After you file

mesquitebean · ‎May 19, 2022

@Clife wrote:
Its 2022, its been around 3 months for me and apparently the IRS does not have my return. I have proof of delivery and its extremely frustrating. Can't get a hold of an actual person over the phone either, just a robot

NOTE: REVISED to add additional info 5/19/2022 at 5:18 PM Pacific

Since you said "proof of delivery", I assume you mailed a paper return. In a normal year one would be able to see evidence of a paper return in the IRS system about 4 weeks after mailing. However, for the last couple of years, longer periods are not uncommon for mailed paper returns since the IRS is so far behind.

If you have an IRS online account (or want to open one), you can look to see if your return is showing up yet in a 2021 "Record of Account" transcript.

By "IRS does not have my return", if you are referring to the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool? If so, here are some tips:

Be sure you enter the correct SSN and filing status.
Be sure you are using only the Federal refund amount. Do not include any state refund or any total refund or net refund (Fed and State) that TurboTax may have provided on a screen.
Look at your actual Federal return to get the Federal refund amount, i.e., your Form 1040, Line 35a.
You can also try phoning the IRS refund hotline. I've seen it work for some users when the WMR tool didn't. 800-829-1954

As for reaching the IRS, I realize this is anecdotal, but I have found that for me it was best to call just before closing time--about 6:50-6:55 PM and quickly go through the steps below. I figured a lot of folks would not call that close to closing, and that if I was one of the last to get into the queue, they would finish off all the people who were in the queue at closing time. I still had to wait about 30 minutes.

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.