topic 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help in After you file

2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:55:48 GMT

I filed my 2020 taxes in October 2021 (~9 months back). My Tax transcript, Account Transcript shows that I will get a refund. When I spoke to an IRS back in march of this year (2022), they said they would send the payment in 4 to 6 weeks. So far, I haven’t received any communication in this regard. When I check the status online, I see the following message.

We cannot provide any information about your refund. Be sure to: verify your filing date;
check with your tax preparer or tax software provider; or
verify you received your electronically filed acknowledgement e-mail.

If you filed a complete and accurate tax return, your refund should be issued within 21 days of the received date. However, processing may take longer under certain circumstances.

I am unable to get hold of a live agent. What options do I have? Can I write a letter? If so, where should I mail it to?

Thanks

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

NCperson — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:49:13 GMT

@tom-sanjose - there is nothing Turbo Tax is going to be able to do. It's all with the IRS. They are woefully backlogged. Frankly, I'd give it a few more months before calling the IRS as they have commited to Congress to clear up the backlogs by the end of the year,

But based on what is posted on the IRS website, your return must have a issue - as the IRS states they have completed processing of all tax returns that do NOT have an issue received through December, 2021 (regardless of tax year).

The IRS is opening mail within normal timeframes and all paper and electronic individual returns received prior to January 2022 have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review.

As of July 22, 2022, we had 10.5 million unprocessed individual tax year 2021 returns. Of these, 1.7 million returns require error correction or other special handling, and 8.8 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and processed. This work does not typically 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 a correction is made to any Recovery Rebate Credit, Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

How long you may have to wait: The IRS understands the importance of timely processing of tax returns and refund issuance. We have processed all error free returns received prior to January 2022 and continue to work the returns that need to be manually reviewed due to errors. We are continuing to reroute tax returns and taxpayer correspondence from locations that are behind to locations where more staff is available, and we are taking other actions to minimize any delays. Tax returns are opened and processed in the order received. As the return is processed, whether it was filed electronically or on paper, it may be delayed because it has a mistake including errors concerning the Recovery Rebate Credit and the Child Tax Credit, is missing information, or there is suspected identity theft or fraud. If we can fix it without contacting you, we will. If we need more information or need you to verify that it was you who sent the tax return, we will write you a letter. The resolution of these issues could take 90 to 120 days depending on how quickly and accurately you respond, and the ability of IRS staff trained and working under social distancing requirements to complete the processing of your return.

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. If you filed before January 2022 and Where’s My Refund? does not have any information, your return has been opened but work on it has not begun. We’re working hard to get through the carryover inventory. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 00:55:28 GMT

I was thinking of writing a letter. Is there an address where I need to send the letter?

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

NCperson — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 01:29:09 GMT

@tom-sanjose write to whom? the IRS ? your Congressman?

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 01:46:54 GMT

IRS

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

NCperson — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 01:58:10 GMT

you can google an address I am sure; don't expect to get a response - note what was posted in red above - it's from the IRS website:

We’re working hard to get through the carryover inventory. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 05:47:52 GMT

I am sending a letter to the IRS to ask them to help me understand why IRS issued a partial refund and when the remaining refund will be mailed?

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

NCperson — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 10:08:42 GMT

@tom-sanjose oh - you should get a letter from the IRS in a few weeks explaining why they adjusted your refund; however, most every single post on these boards about adjusted refunds come back to the same issues: stimulus or child tax credit

if you answer these questions, I can probably figure out what happened:

1) what is on Line 28 of Form 1040?

2) what is on Line 30 of Form 1040?

3) what is the EXACT about of the adjustment that the IRS made to your refund?

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 17:20:18 GMT

Here is the information that you requested.

1) what is on Line 28 of Form 1040? 0
2) what is on Line 30 of Form 1040? 0
3) what is the EXACT about of the adjustment that the IRS made to your refund? $4,259

I spoke to a live IRS agent in March of this year. She said I would get a check in 4 to 6 weeks, but I haven't received anything. I pre-paid extra estimated ($4,259) taxes when I filed my extension in May. I didn't get any letter from the IRS explaining why $4259 was withheld.

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

VolvoGirl — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 17:45:26 GMT

So they took off the amount you paid with the extension? What line was it on your tax return? Maybe it was on the wrong line. Or they didn't get your payment or applied it to the wrong year, etc. Do you have proof it was paid? Like your bank statement.

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 18:10:02 GMT

That's correct. $4259 was on line #32. I have a bank statement showing that $4259 was withdrawn when I filed for Extension. My tax transcript for the Tax Period: Dec 31 2020 is showing -$4259 on the IRS website.

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

VolvoGirl — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 18:29:15 GMT

Is it also on any other line like line 26? Maybe its on your return twice?

Try Contacting the Tax Advocate

Local Taxpayer Advocate | Internal Revenue Service

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

NCperson — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 19:01:07 GMT

@tom-sanjose

what is on line 34 and 35a?

you also state you received a partial refund - how much was that?

if you paid such an exact number wasn't that the tax you knew you owed? and if so, why would you be expecting a refund???????

are you reading the transcript correctly? if course there would be a -$4259 - that just recognized the receipt of your payment.

if I understand you made a payment of $4259 and then it turns out that is the EXACT amount of the refund????????

I bet I know what happened:

The IRS is thinking you made the extension payment so there must be an amendment somewhere....otherwise, why would a taxpayer make that extra payment???? if that is what occured, the IRS will eventually flush it out and refund it...... again, I do not see that mailing a letter or calling the IRS is going to do anything. They have asked for your patience and not contact them...up to you, but do not get frustrated that no one read the letter - remember, if it ends up on the same pile as the amendments, it won't be read for 9-12 months :(

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 20:00:04 GMT

Line 26 has 0

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

NCperson — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 20:48:57 GMT

@tom-sanjose if Line 26 is zero, then you didn't ask for the money back.... Line 26 should have been $4259. That is why it is sitting on your account. It will eventually 'flush out' and be refunded to you. I would not do anything, but show patience....

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:02:12 GMT

Can / Shall I claim it on my 2021 Taxes? Or do not do anything.

Thanks

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

NCperson — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:04:16 GMT

@tom-sanjose I suspect it will flush out prior to April 15

one other question

if line 32 was $4259 and line 26 was zero, where else was the $4259 posted??? lines 27-31 sum to line 32, so something doesn't make sense.

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 21:11:19 GMT

27 to 30 has zeros
31 has 4259
32 has 4259

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

VolvoGirl — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 22:35:42 GMT

Just to clear up the kind of payment. In a prior post you said " I pre-paid extra estimated ($4,259) taxes when I filed my extension". It wasn't an estimated payment, it was an extension payment. People are getting confused with an Estimated payment (line 26) and an extension payment on line 31 (from schedule 3 line 9). If you made an extension payment then line 31 is right.

Oh, and what is on line 34 and 35a? Why are you expecting the 4259 back as a refund? It goes against the tax on line 24. So if that was a payment for your tax then on your actual tax return you should have a zero refund or tax due. Why did you make that extension payment?

Re: 2020 Refund - Unable to talk to a live agent - Need help

tom-sanjose — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:00:19 GMT

at that time…. when I prepared the draft at extension…. I would have ended up potential tax due of $4259 and filed extension with it.
Line 33 (including $4259) goes against tax line 24. Balance on line 34 and 35a is $34,464 and I got only $30K so far.