Sorry this took so long....
I sent my return first in March, then in early April then again in May, both times return receipt requested, and the IRS receiver responded. It actually took until mid-September to receive my check. That's 6 months. The IRS told me that they didn't even start processing returns in their backlog until I think July.
So go ahead and create an IRS account on IRS.gov and you can monitor activity there. Or you can try this from LifeHacker:
How to call
Someone doesn’t just pick up on the second ring when you call the IRS. You have to go through a menu to get routed to the best agent for your issue.
Accountant Amy Northard offers this cheat-sheet to the IRS phone menu on her blog:
- The IRS telephone number is [phone number removed], and they are available from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday thru Friday. The best time to call is early in the morning.
- The first question the automated system will ask you is to choose your language.
- Once you’ve set your language, do NOT choose Option 1 (regarding refund info). Choose option 2 for “Personal Income Tax” instead.
- Next, press 1 for “form, tax history, or payment”.
- Next, press 3 “for all other questions.”
- Next, press 2 “for all other questions.”
- When the system asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, do NOT enter anything.
- After it asks twice, you will be prompted with another menu.
- Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
- Finally, press 4 for all other inquiries. The system should then transfer you to an agent.
