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Why Have I Still Not Gotten My Tax Return

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Still Waiting For Your 2019 Tax Refund Get In Touch With Silver Tax Group

12 Responds: Why have I not received my federal tax refund yet?

At Silver Tax Group, our team of skilled tax attorneys is dedicated to helping clients pursue what they deserve. Were prepared to assist individuals who have not received their 2019 tax refunds and our team can help you contact the individuals and entities that will offer more insight.

If youd like to know more about why you havent received your 2019 tax refund, get in touch with us today. You can take advantage of a free consultation with a tax professional prior to partnering with an attorney.

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What To Do If Youre Still Waiting

The first step is to make sure the IRS has actually received your return.

You can track your return using the Wheres My Refund feature on the IRS website or the IRS2Go app. Youll need to provide your Social Security number, filing status and your exact refund amount.

But these tools have limited usefulness. If your return has been processed, they tell you when your refund is scheduled to be deposited, but they dont provide information about why a return is still being processed or whether you need to provide additional information, which prompted recent criticism from the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

You should be able to see whether the IRS has accepted your return within 24 hours if you filed electronically. If the IRS has accepted your return, that just means it has confirmed it received it. The IRS still has to process it.

If your return is flagged for fraud, you wont be able to get specific information about your return status or when you can expect your refund using the IRS website and app, which has added to the frustration for many taxpayers.

If you sent a paper return, you can expect a long wait before you can confirm that the IRS even has your return. Even in normal circumstances, tracking a paper return can take about four weeks.

The IRS says its staff will help you research the status of your refund only if you filed electronically more than three weeks ago or sent it by mail at least six weeks ago, or if Wheres My Refund tells you to get in touch.

How To Use Tax Refund Trackers And Access Your Tax Transcript

The first way to get clues about your refund is to try the IRS online tracker applications: The Where’s My Refund tool can be accessed here. If you filed an amended return, you can check the Amended Return Status tool.

If those tools don’t provide information on the status of your unemployment tax refund, another way to see if the IRS processed your refund is by viewing your tax records online. You can also request a copy of your transcript by mail or through the IRS’ automated phone service by calling 1-800-908-9946.

Here’s how to check your tax transcript online:

1. Visit IRS.gov and log in to your account. If you haven’t opened an account with the IRS, this will take some time as you’ll have to take multiple steps to confirm your identity.

2. Once logged in to your account, you’ll see the Account Home page. Click View Tax Records.

3. On the next page, click the Get Transcript button.

4. Here you’ll see a drop-down menu asking the reason you need a transcript. Select Federal Tax and leave the Customer File Number field empty. Click the Go button.

5. The following page will show a Return Transcript, Records of Account Transcript, Account Transcript and Wage & IncomeTranscript for the last four years. You’ll want the 2020 Account Transcript.

6. This will open a PDF of your transcript: Focus on the Transactions section. What you’re looking for is an entry listed as Refund issued, and it should have a date in late May or June.

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What Can You Do If Youve Filed Your Tax Return And Still Havent Received Your Tax Refund

First, contact the Department of Treasury directly:

Department of Treasury

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20220

Do not mail a letter to the IRS right now. Theyve stated multiple times they cannot process mail or inquiries. Start with the treasury itself.

The only way we will solve this problem is to let the government and our representatives know there is one. Senators are working to get more relief money into Americans pockets.

We cant let them run the next bill through the IRS or we may end up in the same situation were in now. Write the treasury. Write your senator. Lets see if we can get some answers.

How Long It Takes The Irs To Process A Tax Refund

Celromance: Have Not Received My Federal Tax Refund

Typically, the IRS issues a refund within 21 days of accepting a tax return. If you file electronically, the IRS can take up to three days to accept your return. If you mail in your return, it can take three additional weeks . You should count another week into your time estimate if you request your refund as a check rather than a direct deposit. Check our 2020 tax refund schedule for more information or use the IRS2Go app to learn your status.

For 2020 tax returns, the IRS said it planned to issue more than 90% of refunds within 21 days of e-filing. Some refunds could take as little as 14 days. This, of course, was before the coronavirus pandemic hit and health directives closed offices, including at the IRS.

The closure did not significantly affect processing times for returns filed electronically. But as noted earlier, paper returns were simply not processed, creating a huge backlog. The IRS opened offices in June for core-mission services, including processing paper returns, but workers started on the backlog first. So if you are mailing in your return just now , you should expect a very long delay. The IRS is not even providing an estimate for how long.

For reference, tax season in 2021 began on February 12. So the earliest date taxpayers get a refund this year was February 26 for direct deposits and March 5 for paper checks.

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Wheres My State Tax Refund Montana

Visit the Department of Revenues TransAction Portal and click the Wheres My Refund link toward the top of the page. From there you will need to enter your SSN and the amount of your refund.

The processing time for your tax return and refund will depend on when you file. The Montana Department of Revenue says that if you file your return in January, it may process your refund within a week. However, you may wait up to eight weeks if you file in April, which is generally when states receive the majority of returns.

Wheres My State Tax Refund Illinois

The State of Illinois has a web page called Wheres My Refund, where you can see if the state has already processed your tax return and initiated your refund. The only information you need to enter is your SSN, first name and last name. If the state has not processed your return yet, you can set up an email or text notification to let you know when it does.

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How Can I Track My Irs Refund

If you are still expecting a tax refund, you can check the status of your 2020 income tax refund by using the IRS Wheres My Refund tool. Taxpayers will need to input personal information, including their Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, as well as the filing status and the expected refund amount.

Taxpayers can also check their refund status on the agencys mobile app IRS2Go. The app will also allow you to make tax payments and get free tax help .

Those getting tax refunds via direct deposit could get an IRS TREAS 310 notification on their accounts, which identifies tax refunds processed through electronic payments. Note that IRS TREAS 449, indicates that your refund has been reduced to repay tax debt.

And for taxpayers expecting a refund for 2020 unemployment compensation the IRS said its correcting tax returns through the summer.

The agency has issued more than $10 billion in unemployment compensation refunds since May. The average refund adjustment is $1,686, and taxpayers may need to file an amended return if they failed to submit required forms or schedules.

Why Would My Tax Refund Come In The Mail

Why youre still waiting for your tax refund: 2 Wants to Know

There are a couple of reasons that your refund would be mailed to you. Your money can only be electronically deposited into a bank account with your name, your spouse’s name or a joint account. If that’s not the reason, you may be getting multiple refund checks, and the IRS can only direct deposit up to three refunds to one account. Additional refunds must be mailed. Also, your bank may reject the deposit and this would be the IRS’ next best way to refund your money quickly.

It’s also important to note that for refunds, direct deposit isn’t always automatic. Some are noticing that like the stimulus checks, the first few payments for the child tax credit were mailed. Just in case, parents should sign in to the IRS portal to check that the agency has their correct banking information. If not, parents can add it for the next payment.

For more information about your money, here’s the latest on federal unemployment benefits and how the child tax credit could affect your taxes in 2022.

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Income Tax Refund Information

You can check the status of your current year refund online, or by calling the automated line at 260-7701 or 1-800-218-8160. Be sure you have a copy of your return on hand to verify information. You can also e-mail us at to check on your refund. Remember to include your name, Social Security number and refund amount in your e-mail request.

If you’re expecting a tax refund and want it quickly, file electronically – instead of using a paper return.

If you choose direct deposit, we will transfer your refund to your bank account within a few days from the date your return is accepted and processed.

Electronic filers

We usually process electronically filed tax returns the same day that the return is transmitted to us.

If you filed electronically through a professional tax preparer and haven’t received your refund check our online system. If not there, call your preparer to make sure that your return was transmitted to us and on what date. If sufficient time has passed from that date, call our Refund line.

Paper filers

Paper returns take approximately 30 days to process. Keep in mind that acknowledgment of the receipt of your return takes place when your return has processed and appears in our computer system.

Typically, a refund can also be delayed when the return contains:

  • Math errors.
  • Missing entries in the required sections.
  • An amount claimed for estimated taxes paid that doesn’t correspond with the amount we have on file.

Check cashing services

Splitting your Direct Deposit

Will Ordering A Transcript Help Me Find Out When Ill Get My Refund

A tax transcript will not help you find out when youll get your refund. The information transcripts have about your account does not necessarily reflect the amount or timing of your refund. They are best used to validate past income and tax filing status for mortgage, student and small business loan applications, and to help with tax preparation.

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Things To Consider If Your Refund Status Has Been Sent But Still Havent Received It

Now if the account number is correct and the status is that your refund has been sent, then we still need to look a little bit deeper.

Here are 4 more things to consider.

1. You owe taxes from a previous year.

Because If you owe taxes then it is very possible that the IRS will see that and use any tax refunds to apply against your tax liability.

This is pretty clear, but we see it all the time when clients just simply forget about the tax liabilities that they still need to pay off when thinking about their tax refund.

2. You owe someone money.

For example, if you owe child support, then it is very possible that your tax refund in 2021 can be garnished and used to support your other government liabilities.

Now you will likely know if the first two happen to you because the IRS will usually send a letter confirming how your tax refund was used to pay your liabilities.

3. Your tax accountant took your tax refund to pay themselves.

If you did not pay your accountant an upfront fee to do your taxes then some systems are set up to take a cut out of your tax refund for their tax fees.

So for example, if you were supposed to get back an $800 refund and your tax accountant charges $800 then you would end up not getting any additional money.

Most accountants will tell you this upfront, so you know what to expect. But there are some sketchy tax people who will overlook this information.

4. You owed the IRS.

The IRS even put some of these delay notices on their website.

Im A Nonresident Alien I Dont Have To Pay Us Federal Income Tax How Do I Claim A Refund For Federal Taxes Withheld On Income From A Us Source When Can I Expect To Receive My Refund

Still waiting? Reasons why you haven

To claim a refund of federal taxes withheld on income from a U.S. source, a nonresident alien must report the appropriate income and withholding amounts on Form 1040-NR, U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return PDF. You must include the documents substantiating any income and withholding amounts when you file your Form 1040NR. We need more than 21 days to process a 1040NR return. Please allow up to 6 months from the date you filed the 1040NR for your refund.

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Your Return Hasnt Been Processed

The IRS has been behind on processing returns for the entire tax season, but there are a few situations causing additional delays for some taxpayers:

  • You mailed your return instead of filing electronically.
  • Your return has errors like an incorrect Recovery Rebate Credit.
  • Your return is incomplete.
  • You filed a claim for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit .
  • You submitted Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation.
  • You are a victim of identity theft or fraud.
  • Your return needs additional IRS review.

If the IRS contacts you requesting clarification or more information, responding in a timely manner may help move your return along.

Phone Assistance Not A Luxury

With so many returns backed up at the IRS, it may be no surprise that the number of calls to the IRS and visits to its website jumped this year with the number of calls jumping to four times what the agency received in 2020, Collins said.

At the peak of the filing season this year, the IRS was receiving about 1,500 calls a second, Collins added.

The IRS couldn’t keep up with the demand, resulting in “historically poor service,” her report stated.

For instance, the toll-free number for individual income tax services received 85 million calls, but only 3% of callers reached a customer service rep, she noted. Collins also singled out the “Where’s my refund” tool on the IRS website as needing improvement, noting that in many cases the tool doesn’t provide an estimate of when a taxpayer might get their refund or explanation for the holdup.

“From the taxpayer’s perspective, the inability of the IRS to answer calls or provide answers causes frustration and undermines a fundamental taxpayer right namely, the right to be informed,” Collins said, adding that she urges Congress to increase funding for the IRS to improve its ability to answer and handle calls.

She added, “In my view, phone assistance is not merely an option or a luxury.”

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Wheres My State Tax Refund Minnesota

Through the Wheres My Refund? System, you can check the status of your Minnesota tax refund. You will need to enter your SSN, your date of birth, your return type , the tax year and the refund amount shown on your return. Its important to be aware that if your tax return does not have your date of birth on it, you cannot check its status.

The refund system is updated overnight, Monday through Friday. If you call, the representatives will have the same information that is available to you in this system.

Your Refund Has Been Delayed Lost Or Issued Incorrectly

Reasons Why IRS Tax Refunds Delayed For Millions Of Americans | NBC News NOW

If your return has been processed, there are a handful of reasons that your refund may not have arrived. If you opted for a paper check rather than direct deposit, its possible that your check got lost in the mail or stolen. If you were expecting your refund to show up in your bank account, its possible that the account information on your return was entered incorrectly.

Another unfortunate possibility is tax return preparer fraud this is when the individual you hired to do your taxes altered your return after you approved and signed it to redirect funds to a different account than the one you selected. This situation may be tricky to track down, but often the IRS will alert you to inconsistencies on your return. You may also request a transcript of your tax account to make sure it matches the return you signed.

A final possibility is that the IRS is holding onto your refund, either related to your claim for the EITC or ACTC or to offset debts, such as outstanding taxes or child support.

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