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.
This is October 13, 2015 and my last correspondence with the IRS regarding my $6,000 refund was that they had just gotten my faxed reply on 9/22 and if I have not heard by 12/4, another letter will probably come. Reason being that we are into foster care for the last five years. We have 2 adoptive boys we have had and claimed for the last five years. Our latest foster child was with us six months and returned home. Problem being that his bio father claimed him on his taxes and was paid for him. This is illegal in that he did not have his son for six months. We efiled our taxes in early January and they were originally accepted and then they changed their mind and we were put into audit because this foster child was on our taxes. They were refusing to pay for him and also for our two other boys who they were now demanding proof that we had them, even though they have been for the last five years. We faxed back proof for the foster child and it took them nearly 6 months to reply and the wheres my refund was either busy or non committal or a 60 minute wait or no way to leave any message. Dead end. So now they have the proof of our boys with picture and school records and they have agreed to send the money for our foster child (which we do not have by the way, just a letter saying they have allowed it) and I get another letter now telling me they are just now reviewing our fax. This is the worst year ever and pretty soon we will be into another one. Any suggestions….we have waited almost a year and I bet there will be no interest paid for their lack of professionalism.
Hi Linda,
It is such a shame that you had to go through that process. On the bright side, once you go through an in-depth process like this, it is on file with the IRS which should lessen your chances significantly of it occurring again (as long as you receive the positive response that they have promised). Unfortunately, the IRS does need to take extra precaution when a dependent is claimed by two taxpayers. It can be such a burden but it may work in your favor once it is all said and done.
I filed 1/28. Initially told it would delayed a month. Now, it’s 4/21. Told it could be to the end of this week. Three months later! Still nothing. What then? Hire a lawyer and lose my refund to him?
Hi Pete,
Although extremely frustrating, hiring a lawyer probably wouldn’t be your best bet (as you said, why lose your refund to them??). At this point, contacting the IRS again is your best bet. The call hold time should be tolerable since it is no longer the current year tax season. If you are unable to get a live person on the phone, try calling your local IRS office. They tend to be better about live help.
Where is my refund it is still shown that it is being process i file the last of january.
Hi Louis,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re still waiting on your refund. You should have received it by now. I would suggest calling the IRS for an update. Their phone number is 800-829-1040.
If you used RapidTax to file your taxes, give us a call and our support team will provide you with any information they may have.
Hope you receive your refund soon! Best of luck Louis!
I was accepted 3/6/14 and had to also get a replacement IP pin and I’m still waiting. Where’s my refund still shows that my refund is still is progress. I’m going on 7 months now and still nothing.
I was accepted on 2/4/2013 and I am still waiting on my refund also.I used a replacement IP pin number and I am still waiting. I also was given the run around. My deadline date was 6/13/2013 and now they say I have to wait 6-8more weeks. I have bills and a child to take care of. I called a tax addvocate hopefully they can help me receive my refund.
@gunning on the last comment!!are u kiddinng me?when did u finally receive it?I filed with an rep. Ip pin this year
@gunning when did you finally received the refund.