Filed my income tax March 19. Relatively small refund due.

[Fla Dem]

After 8 weeks and no refund, went on the IRS site a couple of weeks ago. After going through a short process it came up that they have no record of my return. I have a certified mail receipt. Online USPS tracking says it was received in the processing center reception area on March 23rd. So 11 weeks ago today.

The past 2 weeks I've been going online at IRS.gov to check the status. Each time it basically says they have no record of my return. Also tried calling 1-800-829-1040, the number on the IRS page for checking the status of your return. It's the same process as inquiring on-line except you speak your responses. There too the response is they have no record of my return. No option to talk to a person.

So today, after getting the same response, I google, "how to talk to someone at irs about refund". One of the selections that came up was:

https://amynorthardcpa.com/how-do-i-reach-a-real-person-at-the-irs/

It has a step by step process for getting to a live person at the IRS.

Long story short, after a 45 minute wait, I was connected with a guy and gave him my story. After being put on hold for another 8 minutes, he told me, they have no record of my return and they were backed up. Advised me not to resubmit and to check back in 4 weeks. I told him I understood the back up in processing, what I was most concerned about was they didn't even have a record of receiving my return. He said he really couldn't help me, just call back.

I never liked the idea of filing electronically and never had an issue mailing my return. But maybe going forward I'll consider electronic filing and direct deposit.

[Lochloosa]

1. 2 week turnaround on my refund and the stimulus check was on time.

I have been filing online for years.

[Fla Dem]

2. I haven't even begun trying to track down my stimulus check.

Yep, maybe it's time to go that route.

[Yonnie3]

3. I've read they have rented storage containers and are holding all the paper returns

Dated May 19th the IRS website has:

IRS operational status and alternatives

Paper Tax Returns: All taxpayers should file electronically through their tax preparer, tax software provider or IRS Free File if possible. 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. This year, more than 90% of taxpayers have filed electronically.

My emphasis is added above.

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

[soothsayer]

5. It's better than when they stuffed them in the ceiling

Or shredded them, or tossed them, like the good old days.

[PJMcK]

4. Electronic filing is the way to go

We filed our return early because we had planned a trip to Europe for the end of March/beginning of April. I've been filing electronically for years but this was the first time we were filing a joint return. I had also provided the IRS with my bank account information so they could directly deposit my refunds. However, my wife had never done either of those things.

So, the return was filed and the refund was deposited to my account. When the stimulus payment was made to me, it was directly deposited. My wife, however, received her check in the mail about a month later. (It had the most hideous signature on it that I've ever seen.)

I'm an older man so I concur with your misgivings about providing the IRS with too much information. Yet they can get it anyway! If you owed them money, for example, they could get a judge's order to seize the money from your bank account!

In the end, the world is moving to electronic transmissions. It's the same with cash in that we're moving to a cashless economy. Can't fight change, I guess.

[lastlib]

6. I don't know if the practice still holds, but....

when I worked there, they didn't record paper returns that didn't have payment, or amount due. Anything that did got numbered. Non-numbered forms didn't get any tracking code until actually entered into computers for processing. Bottom line, they couldn't find their own asses if it hadn't been entered, and that was a good distance down the process.

I gather that they're delaying return processing for the time being for a lot of reasons, virus and stimulus being at the heart of them.

Sorry I can't be helpful or encouraging, but the IRS facility I worked in was much like a black hole--sucking in fuel, not putting anything out.

[Fla Dem]

8. That was helpful.

Just knowing they don't record receipt of non-payment returns is news to me and explains why they have no record of my return. Surprised the gntlemn at the IRS didn't say that.

[lastlib]

9. They don't like to give out a lot of info about their processes.

One thing I learned while I was there that they didn't want to be made public--there is a one-week administrative grace period AFTER April 15th for filing your return, WITHOUT interest or penalties. If I owed money (which I usually did), I took full advantage of it, and mailed my return/payment around Apr. 18th, so that it arrived as close as possible to the 22nd, when the grace period ended.

[mr_lebowski]

7. I had this happen too, almost exact situation though it was 2017 form (long story)

that I filed in mid February 2020.

Although I only waited 6 weeks to call, because I got nasty piece in the mail saying I'd not filed my 2017 return and owed all this money, so I was like WTF and called them.

Like you, they had no record of receipt although I had receipt from registered mail saying it was delivered like 5 weeks earlier. Said not to refile and check back in a month or some such.

I eventually got my refund after about 3 months from when I sent in the forms.

Hang tough, I'm sure they have it, they're just way behind.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. Never paper file unless you have too

They are set up to prioritize electronic filing now.

[RainCaster]

11. I called this morning, got no better answer than you did

I filed electronically March 25, accepted within minutes. I'm still waiting for my return check (transfer actually).

She told me that they are just getting back to the office this week, and that they are very backed up. Expect no action for 30 to 60 days from today. "Just keep trying the website" was her reply.

[Fla Dem]

12. I'm surprised you ran into the same problem filing electronically.

And here I was kicking myself because I mailed mine.

[RainCaster]

13. I think they have several "standard replies" that they read from a script.

None of them give any real information, and there is certainly no promise of any kind.

We are all screwed right now. I will get no interest even though they are way late and owe me 5 figures. Also, because this return is so late, they went off last year to calculate my stimulus payment. That reduced it to almost nothing, and she told me I would not receive the difference once my return is processed.

I despise our government right now.

[Fla Dem]

14. You may be very sick of the current administration as am I.

But I try not to take it out on department staff who I’m sure do the best they can.

[question everything]

15. May try the FL taxpayer advocate

https://www.irs.gov/advocate/local-taxpayer-advocate#Florida

Or your member of Congress, even if a Trumpeter. They like to notch every time they help their constituents.

Good Luck.

And, yes, do file electronically. I have used TurboTax since... 2000. Both Federal and State.