When will the IRS actually deposit my 2019 tax payment (paper filing)?

[allenma]

I will mail out my 2019 1040 return (e-file rejected with IND-510-02 due to stimulus) with a paper check for monies due. What is the guesstimate for when the IRS will actually deposit the check? Thanks. 

[xmasbaby0]

No one here can tell you.  The IRS is taking much longer to process mailed returns, so it will likely be a long wait.  For several months the IRS was not even opening the mail and it piled up in trailers.  They are working on a huge backlog of mailed returns.

MAILED RETURNS

Per the IRS website IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue: The IRS is not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your economic impact payment. Paper returns will be processed  once processing centers are able to reopen. 

If you mail a tax return (or a payment) to the IRS, it is a good idea to use a mailing service that will track it like UPS or certified mail so you will know it was received.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s. 

TurboTax will not know anything about your mailed return, and will continue to show “Ready to Mail” on your account.  TurboTax will not know that you put your tax return in an envelope and took it to a mailbox.  TurboTax does not get updates on mailed  (or e-filed) returns.

When the IRS finally opens its mail and begins to process mailed returns you can check the status on the IRS site. https://www.irs.gov/refunds

State returns have to be mailed to the state.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/irs-mail-trailers-covid/index.html

[Texas Roger]

It is impossible to estimate when the IRS will cash the check. Mailed returns are sitting in stacks unopened until the IRS works through the backlog and finally opens them. They have indicated they will be processed based on when they were received so a return mailed now will likely be at the bottom of the pile. 

If you want to know exactly when the payment will be made, use IRS direct pay to make the payment instead of mailing a check with your return and waiting for the check to be cashed: https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay