Tax Year Prior to 2020: I want to talk to a HUMAN

[mesquitebean]

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@Jb471 wrote:

I need to recover an account but lost previous phone

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If you have a different phone number, then do not use the old phone number in the Account Recovery tool.  There are a couple of other ways to regain access that do not require a phone number as I'll explain below.

You can have up to 5 accounts that use the same email address for notification purposes.  A User ID may be an email address, but it doesn't have to be.  It might be only part of an email address, or it can be anything at all.

To get a list of your User IDs, reset password, and recover account access, etc., you can use the Account Recovery tool at the link below.  When using the Account Recovery tool, if you don't have the same phone number, then use another method instead.  Run the tool on your email address(es) you can still access.

NOTE: Before running the account recovery tool below, log out of all Intuit accounts including this user forum, or you might end up in a loop.  Then clear your browser Internet cache, close your browser, then reopen it, and go to the link below.  You may wish to copy this link so you can paste it into the new browser session.

https://myturbotax.intuit.com/account-recovery

If still no luck after running that on the email address(es) that you can still access,  here's another method:

Go back to the tool again, but this time leave the data field completely blank, scroll down a bit, then choose the small blue link that says "Try something else", and it will look you up by SSN and other parameters.

[Hetheredge]

I checked with the IRS for my refund and was told to check with my tax preparer or service. How do ai speak to a live person?

[DoninGA]

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@Hetheredge wrote:

I checked with the IRS for my refund and was told to check with my tax preparer or service. How do ai speak to a live person?

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TurboTax support is closed on the weekends.

Why did the IRS tell you to check with your service? 

Was the tax refund issued by the IRS?  If so, did you request to have the TurboTax account fees paid from the federal tax refund?

[DoninGA]

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@Hetheredge wrote:

I checked with the IRS for my refund and was told to check with my tax preparer or service. How do ai speak to a live person?

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Or did the IRS website for the status of a federal tax return indicate that it did not have any information?

If so, did you enter the Exact information required on the website, Social Security number, Filing Status and whole dollar amount of the federal tax refund as shown on your Federal tax return, Form 1040?

If the IRS has not started to process your 2020 federal tax return there will not be a status on the IRS tax refund website.

Did you e-file your tax return and was it accepted?
Only the IRS and your State control when and if a Federal or State tax refund is Approved and Issued.

You complete your tax return by finishing all 3 Steps in the File section. In Step 3, to e-file your tax return, you must click on the large Orange button labeled "Transmit my returns now".

After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.

Note - Once a tax return has been Accepted by the IRS or a State, TurboTax receives no further information concerning the tax return or the status of any tax refund.  Only the taxpayer listed on the tax return can obtain the status of a tax refund or a tax return.

To check the status of an e-filed return, open up your desktop product or log into your TurboTax Online Account. You can find your status within the TurboTax product.
If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds
If accepted by the state use this TurboTax support FAQ to check the state tax refund status - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.

The IRS is seriously behind in processing 2020 tax returns.  This is due to many factors, such as the pandemic, completing processing of millions of 2019 tax returns, stimulus payments, unemployment compensation exclusion tax refunds., changes in the tax code by Congress in the middle of the 2020 tax season and the like.

Millions of taxpayers have not yet received there federal tax refunds.

Go to this IRS website for operational status - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of July 9, 2021, we had 16.4 million unprocessed individual returns. Unprocessed individual returns include tax year 2020 returns such as those requiring correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount or validation of 2019 income used to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This work does not 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, as a result, a correction is made to any RRC, EITC or ACTC claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund status and can review Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

What you should do: 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. We’re working hard to get through the backlog. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

[Sam_meeks]

I have waited 6 months for my tax return and have not seen it… can you help me figure out how to get it? 

[Hetheredge]

I too have been waiting a long time. Payput deadlines were the supposed to be the last week in July.  My IRS is still pending 

[mesquitebean]

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@ Sam_meeks    wrote:

I have waited 6 months for my tax return and have not seen it… can you help me figure out how to get it? 

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First, be sure that your return (if efiled) was accepted.  If you used Online TurboTax, you can log in and check at the Tax Home.   Or if you choose to file by mail, you would have had to print, sign, and mail it yourself; TurboTax does not mail it for you.   Mailed paper returns are taking several months to process at the IRS.

If it was accepted (or if you mailed the return), to check the refund status you can use the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool at:

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Does it show "still being processed?"    If so, that unfortunately is not unusual since the IRS is way behind on processing returns that require any manual review.   This is true for mailed paper returns as well as any efiled returns that are pulled for extra review and manual processing because of some item in the return.

You "might" be able to learn something if you phone the IRS, but they are not easy to reach.  Only about 10% of callers get through.  The best chance is when they first open in the morning at 7:00 AM.    I'll also tell you below how to reach the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, if needed.

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.

If you continue to have no luck reaching the IRS, you can try contacting the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service for your area.    They are especially prone to help if you have an economic hardship, or if there have been continued delays with lack of info from the IRS.    At the following IRS website, find the USA map and click on your state, and it will give you the number of your IRS Taxpayer Advocate.    If the Taxpayer Advocate can't/won't help you, ask them to transfer you to an an IRS agent.  A couple of users reported that at least for them, that was a backdoor route to the IRS.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-a-Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

Also see this article for more info on how the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service works::
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc104.html

CC:  @ Hetheredge 

[Neldasue4]

I'm trying to complete my income tax from with y'all, I've gotten every code but the one where I'm asked to sign

[Neldasue4]

I've been trying to complete my income tax form with y'all on line, I've received every code but the one that wants me to sign,

[VolvoGirl]

@Neldasue4  Do you need your 2019 AGI to efile 2020?  The AGI is to verify you and to sign.

You need your 2019 AGI to efile 2020. The AGI is on 2019 1040 line 8b. If you filed a Joint return you use the same AGI for each spouse.

How to find the AGI.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/agi/help/how-do-i-find-last-year-s-agi/01/25947

If you didn't file 2019 or filed it later in the year or mailed it, then try entering 0 for the AGI. If that doesn't work you will have to print and mail your return.

Or request a transcript from the IRS
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

[mkl71689088]

I went to my 1040 tax return and did not see my direct account info on there I know I put it in there

[xmasbaby0]

@mkl71689088 If you chose the option to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund then the banking information you see on your Form 1040 is the information for the third party bank that will receive the refund first and then send the rest to you.   Your banking information is with that bank and they will send your refund after the IRS issues it.

  TurboTax does not handle your refund at all.

Santa Barbara Tax Products Group, LLC  (SBTPG) is the bank that handles the Refund Processing Service when you choose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your refund. This option also has an additional charge from the bank that processes the transaction. 

You can contact them SBTPG, toll-free, at 1-877-908-7228 or go to their secure website www.sbtpg.com 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2580357-who-provides-the-refund-processing-service

[mesquitebean]

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@ mkl71689088 wrote:

I went to my 1040 tax return and did not see my direct account info on there I know I put it in there

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So are you saying that the direct deposit section of the Form 1040 is blank (lines 35b-d)?  i.e., that there is no direct deposit information at all?     Or are you seeing account information you don't recognize?  If you see an account number you don't recognize, did you choose to pay any TurboTax product fees out of your Federal refund?

What do you mean by "went to my 1040 tax return?"    Are you looking at a return PDF after you filed?   If so, look in that PDF for a page called "Electronic Filing Instructions"   (or if you filed by mail, look for a page called "File by Mail Instructions.")   That page should tell you how you selected to receive your Federal refund.   Another page called "2020 Federal Tax Return Summary" should also tell you how the refund is to be received.

If you don't have those 2 pages, we can tell you how to get a larger PDF of your filed return that contains all the worksheets and extra pages.

[Saintanne11]

I never received my taxes  and it was sent since. 2/13/21 can you do something or I'm not going to use your service anymore  this is the second this happened. 

[xmasbaby0]

@Saintanne11  

No, TurboTax cannot "do" anything to speed up the IRS for you.  

Did you e-file?  Did you click a big orange button that said “Transmit my returns now?”

When you e-file your federal return you will receive two emails from TurboTax.  The first one will say that your return was submitted.  The second email will tell you if your federal return was accepted or rejected.  If you e-filed a state return, there will be a third email to tell you if the state accepted or rejected your state return.

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

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

If the IRS accepted it, what does it say here?  

https://www.irs.gov/refunds         

  Or does your account say “Ready to Mail?”

Note:  If it says “Ready to Mail” or “Printed” that means YOU have to mail it yourself.  TurboTax does not mail your tax return for you.

If your e-file was accepted:

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 2020 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

From this IRS website - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

The IRS is opening mail within normal timeframes and all paper and electronic individual returns received prior to April 2021 have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review. As of July 31, 2021, we had 13.8 million unprocessed individual returns. Unprocessed individual returns include tax year 2020 returns such as those requiring correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount or validation of 2019 income used to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This work does not 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, as a result, a correction is made to any RRC, EITC or ACTC claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund status and can review 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 April 2021 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, 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. We’re working hard to get through the backlog. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.