There have been a lot of folks who have had delayed refunds at the IRS, some of it likely due to IRS personnel shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic. But if it's been longer than 21 days, you can contact the IRS (I tell how below) to see if there is any particular reason your refund is delayed, if it's being reviewed, etc.
Here are some things to do first, some of which you may have already done. How did you file--by efile, or did you mail a paper return?
If you efiled, you should double-check to be sure the return was efiled successfully and accepted. If you used Online TurboTax, you can sign into your Online Account and check the efile status at the Tax Home.
Or did you file a paper return by mail? If so, did you actually print and mail it? TurboTax does not mail it for you. For several months the IRS was not processing any paper returns, but has gradually started processing again. But there is a huge backlog and delays.
If the info at the Tax Home confirms it was accepted, or if you printed and mailed the return, you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool at the IRS website below to check on the status of your Federal refund.
https://www.irs.gov/Refunds
NOTE: When using that tool, be sure to enter the correct SSN and filing status. Use only the Federal refund amount, and not any total refund amount that includes a state refund. The amount to use is on your Federal Form 1040, Line 21a.
If the IRS tool says it is still being processed, and its been longer than 21 days, here's how to reach the IRS to inquire about the delay, but it may not be easy. Part of it is luck. Due to the Coronavirus, some of the IRS call centers are operating with reduced personnel, and others are gradually opening back up. Users have been reporting that they are finally now reaching someone. Here is the normal method to reach a live IRS agent when they are operating smoothly, and I'll also tell you below how to reach the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, if needed.
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 continue to have no luck reaching the IRS, you can try contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your area. They are especially prone to help if you have an economic hardship, or if there have been continued delays with lack of info from the IRS. At the following IRS website, find the USA map and click on your state, and it will give you the number of your IRS Taxpayer Advocate. If the Taxpayer Advocate can't/won't help you, ask them to transfer you to an an IRS agent. A couple of users reported that at least for them, that was a backdoor route to the IRS.
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-a-Local-Taxpayer-Advocate
Also see this article for more info on how the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service works::
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc104.html
