Something odd with refund status

[groesi]

In our case, we electronically filed a joint return on June 17 using TurboTax Deluxe and received a followup email the same day, stating that it had been accepted by IRS. When I check our refund status on the IRS.gov site, it still shows that it is in progress. OK, we continue to wait for the logjam to clear. However,  even though the refund is in progress, we received a deposit to our bank account, identified as a refund from IRS, on August 18. The amount deposited is much lower than the amount to be refunded on the accepted return, about 1% of the expected refund. This type of discrepancy has never happened before. If anyone who reads this has some insight as to what is going on, feedback much appreciated. Thank you.

[groesi]

I believe I just answered my question by digging further on the IRS website. On August 18, IRS sent refund interest payments separately from any refund already paid or still due the taxpayer: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/13-point-9-million-americans-to-receive-irs-tax-refund-interest-taxable....  

[VolvoGirl]

Are you sure you haven't received the original refund?  They wouldn't send the interest until after the refund got sent.  Were you having the Turbo Tax fees deducted from your refund?  

[VolvoGirl]

Hmmm, guess that does say interest on refund that will be paid.  That's weird they send the refund first.  How do they know the date to pay it though?

[groesi]

To VolvoGirl: As stated in my OP, we haven't received a full refund, and the IRS refund status search returns "it is still being processed". Also, the following is in the IRS weblink I posted in my reply: "The interest payments, averaging about $18, will be made to individual taxpayers who filed a 2019 return by this year's July 15 deadline and either received a refund in the past three months or will receive a refund. Most interest payments will be issued separately from tax refunds." For us, "or will receive a refund" and "separately from tax refunds" are the relevant text. The small amount we received is consistent with interest calculations from that link.

What kind of Volvo? We have a '83 240 turbo; still looks and runs great.

[VolvoGirl]

Yes I just saw it said that.  See my other post above.

I had a 83 240 wagon until 2002.   It was yellow and a lemon.  I now have a 97 V90 (that's not the XC90).  The V90 was special.