Level 1

Question

How do I confirm that the IRS received my paper mailed tax return?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 3, 2019
23 replies
46 views

I would like to confirm that the IRS received my tax return that was paper mailed.

TurboTax PLUS Online

C

ChondelLO

Level 12

The IRS asks you to wait 4 weeks after you mail your return before looking up your refund at Where's My Refund?

The "Where's My Refund" tool, located at https://www.irs.gov/refunds, follows your tax return from receipt to completion. It will tell you when your return is in received status and if your refund is in approved or sent status.

The IRS releases most refunds within 21 calendar days after the e-filed return has been accepted. For mailed returns, allow 5–6 weeks from the postmark date.

For more information please click the link below.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/5340655

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M

mernoyh

Level 2

I can't get an answer about my tax return from the IRS. The phone number they say to call is a machine and says that they can't give me any information about my return.

What Can I do?

DoninGA

Level 15

@mernoyh wrote:

I can't get an answer about my tax return from the IRS. The phone number they say to call is a machine and says that they can't give me any information about my return.

What Can I do?

Did you e-file your tax return and was it accepted?
Only the IRS and your State control when and if a Federal or State tax refund is Approved and Issued.

You complete your tax return by finishing all 3 Steps in the File section. In Step 3, to e-file your tax return, you must click on the large Orange button labeled "Transmit my returns now".

After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.

Note - Once a tax return has been Accepted by the IRS or a State, TurboTax receives no further information concerning the tax return or the status of any tax refund. Only the taxpayer listed on the tax return can obtain the status of a tax refund or a tax return.

To check the status of an e-filed return, open up your desktop product or log into your TurboTax Online Account. You can find your status within the TurboTax product.
If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds
If accepted by the state use this TurboTax support FAQ to check the state tax refund status - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

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.

The IRS is seriously behind in processing 2020 tax returns. This is due to many factors, such as the pandemic, completing processing of millions of 2019 tax returns, stimulus payments, unemployment compensation exclusion tax refunds., changes in the tax code by Congress in the middle of the 2020 tax season and the like.

Millions of taxpayers have not yet received there federal tax refunds.

Go to this IRS website for operational status - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

The IRS is opening mail within normal timeframes and all paper and electronic individual returns received prior to April 2021 have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review. As of October 2, 2021, we had 6.8 million unprocessed individual returns. Unprocessed individual returns include tax year 2020 returns such as those requiring correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount or validation of 2019 income used to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This work does not require us to correspond with taxpayers but does require special handling by an IRS employee so, in these instances, it is taking the IRS more than 21 days to issue any related refund and in some cases this work could take 90 to 120 days. If, as a result, a correction is made to any RRC, EITC or ACTC claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund status and can review Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

What you should do: In most instances, no further action is needed but you may check Where’s my refund or you can view your account. If you filed electronically and received an acknowledgement, you do not need to take any further action other than promptly responding to any requests for information. If you filed on paper, check Where’s my refund? If it tells you we have received your return or are processing or reviewing it, we are processing your return, but it may be under review. We’re working hard to get through the backlog. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

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Tyrelltaylor

Level 2

I mailed my refund but don’t know what’s going on

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hawaii6200

Level 2

I mailed my paper tax return on Feb 23rd or 24th 2019. I have heard nothing back and have used the IRS "where is my refund" program many times. How do I know if the IRS even received it? And how can I get any response from the IRS.

VolvoGirl

Level 15

They just started opening the mail that has been stacking up in trailers. You have to keep waiting.

See this IRS page for the latest information

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

SusanY1

Level 15

Currently, unless you sent it with a tracking number to show delivery you cannot check on the status of a paper filed return currently.

The IRS is closed and is not processing these returns at this time. They will resume processing when they return to normal operations. It is not currently known when that will be.

@tyrelltaylor

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T

Tyrelltaylor

Level 2

So basically me and my kids are screwed and los our home cause of this

C

chrisjc-williams

Level 2

I mailed in my tax return July 13 with a response verification, but have not received a response. Using the "Where's My Tax Return" online service responds with me not having put in the correct information. Is it still the case that I am unable to determine if a mailed in paper return has been received?

DoninGA

Level 15

@chrisjc-williams wrote:

I mailed in my tax return July 13 with a response verification, but have not received a response. Using the "Where's My Tax Return" online service responds with me not having put in the correct information. Is it still the case that I am unable to determine if a mailed in paper return has been received?

The IRS was not processing any mailed paper tax returns for several months due to the pandemic and limited staffing. They have only just recently started to process approximately 11 million paper returns in the order they were received.

Go to this IRS website for information - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

We’re experiencing delays in processing paper tax returns due to limited staffing. If you already filed a paper return, we will process it in the order we received it.

Do not file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

S

SEBCICITTA

Level 2

DID IRS RECEIVE MY 2019 TAX RETURN

X

xmasbaby0

Level 15

@SEBCICITTA

Did you mail your tax return?

MAILED RETURNS

The IRS has just started to work through millions of mailed returns that have been piling up in trailers during the pandemic. All you can do is watch the IRS refund site to see when your return makes it to the surface and goes into processing. Sorry.

Per the IRS website IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue:

IRS operational status and alternatives

Processing Delays for Paper Tax Returns: Taxpayers should file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider, or IRS Free File.

We’re experiencing delays in processing paper tax returns due to limited staffing. If you already filed a paper return, we will process it in the order we received it.

Do not file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

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

Or did you e-file?

Did you click a big orange button that said “Transmit my returns now?”

When you e-file your federal return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first one will say that your return was submitted. The second email will tell you if your federal return was accepted or rejected. If you e-filed a state return, there will be a third email to tell you if the state accepted or rejected your state return.

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted:

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

If the IRS accepted it, what does it say here?

https://www.irs.gov/refunds Or does your account say “Ready to Mail?”

Note: If it says “Ready to Mail” or “Printed” that means YOU have to mail it yourself. TurboTax does not mail your tax return for you.

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

F

Freebird826

Level 2

I mailed in my 2019 1040 tax return last year. Wondering if received. Never received a balance owe statement. Wondering if I will receive the stimulus check. Please email me results ASAP. Thank You, Kim Yager

I

Irene2805

Level 15

The IRS does not issue acknowledgements of paper filed returns. If you had a balance due, did you include a payment with your return? If so, was the check cashed?

To contact the IRS, please review the steps and information below:

IRS Support Number: (800) 829-1040

To reach a live agent at the IRS support number, follow these steps:

1. Select your preferred language.

2. Press 2 for “Personal Income Tax”

3. Press 1 for “Form, Tax History, or Payment”

4. Press 3 for “All Other Questions”

5. Press 2 for “All Other Questions”

6. Do not enter your SSN or EIN. It will ask you twice; do not enter anything.

7. Press 2 for “Personal or Individual Tax Questions”

They are available Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time (Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific Time).

Some additional resources you can try are listed below:

Contact a local IRS office. Click this link for contact information: Contact Your Local IRS Office
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), which is an independent organization within the IRS. Click this link Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS)

M

Myhouse671

Level 2

How do I know if the it's received my 1040, I'm on disability

VolvoGirl

Level 15

Did you mail it or efile? If you mailed it the only way to know is if you got a tracking number from the post office.

If you efiled.

Did you go all the way through the File tab, through the 3 steps and hit the big orange Transmit Returns Now button?

You can check your efile status here

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

When you efile you get back 2 emails. The first email only confirms the transmission. The second email says if the IRS (or state) Accepted or Rejected your efile.

When you log into your account you should also see the status and if it was Accepted or Rejected, Started, Printed, Ready to Mail, etc. What does it say?

J

Joannsmithlee

Level 2

How can I find out if the IRS received my tax paper or not

X

xmasbaby0

Level 15

@Joannsmithlee

MAILED RETURNS

Per the IRS:

COVID-19 Mail Processing Delays

It’s taking us longer to process mailed documents including:

Paper tax returns, and
All tax return related correspondence.

We are processing all mail in the order we received it.

Do not file a second tax return or call the IRS.

It can take 3-4 weeks (or longer since the IRS is backlogged) for anything to show up on the IRS site when you mail a tax return. Expect 6-8 weeks for complete processing of a mailed return.

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 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

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

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markthom7

Level 2

How do I confirm that the irs received my paper filing and the status of my filing

DoninGA

Level 15

@markthom7 wrote:

How do I confirm that the irs received my paper filing and the status of my filing

The IRS does not provided confirmation that they received a tax return.

If you did not use a tracking service from the US Post Office when mailing the tax return you will not know if the IRS ever received the tax return.

If you are owed a federal tax refund the status will be available on the IRS website - https://www.irs.gov/refunds

If you have federal taxes owed and paid the taxes, the proof of payment will be your canceled check, bank or credit card statement, depending how you selected to pay the taxes owed.

R

RSHAGOGUE213

Level 2

HOW TO DO I DETERMINE IF IRS RECEIVED MY 2010 INCOME TAX FORMS

macuser_22

Alumni - Champ

@RSHAGOGUE213 wrote:

HOW TO DO I DETERMINE IF IRS RECEIVED MY 2010 INCOME TAX FORMS

No way that I know of. 2010 is 11 years ago and the IRS only maintains tax records for 7 years and so does TurboTax. Why are you concerned about 2010 now?

**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**