IRS still hasn't processed my 2020 return and hasn't even cashed the check I sent now I am doing 2021

[miamicuse]

So almost a year later after I filed my taxes for 2020, IRS still hasn't processed my return.

Because I owed, and have to send a paper check anyways, I decided to file by mail.  I sent it via certified mail with return receipt, to the address printed with Turbo Tax, and two weeks later I got the return post card back, so I know they received it.

I waited a few months, and the check I attached with the return wasn't cashed.  It voids after 180 days, so I called IRS's 800 number to check, spoke to someone and was told they have no access to taxpayer records, only to answer general questions, and advised that I create an online account on IRS.gov where I can check it's status.  I opened an online account, and logged in to check every month, and under tax year 2020, all I see is

"Your Information Is Not Available at This Time

If you requested an adjustment to your account your information will not be available until that transaction is complete."

which is not helpful.

Now the check for the amount I owed is no longer valid after 180 days, and I have no idea what happened to my 2020 return and I am in the process of doing my 2021 return and I saw some discussions saying I need to set my 2020 AGI to 0 when doing my 2021 return if my 2020 has not yet been processed?

The thing is, I don't know if this is just a delay as some reports that IRS has diverted most resources to the stimulus payment processing so there is a backlog, or if my return was sitting under a pizza box at an IRS office's janitor's closet.

I have tried to call IRS last month, repeated attempts to press different option menus to talk to a human resulted in "...very high call volume please call back the next business day good bye".  Is there any way to get to the bottom of this?

If I file by paper for 2021, should I include the tax return copy for 2020 with it with a letter stating the reason?

[ee-ea]

Call  the National Taxpayer Advocate first 

https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/contact-us/#FindlocalTAS

2020 AGI is 0 when doing your 2021 return .

If you file by paper for 2021, do not include copy of the tax return 2020.

[miamicuse]

Thank you, I called them this morning.

Due to the wait time I did a call me back option.  Someone called me back after 30 minutes.  I explained my situation, then she advised I need to talk to someone that handles individual accounts, then she transferred me.

The transfer also has a high volume wait time so I did a call me back option there as well.  Someone called me back after 1 hour and didn't sound like that person was there for individual accounts, I asked if that was the individual account department and she sounded confused, so I think the transfer was somehow redirected back to the same call center again.  After I explained my situation she suggested that I fill in a form 911 then fax it in.

So I am curious should I do the 911 form, or should I call again and may be if I get lucky I will get transferred to an individual account department?

[JamesG1]

You certainly need to call and also consider the form.  It is a terrible fix to be in not knowing whether the payment/tax return have been processed one year later.

I have had good luck with the IRS Taxpayer Advocate and with IRS Form 911 in the past but I have not used them or the form during the 'COVID' era.  Since 'COVID', they appear to be as overwhelmed as the rest of the IRS.

This article states that:

"As the new filing season begins ......, the IRS still has some 10 million unprocessed returns from last year."

@miamicuse

[Marion1942]

The same thing happened to me and my claim was rejected.  But when I changed my answer from "don't know if my claim is processed" to "my claim has not been processed" and put in the 0, then IRS accepted the claim and I was able to file electronically.  My question:  My check to IRS  last year was for about $3500 and this year I am supposed to GET BACK about the same amount.

Will IRS even up these amounts or will I have to go back and pay what I owed in 2020 before I get the refund I should get now?  The "3500 dollar check" has not gone through.

Several months back, IRS sent me a big brown envelope with ALL of what I sent them in 202l for my 2020 taxes.  They wanted me to answer some obscure question about my husband's death which was ten years ago.  I wrote them an answer and mailed the whole thing back.  The question made no sense to me at all.  Perhaps this is part of why they still haven't processed the 2020 taxes.

SP