Many taxpayers are frustrated by IRS delays and a lack of information from Where’s My Refund
Going into this tax season we knew that refunds were going to be delayed. Right off the bat the IRS increased the time frame within which most people can expect their refund. Instead of the old 8-15 days it suddenly became “under 21 days.”
Then the fiscal cliff nuttiness in Congress pushed the start of the season back two weeks to January 30th. These two changes alone meant that lots of people would be getting their money 2-3 weeks later than usual.
But as the tax season has progressed, the IRS has run into even more problems. Before the start of the season this year the IRS made some changes to its system to try to cut down on instances of tax fraud and identity theft, which affected over a million taxpayers last year. This is a huge relief to anyone who’s had their Social Security number or refund stolen.
Once the season started, however, the IRS discovered some problems with this new system that required a little fine-tuning. These adjustments caused many returns to be delayed for an additional week.
Now the IRS is experiencing even more delays, many of which are affecting the Where’s My Refund tool that millions of taxpayers check obsessively to track the progress of their refund. For many, the tool has been providing absolutely no information about when they can expect their refund. The IRS hopes to have the problem resolved within a few days, but for now, all anxious taxpayers can do is wait.
The message from the IRS reads:
We are aware that some taxpayers who have filed electronically and received an acknowledgement from the IRS are concerned when they visit ‘Where’s My Refund’ and are told that we have no information regarding their return. This is a temporary situation, and we expect to resolve the matter in a few days. At that time, taxpayers will be able to get an expected refund date when they visit ‘Where’s My Refund.’
Here’s what you can do: be patient. Repeatedly calling the IRS and complaining isn’t going to get your money any faster. In fact, it’s probably just slowing the agency down. The same goes for your tax preparer. They are not in control of your return, the do not have any inside information from the IRS, and they cannot do anything to speed that agency’s processing of your return.
If your return was accepted by the IRS, rest assured that they have it and they are working as fast as a massive federal bureaucracy can to get your refund out to you. Keep calm and, well, carry on.
Photo via [ rachael ] on Flickr.
E filed taxes in February, rejected, said my daughter was claimed already, I then had to paper file it has been two months going on three IRS said that they received my paper file May 1st, and it was all 00000000000’s. This is absolutely BS and Unacceptable. I feel lost with no one to help. My accountant helped me resubmit by fax. just the other day. So now I have to wait wait wait and see who next wants to give me the fricken run around and lie and say they never received it!! But If I owed money you bet your ASS they would of been on it. I am LIVID!!!!!
Submitted taxes March 8. went in to IRs office 3 weeks later and was told there was a problem and they fixed it and resubmitted April 8th. today is the 6th week after having my refund “resubmitted” and I’m still waiting. I went to IRS office again today and the guy that helped me is even more perplexed as to why i haven’t received refund yet. No new problems reported and i waited the 6 weeks like they said and still no refund. I am with the rest of you….”when we owe the government, they are fast to take it, but when they owe us, we don’t get it. Now i find myself having to choose to pay mortgages, credit cards, dependent care, food, and household bills. I have had my credit scores drop 100 points because no refund has been sent. do they care? It doesn’t appear so. so for me to just sit back and idly “be patient” for them to get it straight over there, I’ll be a mummy by the time things get fixed. Aggravated taxpayer!!!!
Sorry to everyone but happy to know I’m not alone. I’m going through and doing the same kind of waiting. Filed on march 2, called them on march 24 and was told to wait on a letter then called back to do my ID verify but ran into issues on the phone so went into the IRS office at 9am and didn’t leave until 2pm. Was told I’ll be contacted but wasn’t so I called them and was told its going into a different review and it will take up to 6-8 weeks. Unbelieveable!! I wonder if I would be going through this if I had to owe!
Don’t waste your time asking the IRS for interest. The IRS is the King of he United States It will only be waste of your time. I am just as frustrated. I file my tax at the end of Feb 2013, I was supposed to getting a refund by the middle of March 2013. When I didn’t receive my refund, I called the IRS. The agent informed me another taxpayer sent them a check with my social security and a letter has been sent to me, wait until I get the letter. When I received the letter, IRS said I owed them money. I called the IRS on 3/8/2013 when I received the letter, the IRS agent told me the payment has been transferred to the proper taxpayer and all matter has been resolved, should be getting my refund in three weeks. When I didn’t get my refund on 4/1/2013, I called the IRS again. This time, the IRS agent reference the letter and after I read the letter, IRS agent said all matter has been resolved and should be getting the refund 6 to 8 weeks. So I called the IRS again on 4/24/2013, I was told I should wait another four weeks. As today, I have no refund. I often wonder if I am going to be one of those taxpayers who will never receive his or her refund.
How is all that hope-y change-y thing working out for all you stupid Obama fans? HE is the reason you’re not getting your money back morons! After bailing out the banks and car companies there is no money left and Obama wants to holds on to your money for as LONG AS HE CAN!!