Where is my refund?

[Oscars302]

It wouldn’t let me e file so I sent them in through the mail since February and I still haven’t received anything and it says ready to mail? I’ve been going in circles for 5 months now and can’t figure out how I can speak to someone.

[SusanY1]

At TurboTax, we won't be able to look anything up regarding your mailed in tax return.  The IRS, though, is running considerably behind with both processing of returns and recording them as received. 

Currently, returns filed by mail are being pulled from months of storage to be scanned and processed but an estimate is not available regarding how long this process might take.  

Once your return has been scanned in, you can check the progress of your refund here: Where's My Refund?

[Texas Roger]

Waiting and not knowing the status of your tax return and refund can be frustrating.
Unfortunately TurboTax gets no information about the status of your refund.
In normal times, the IRS says that most filers get their refunds within 21 days from the time their tax return is accepted.
Many returns are taking longer now since the IRS did not process returns for a while and there is now a big backlog of unprocessed returns.
To protect the public and employees, and in compliance with orders of local health authorities around the country, certain IRS services such as live assistance on telephones, processing paper tax returns and responding to correspondence are still limited.
They are now taking phone calls with a limited staff but it's hard to get through.
Press reports indicate they are processing about 1 million mailed returns a week working through the backlog of millions of unprocessed mailed returns.

If you mailed your return, you must print and mail it yourself. TurboTax does not mail it for you. You will not be able to start tracking your return until the IRS starts processing it.

Here is an IRS Q&A with information about refunds:
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

See this info about the current status of IRS operations:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

You can try using this procedure to get somebody at the IRS by phone:

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.