@ Tbasnar wrote:
Why has my tax return gone from “being processed” to “still being processed” when the IRS accepted my Federal Tax Return on 02/10/2021. What is going on because I have not seen any updates to my return.
The IRS may be looking at something a little more closely, or perhaps they need more info from you, and in some cases may send a letter. No one can really know what all the IRS is doing. Sometimes they pull returns at random for more processing. And they are receiving an unusually massive number of returns right now due to stimulus payments, etc. , so that could slow down anything that might need some extra processing. In the middle of February, they received 35 million tax returns in one week.
The IRS says on its website:
"Some tax returns take longer to process than others for many reasons, including when a return:
- Includes errors
- Is incomplete
- Is affected by identity theft or fraud
- Includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit. [if filed in January-February]
- Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, which could take up to 14 weeks to process
- Needs further review in general
"We will contact you by mail when we need more information to process your return."
How many days has it been since you filed?
If it's been less than 21 days, there's nothing to do but wait.
If it's been longer than 21 days, if you want to inquire about the delay, here's how to speak to a live agent at the IRS:
IRS: 800-829-1040 (7AM-7 PM local time) Monday-Friday
When calling the IRS do not choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
- First choose your language. Then listen to each menu before making the selection.
- Then press 2 for "personal income tax".
- Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
- Then press 3 "for all other questions."
- Then press 2 "for all other questions."
- It may then ask for your SSN, but do not enter it. Just wait. If it asks for SSN a second time, still do not enter it.
- Then it will get "tired", and you'll get another menu. Choose 2 for "personal".
- Then in the next menu choose 4 for "all other inquiries", and it should transfer you to an agent but expect a long wait.
- I usually use a speakerphone so I can work on something else while waiting.
