Whats Taking So Long To Receive Refunds
If you dont receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. The IRS may send you instructions through the mail if it needs additional information in order to process your return.
You may also experience delays if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, the IRS is required to hold tax returns for folks who claimed those credits until Feb. 15. If you claimed either of those tax breaks, a PATH Act message may appear when you use the Wheres My Refund? tool.
If you havent received your refund and youre becoming impatient, calling the IRS will likely not help. Its best to avoid contacting the IRS directly unless the Wheres My Refund? tool prompted you to do so or its been 21 days since you filed your tax return electronically .
File Anytime Between Jan 24 And The April 18 Deadline
The filing deadline to submit your 2021 tax return or an extension to file, is Monday, April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. The due date in 2022 is April 18, instead of April 15 because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their returns due to the Patriots’ Day holiday in those states.
Keep in mind that April 18 is the last day to file or request an extension. The earlier you file the sooner you will receive any refund you are due. If you are waiting for your 2020 return to be processed, you don’t have to wait to file your 2021 return, according to the IRS.
If you request an extension to file by April 18 , you have until Monday, October 17, 2022, to submit your 2021 tax return. You must pay your estimated taxes, however, by the regular tax filing deadline of April 18 .
When Do I Get My Tax Refund
The answer to when will I get my tax refund depends from year to year.
Generally, the IRS has said that about 90% of refunds are issued within 21 days of when the return was received.
You can check on the status of your refund on the IRS website or at our Wheres My Refund page. Live updates will appear the same day e-file opens. Using this tool, you can easily track the progress of your return as it is processed.
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No Matter How You File Block Has Your Back
Help My Wmr Status Bar Has Disappeared
As many folks have commented, the WMR tracker status bar may disappear or not be shown if your return falls under IRS review after it is received because additional information is needed for your return.
This can happen even if you previously checked WMR and it showed the status as Return Received. An explanation or instructions will be provided depending on the situation
But dont panic when this happens. The IRS still has your return but things are essentially on hold until the IRS gets the additional information from you to continue processing your return . You will either get directions on WMR or IRS2Go or the IRS will contact you by mail. See more in this video.
Follow the provided instructions and return any additional information ASAP to get your potential refund and reduce any further delays. Talk to your accountant, tax advocate or tax professional if you are not clear on what the IRS is asking for or you dont get an update after 21 days.
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What Is The Irs Cycle Code On My Transcript
While the above IRS refund schedule can give you an estimated date for you refund once approved by the IRS, it may take a while to get there.
So some folks use their IRS tax transcript which shows various tax processing codes and a cycle code. This is an eight digit number that indicates when your tax return posted to the IRS Master File .
The cycle code is updated regularly and when combined with the tax topic code, can provide insight into your tax refund status, processing stages and potential direct deposit date. You can see a deeper discussion in this article.
Tax Return Filing Dates In 2022
Below are the estimated dates for key tax filing activities and deadlines. These will be updated as the IRS provides more information and you can subscribe to get notified of the latest updates.
Stay In the Know:
An important point to note is that while you can file your taxes anytime after the beginning of the year, the IRS will not process any returns until IRS e-File goes live. This includes returns filed via the main tax software providers or directly via the IRS website for lower income filers. The IRS also reiterated that filing your taxes electronically is the most accurate way to file a tax return and the fastest way to get a refund. It is expected that more than over 80% of tax returns will be e-filed in the latest tax year.
Once your return is accepted the IRS processes your refund based on the IRS E-file Refund Cycle Chart. Exact refund dates are based on IRS processing times and can be found in IRS Publication 2043 and IRS Topic 152 for both e-filed and mailed returns. After filing and assuming your tax return is on order you should receive your federal refund between 8 and 21 days. If you did not select the electronic deposit option, getting a paper check mailed to you adds about a week. As a general rule, you can expect your state tax refund within 30 days of the electronic filing date or the postmark date.
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Awaiting Processing Of Previous Tax Returns People Can Still File 2021 Returns
Rettig noted that IRS employees continue to work hard on critical areas affected by the pandemic, including processing of tax returns from last year and record levels of phone calls coming in.
“In many areas, we are unable to deliver the amount of service and enforcement that our taxpayers and tax system deserves and needs. This is frustrating for taxpayers, for IRS employees and for me,” Rettig said. “IRS employees want to do more, and we will continue in 2022 to do everything possible with the resources available to us. And we will continue to look for ways to improve. We want to deliver as much as possible while also protecting the health and safety of our employees and taxpayers. Additional resources are essential to helping our employees do more in 2022 and beyond.”
The IRS continues to reduce the inventory of prior-year individual tax returns that have not been fully processed. As of December 3, 2021, the IRS has processed nearly 169 million tax returns. All paper and electronic individual 2020 refund returns received prior to April 2021 have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review.
Taxpayers generally will not need to wait for their 2020 return to be fully processed to file their 2021 tax returns and can file when they are ready.
Has The Irs Announced When It Will Start Accepting Tax Returns In 2022
The IRS announced that it will begin accepting 2021 tax returns on Jan 24, 2022. This is the date when the IRS will begin accepting individual 2021 tax returns and processing will begin. The IRS stated that the January 24 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to perform programming and testing that is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly.
Although the IRS wont officially open its doors until Jan. 24, that doesnt mean you cant start filing your tax returns now. The IRS announced that the IRS Free File will open on Jan. 14, 2022, allowing you to submit your completed return which will then be held and filed electronically come Jan. 24.
As of December 28, 2021, the IRS had processed all of the tax returns it received prior to April 2021. Essentially, this means that the agency still has to process returns that were filed after April. In a recent press release, the IRS stated that it was also having to correct many more errors on tax returns than in previous years.
These factors alone could delay the IRS in being able to start processing 2021 tax returns at the end of January 2022. Also, the IRS is still sending out Letter 6419 to families, which outlines how much they received in CTC payments in 2021.
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Can I Call The Irs To Get Answers
While you could try calling the IRS to check your status, the agency’s live phone assistance is extremely limited.
The IRS is directing taxpayers to the Let Us Help You page on its website and to get in-person help at Taxpayer Assistance Centers around the country. You can contact your local IRS office or call to make an appointment: 844-545-5640. You can also contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you’re eligible for assistance by calling: 877-777-4778.
Though the chances of getting live assistance are slim, the IRS says you should only call the agency directly if it’s been 21 days or more since you filed your taxes online, or if the Where’s My Refund tool tells you to. You can call 800-829-1040 or 800-829-8374 during regular business hours. If you have not received a refund yet, you shouldn’t file a second tax return.
Tax Filing Season Begins Jan 24 Irs Outlines Refund Timing And What To Expect In Advance Of April 18 Tax Deadline
IR-2022-08, January 10, 2022
WASHINGTON The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will start on Monday, January 24, 2022, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2021 tax year returns.
The January 24 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to perform programming and testing that is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. Updated programming helps ensure that eligible people can claim the proper amount of the Child Tax Credit after comparing their 2021 advance credits and claim any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.
“Planning for the nation’s filing season process is a massive undertaking, and IRS teams have been working non-stop these past several months to prepare,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “The pandemic continues to create challenges, but the IRS reminds people there are important steps they can take to help ensure their tax return and refund don’t face processing delays. Filing electronically with direct deposit and avoiding a paper tax return is more important than ever this year. And we urge extra attention to those who received an Economic Impact Payment or an advance Child Tax Credit last year. People should make sure they report the correct amount on their tax return to avoid delays.”
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What About My State Tax Refund
What weve covered so far applies to federal tax refunds. As you might expect, every state does things a little differently when it comes to issuing tax refunds and its not possible to say for sure when everyone will receive their state tax refunds. Although, state refunds often come faster than those being processed through the federal system. This isnt always the case, but it often is.
Generally, you can expect to receive your state tax refund within 30 days if you filed your tax return electronically. If you filed a paper tax return, it may take as many as 12 weeks for your refund to arrive. To find out the status of your refund, youll need to contact your state tax agency or visit your states Department of Revenue website.
Before The Irs Issues You A Refund Your Return Must Be Accepted Processed And Approved
Once you submit your tax return to the IRS, the agency will either accept or reject it. If the IRS accepts your tax return, it means the information you included has been reviewed and appears to be accuratespecifically, the Social Security number you provided matches the IRSs database and the dependents you claimed havent been claimed elsewhere, according to TurboTax.
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Dont Miss The Tax Filing Deadline
When you work in the US, youll be taxed on your income and if you earn over a certain amount, you must file a tax return. In 2021 for example, if you are under 65 and single, you must file a tax return if you earn $10,350 or more. The deadline for filing your 2021 tax return is April 15, 2022. You must prepare it and post it to the IRS.
What If I Am Asked To Verify My Identity Or For More Information
After you submit your return, you may receive a letter from the Department requesting additional identification. Please respond as soon as possible to avoid a delay of your refund. You may provide additional information, including requested documents, online through myVTax, select Respond to correspondence. If we ask you to verify that the return the Department has received is truly your return, you also may respond through myVTax select Return filing verification.
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When Are Taxes Due
Last year was another unusual year for taxes, with the IRS automatically extending the tax filing deadline and the date federal income tax payments were due. There has been no such announcement this year.
The tax filing deadline for most individuals and businesses for the 2021 tax year is April 18, 2022.*
* Notes:
- Because Maine and Massachusetts celebrate Patriots Day on April 18, the tax-filing deadline for residents is April 19, 2022.
- The tax-filing deadline was extended to May 16, 2022 for those who live in states that were devastated by the December 2021 tornadoes, namely Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. You do not need to file an extension if this applies to you.
You can file a tax extension if you are not ready to file your taxes by the deadline. This year, the tax deadline when you file an extension is Oct. 17 however, any federal income tax payments are due by the original tax-filing deadline. It is recommended to make an estimated tax payment prior to the tax deadline if you believe you will owe federal taxes.
They Received The Full Amounts Of Both Economic Impact Payments If:
- Their first Economic Impact Payment was $1,200 for individuals $2,400 married filing jointly for 2020, plus $500 for each qualifying child including those born in 2020.
- Their second Economic Impact Payment was $600 for individuals $1,200 married filing jointly for 2020, plus $600 for each qualifying child including those born in 2020.
People who didn’t receive the payments or only received partial payments may be eligible to claim the recovery rebate credit when they file their 2020 tax return, even if they are normally not required to file a tax return. Tax preparation software, including IRS Free File, will help taxpayers figure the amount.
Taxpayers should remember that stimulus payments they received are not taxable, and don’t reduce the amount of their refund.
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When Is The Tax Filing Deadline In 2022
The deadline to file 2021 income tax returns is Monday, April 18, for most people, three days later than the normal April 15 deadline for filing taxes.
The later date is a result of the Emancipation holiday in the District of Columbia. By law, Washington, D.C., holidays affect tax deadlines for everyone the same way federal holidays do. Taxpayers who live in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19 to file because of a holiday celebrated in those states, Patriots’ Day.
The IRS has extended the deadline until May 16 for victims of the late 2021 Colorado wildfires as well as victims of the December tornadoes in parts of Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The extension applies to various individual and business tax returns and tax payments deadlines.
