federal return was electronically transmitted and accepted 10/26/2020. My estimated refund date was shown to be 11/16/2020. However, on 11/20/2020, the IRS.gov, check refund status site, says, "We cannot provide any information about your refund".  As of 11/20/2020, no federal refund was deposited into my bank account. The state refund was deposited on 11/7/2020.

      1. Is it possible:

               a) Turbo Tax Premier did not filed or misfiled my federal return?, or

               b) My federal return and/or my federal refund was lost?

      2. When should 1(a) or 1(b) be a concern and what should I do at that point?

[DoninGA]

Since your state tax return was accepted then the federal tax return was filed and accepted by the IRS.  The state tax return could not have been accepted without the IRS accepting the federal tax return.  The federal tax return is not lost or misplaced.

Due to the pandemic and limited staffing the IRS has been very slow to process 2019 tax returns in 2020.

If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds

After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions
If over 21 days since being Accepted by the IRS and the tax refund is still Processing you can call the IRS and speak with an IRS agent concerning your tax refund.
Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday
When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.
Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
Then press 3 "for all other questions."
Then press 2 "for all other questions."
- When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything.
- After it asks twice, you will get another menu.

Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
Then press 4 for all other inquiries
It should then transfer you to an agent.