Question

Filed February 11, still in processing. How long can IRS legally hold refund?

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
June 5, 2019
25 replies
0 views

How do we know where in the process we are

I am having the same exact problem return accepted in Feb. received the review with no further action letter. It is not September and I have no refund and have heard nothing. I tried calling and went through the below listed prompts only to be hung up on because they currently do not have the capacity to handle my call. Anyone have any other ideas of info?

VolvoGirl

Employee

FYI - The IRS has started paying interest on Refunds. I think even if they haven't paid the refund yet. See IRS notice August 18, 2020
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/13-point-9-million-americans-to-receive-irs-tax-refund-interest-taxable-payments-to-average-18-dollars

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dtk6802

Employee

I still haven't received my federal refund. It's a lot of money. I try to contact them and it directs me to call back the next biz day. What is happening

DoninGA

Employee

@dtk6802 wrote:

I still haven't received my federal refund. It's a lot of money. I try to contact them and it directs me to call back the next biz day. What is happening

Use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Many users have reported that calling first thing in the morning or the last hour at night will get you an IRS agent.

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.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions
If over 21 days since being Accepted by the IRS and the tax refund is still Processing you can call the IRS and speak with an IRS agent concerning your tax refund.
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.
Or you can contact your local IRS office. See this IRS website for local IRS offices - http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1 or call 1-844-545-5640 to set up an appointment
Or you may want to contact a Taxpayer Advocate in your area. See this IRS website for Taxpayer Advocate in your area and a toll free number - http://www.irs.gov/Advocate/Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

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Tweetuums

There is absolutely no point in waiting on hold for an hour with them. All they tell you is the status. The agent I was sent to had evidently taken a course on mental abuse. She said "that's not true" 25 times over and over to drown me out when I said I had filed a 2019 return. She claims I used the no-filers tool and I was trying to tell her I didn't. Then, she stated "I'm going to be praying for you." After trying to gaslight me, she stated both that I used the no-filers tool and filed a return. Okay, if I used the no-filers tool why didn't I receive a stimulus? So now, they haven't processed my 2019 or 2020 returns, refuse to give me a reason and refuse to tell me anything except "it's still being processed." And, another stimulus will come soon that I won't receive because they refuse to process my 2019 and 2020 returns. The IRS is broken beyond belief, and our senators could care less to do anything to give us legal redress when the IRS can't be bothered to process our returns. This all started because my husband filed married filing separately which made me ineligible to use the no-filers tool. Only married filling jointly and single were allowed to use the tool.

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AprilHoward84

Have you gotten your refund yet?

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Lab840

I have not received my refund for 2019 yet either. I filed at the end of Feb,2020. When I look online it says still being processed. When I call the IRS, they say to look at the website. When I look at the site, it tells me to call. Im being thrown around in circles.My local IRS buildings are closed so I havent been able to make an appointment to go into speak to them about where the refund is. Turbotax/intuit said its been accepted. My health care company is also sayig that they are missing the health info from my taxes. They are saying I could lose coverage dueto this. This is a serious issue and I need my tax status and refund. Did they even get it? Now I am questioning who has all of a sudden have mytaxes not transfered orif they just magically disappeared? I cant get a hold of anyone to speak to and these websites and voice operated phone systems are getting me nowhere.

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mesquitebean

Employee

@ Lab840 wrote:
I cant get a hold of anyone to speak to and these websites and voice operated phone systems are getting me nowhere.

"When I look online it says still being processed."

Look online at what? Are you referring to the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool at https://www.irs.gov/Refunds ?

If the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool says your return is still being processed, then it sounds like they received it. If you used Online TurboTax, you can also check to be sure the efiled return was accepted. Log in and at the Tax Home, scroll down to "Your Tax Returns & Documents", expand that section, and choose tax year 2019. It should show the status. If efiled, I suspect it will say "accepted", or else it wouldn't show up in the IRS "Where's My Refund."

I can tell you how to hopefully reach a live IRS agent. The Coronavirus situation has hampered the IRS customer service, but here is the normal method to get through the IRS phone tree to reach a live IRS agent when they are operating smoothly, and I'll also tell you below how to reach the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, if needed. They are especially prone to help if you have a hardship, such as your health insurance situation. So if you can't reach the IRS, or if they are not helpful, contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.

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

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Lab840

Hi! Thanks for replying. I have called the advocate servces. I have called the IRS offices. I got through once a couple months ago to a lady who said it had got to processing but n o one had put it trough. She walso said and apologized profusely that there was Not one drop of communication or any letters sent out to me. She said itd take another 8 weeks and then Id see soemthing...well its 8 weeks later and here I am again. No deposit in my bank, on the IRS website it says no information provided at this time, No one answers phone calls, the Advocate ceneter wont take any calls and offices are closed, and the systems always says to call back tomorrow because of high call volume. Now I am at a loss of what to do. I also havent received a 2nd stimulus check yet and I see that it cold be due to 2020 taxes not processed? so now I am not getting my refund or 2nd stimulus check?!?! This is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Greg stokes

I received my state taxes, but have not received my federal taxes. I filed February 4 this year.

DoninGA

Employee

@Greg stokes wrote:

I received my state taxes, but have not received my federal taxes. I filed February 4 this year.

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.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

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.
Or you can contact your local IRS office. See this IRS website for local IRS offices - http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-Your-Local-IRS-Office-1 or call 1-844-545-5640 to set up an appointment
Or you may want to contact a Taxpayer Advocate in your area. See this IRS website for Taxpayer Advocate in your area and a toll free number - http://www.irs.gov/Advocate/Local-Taxpayer-Advocate

T

tjeve920

I filed Jan 28, 2020. Got about 6 letters of need 60 days or more. Nothing to do letters from March thru August. Got an Audit letter pretty much asking for the information I provide every single year. Proof I am who I am, proof that the same 2 kids I've filed for the last 16 and 14 years are mine, and why I'm head of household. Even tho I've filed that my girlfriend is disabled but receives no disability, I used to work everyday of the week 50 to 70 hours a week to buy food, pay the bills, and provide shelter with the same company for many years is hard to understand. And even tho I have filed my taxes like an American tax paying citizen should since I was 17 years old and I am 36 now, the irs still asks me these questions. I provide every inch of every document when I file and when they ask. Still I get nothing in response or even as simple as picking up the phone. But yet the government can give me this other money without question. Just drop it right into my account? Ha! And this tax service... Turbotax, like all other tax service says they'll provide you with help if needed and if something comes up such as an audit or when the irs has some disbelief im not who I claim to be and sends me 1600 things to return to them in 30 days, turbo tax or inuit is not there. They give you no warning. They just want that payment. For a service they failed to provide even tho they took your money. The irs and turbo tax, along with every single other tax service is a dang joke. And they should be ashamed. People have lost everything this year. This year has been the worst for hard working Americans. I busted balls at my company for 9 years. Worked my tail off to get to where I was. And for what?! To be let go due to a virus I can die from. Then can't find any other work, struggle day to day, month to month on a measly $158 a week when I was getting closer to 900 a week?! Lmao! A joke is what they are. And they wonder why people are beginning to rise up and fight back against this corrupt system. They are blind to their own ignorance. Turbo tax, the irs, and every other place is a joke. And deserve nothing. Hope everyone has better luck than me. This great nation needs a break. We the people must stand against any tyrant! Foreign or domestic. This country needs someone unlike trump and to actually LEAD! ....... ✌️

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dtk6802

Employee

I'm with this guy above. Its been 10 months and I've yet to receive my refund. I as well have a family

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Butler8712

Tax Advocates can't help you. They just resubmit your paperwork and wait for the irs like you are already doing. I have had one for 60 days now. Talk to her every 30 day just to hear her say nothing & I will call you in 30 more days. Don't wait your time.

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sleazyone666

A long timw i have already waited a year and when i contact the irs its wait 60 days that has been going on for a year

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mesquitebean

Employee

@sleazyone666 wrote:
A long timw i have already waited a year and when i contact the irs its wait 60 days that has been going on for a year

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.

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

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Ajenkins92

Though i was the only one still waiting on my 2019 return same problem.

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sleazyone666

I have been waiting a year and keep getying told wait 60 days when i call the irs i dont think they should be allowed to hold it that long i got a tax advocate the irs said wait another 60 days from january 26th so i will contact my advocate and see if they can tell me how much longer

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addisyn2015

i filed feb 4th 2021, i still havent got my refund got my stemi. stupid irs. iv been trying to call for weeks, i got someone on the phone one time, and all the could tell me was that im not being audited, and it could take 10 weeks to get my refund. now every time i call, the lines are busy. all day long!!!