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August 4, 2020
Question

2018 tax return filed in April of 2020 and still nothing back from the IRS

  • August 4, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

Hi everyone !

 

I filed my 2018 tax return by mail in april 2020 and still have heard nothing back.  On their site it says COVID has caused a backlog, however, it has been very long it seems.  I used Turbo Tax software (the one you have to buy) and completed my taxes entirely and mailed to the correct IRS collection address.    With that does anyone has a suggestion for me?  I have a significant refund coming and I feel as I'll never see it. 

 

Thank you!

    1 reply

    Employee
    August 4, 2020

    Waiting and not knowing the status of your tax return and refund can be frustrating.
    Unfortunately TurboTax gets no information about the status of your refund.
    In normal times, the IRS says that most filers get their refunds within 21 days from the time their tax return is accepted.
    Many returns are taking longer now since the IRS did not process returns for a while and there is now a big backlog of unprocessed returns.
    To protect the public and employees, and in compliance with orders of local health authorities around the country, certain IRS services
    such as live assistance on telephones, processing paper tax returns and responding to correspondence are still limited.
    They are now taking phone calls with a limited staff but it's hard to get through.
    Press reports indicate they are processing about 1 million mailed returns a week working through the backlog of millions of unprocessed mailed returns.

     

    You can't track a 2018 tax return using the IRS tracking web site. You can try calling the IRS:

     

    Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday
    When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
    So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.
    Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
    Then press 3 "for all other questions."
    Then press 2 "for all other questions."
    - When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything.
    - After it asks twice, you will get another menu.
    Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
    Then press 4 for all other inquiries
    It should then transfer you to an agent.