topic Re: Missing Refund in After you file

Missing Refund

rcbonig — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:06:25 GMT

My neighbor mailed her tax return on time but has not received her refund yet. She has called the IRS, but they say they have not received it yet. If she files electronically, will she be charged for filing a late return?

Re: Missing Refund

DoninGA — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 20:45:55 GMT

There are no penalties for filing a tax return after the due date if filing for a tax refund. Using TurboTax a 2021 tax return can be e-filed up through October 17, 2022. After that date the 2021 tax return has to be printed and mailed when using TurboTax.

A 2021 tax return can be filed at any time on or before April 15, 2025 if filing for a tax refund.

Re: Missing Refund

mesquitebean — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 22:12:18 GMT

"My neighbor mailed her tax return on time but has not received her refund yet."

The IRS has a large backlog for anything that requires manual processing. If she mailed a paper return, the IRS website says it can take 6 months or longer to show up in the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Re: Missing Refund

Benji3059 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 22:16:30 GMT

I have not got anything at all from IRS no letter or refund

Re: Missing Refund

xmasbaby0 — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 22:35:57 GMT

@Benji3059 You have not provided any details. Did you e-file or did you file by mail? When did you file?

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

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

Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control. TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.

You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount (line 35a of your 2021 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

To track your state refund:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2724106-my-return-is-accepted-but-still-not-approved-is-there-a-problem-should-i-be-worried

OR——if you filed by mail, expect a long wait. It is taking the very backlogged IRS six to nine months to process mailed returns. Until a human opens your envelope and enters the data into the system, nothing will even show up on the refund site, so you will have to be very patient.