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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI have never had a problem with the IRS until now. Need some advice
Last edited Wed May 20, 2020, 10:16 AM - Edit history (1)
I submitted my tax return on March 19,2020. Got USPS tracking verification it arrived at the IRS on 3/23/2020. I filed a simple 1040-SR with a relatively small refund.
Usually it will take about 6 weeks or the latest 8 weeks for my refund to reach me. It's been exactly 8 weeks. No refund. I went onto the IRS web site, filled out the online status inquiry and the response I got back was they had no information on my return.
So now what? The only number I could find for the IRS 800-829-1040. That's just a voice version of the online inquiry form. It tells me the same thing. They can give me no information.
I checked for a local IRS office and it's an hour away and they have the same phone number. So now what?
I guess I'll wait another couple of weeks before I take any real action, but at this point I don't even know what action to take.
UPDATE: Thank you everyone for your responses. It is apparent from all your replies the IRS is seriously backlogged in processing paper Income Tax Returns. I was not aware of that, but did consider that as part of the problem. So again thank you all who responded and added articles about the backlog.
Thanks
hlthe2b
(101,730 posts)I have a similar situation.
Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)and my Congressman is a republican.
hlthe2b
(101,730 posts)Maybe one of them will have sympathy for you.
Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)Think it explains my situation exactly. I did expect some delayed processing, but was concerned they were basically saying they had no record at all.
Thanks again for your suggestions.
wryter2000
(46,016 posts)You won't be dealing with the Congressperson but with someone in his/her office. They could be helpful. I don't know if another Congressperson would help you.
Eliot Rosewater
(31,097 posts)I used it to make sure my payments were received, in the past.
go to VIEW YOUR ACCOUNT
then CREATE or review YOUR ACCOUNT
You likely wont get any help from that "account", but that is the only thing I can think of other than calling...
Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)RainCaster
(10,690 posts)I'm in the same boat, but the IRS owes me five figures. All I can do is wait.
Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)Hoyt
(54,770 posts)from late April:
"Paper return processing is on hold
"The IRS is not currently able to process individual paper tax returns. If you already have filed via paper but it has not yet been processed, do not file a second tax return or write to the IRS to inquire about the status of your return or your economic impact payment. Paper returns will be processed once processing centers are able to reopen.
"Even here, the IRS doesn't connect the dots and explicitly say anything about refund checks. However, once you think about it, the message is obvious: If the IRS can't process paper tax returns, then it can't process the refunds that those paper tax returns contain."
https://www.fool.com/taxes/2020/04/25/no-tax-refund-yet-heres-why-the-irs-might-be-givin.aspx
Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)I did expect them to be behind with the comvid 19 and all, but was not sure
mahatmakanejeeves
(56,897 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,279 posts)Fla Dem
(23,352 posts)record. This certainly explains it. Thankfully it isn't a large return and I wasn't depending on it for my subsistence.
Kali
(54,990 posts)they had to deal with the corona payments or whatever they were called and deal with dipshit wanting his stupid scrawl signature on them, and now the deadline moved to July.
wishstar
(5,267 posts)They had to take workers off processing returns to instead process the stimulus payments. Their statement explaining the delays in routine tax return processing said for people to not submit duplicate returns, but instead to give them more time for processing since the official deadline for returns is now not until July.
LizBeth
(9,946 posts)aside at a certain point to work on stimulus. I would have thought your made it thru with your date, but doesn't look like it. I heard it can be Sept before we get it.
Quemado
(1,262 posts)Caveat: I left in 1997 after 10+ years, so some of my knowledge is out of date and my memory is not what it used to be.
Possibility #1: Form 1040-SR was instituted this filing year for 2019 tax returns. Since this is a new form, it may have presented IRS some problems in dealing with it. However, IRS does have standards in place for processing returns, so being a new form is really no excuse for IRS not having processed your return in a reasonable time.
Possibility #2: IRS is like everybody else during this pandemic. Organizations have instituted measures in response to the pandemic. IRS may have furloughed employees in order to maintain social distancing, and to operate within a reduced budget. It's extremely unlikely IRS would allow employees who process tax returns to work from home. If this is the case, a lack of staffing may be delaying the processing of your return. We live in interesting times.
Possibility #3: Very, very, very unlikely, but it has happened. Your return was lost or misplaced.
If you file again, and IRS processes two returns, your 2019 tax account will be flagged with a duplicate filing condition, and that will delay the refund until a human can look at both returns.
If you're not desperate for the refund, don't file another return yet. Keep checking the IRS website (https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp) every few days or so. If, by July 1, 2020 the website still does not indicate a return was received, file another return. The filing deadline this year is July 15, 2020.
If you are really, really concerned, call or write your congressman/woman.
In the future, I suggest you file electronically. The process for electronic returns is much better and faster that it is for paper returns.
Karma13612
(4,527 posts)Hubby and I are waiting for our Federal refund as well. We filed late March and would normally have it by now.
Nothing yet, but we did get our State return so we KNOW that we didn't mess up and Mistakenly switch the returns and put them in opposite envelopes. I worry about stuff like that!
So, thanks to others who have indicated that the IRS is backed up.
It certainly isnt a surprise. And our refund was very small, so not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
Stay safe everyone!
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)Was it electronic or a paper return?
Yonnie3
(17,376 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(56,897 posts)As the backlogged IRS struggles to open mail and answer the phone, taxpayers face long delays
Link to tweet