How long should I wait for my IRS Fed Tax refund?

[Mabouya]

In early December 2020 I filed my 2019 tax return late. I know, I was lazy, but because they owed me money they don't mind. You actually have a few years to do it, if they owe you money.
Had I known exactly how much I was due I would have sent it in earlier. (when you're that late you have to mail in a paper copy)

It's now been two months. If you go to the IRS web site they say that normally it's a max of 6 weeks. I've been checking the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS web site and the reply is always "We don't know what you're talking about."

So I called them (20 minute wait on the phone) and the gal confirmed that my 2019 return has not yet been processed by them. That doesn't mean that they haven't received it - it may just be sitting in a pile somewhere, waiting. But it isn't "in the system." She did say that they're running behind, but how many other fools send in their returns in December? They can't be that busy.

Another data point: I sent in my MO return at the same time (again, paper copy) and got my refund from them about two weeks later.

Anyone have any useful insight or experience with this sort of thing?

TIA

[ColonelJLloyd]

They can't be that busy.

I'm not sure what gave you that impression, but my useful insight is that you're incorrect about that.

Based on recent IRS correspondence from various clients they seem to be starting to work their way through timely filed 2018 returns (passthrough entities and C corps, both paper and electronic). Things are worse right now that they've been the last few years, which have been worse still than those preceding it.

I'm assuming you paper filed your returns to Kansas City. That office may be in the worst shape of them all. They're sitting on mountains of returns. The COVID situation turned things from bad to worse.

It would not surprise me if your refund was processed next week. Neither would it surprise me if it's still weeks away. Did you buy a lottery ticket the day you only had a 20 minute wait to speak with someone at IRS? Should have.

You could write your congressperson and ask that they work to properly fund the IRS, or at least stop defunding it.

[Mabouya]

I'm not sure what gave you that impression, but my useful insight is that you're incorrect about that.

Thanks for the reply and the info.

I said that only because things haven't ramped up yet for the 2020 tax year filings, so I assumed that right now would not be a super-busy time. However, I do realize that like everyone else, they're dealing with COVID issues.

I am willing to wait, but it's frustrating that two months after I sent it in I can't even get an acknowledgement that they've received it. At least then I would know that it wasn't lost in the mail.

[echappist]

Thanks for the reply and the info.

I said that only because things haven't ramped up yet for the 2020 tax year filings, so I assumed that right now would not be a super-busy time. However, I do realize that like everyone else, they're dealing with COVID issues.

I am willing to wait, but it's frustrating that two months after I sent it in I can't even get an acknowledgement that they've received it. At least then I would know that it wasn't lost in the mail.

If you want an assurance that your returns were received, the thing to do would have been at least a signature confirmation, if not via certified mail. All moot now, but something to consider for the future.

[monadnocky]

They are very, very, very busy.

Through early summer we were getting ominous notices that we, in effect, did not pay our 2019 taxes, despite signed receipt return documentation that we had, indeed, paid our 2019 taxes. We heard that the facility that was processing our returns (somewhere in the Midwest- perhaps KC if I recall correctly?) was months behind, and hundreds of thousands of people were getting similar notices.

Despite some (very) high anxiety regarding this, the IRS eventually caught up with the glut, and everything turned out ok.

I wouldn't expect anything close to normal timelines once more this year.

[jlyon]

Many CPAs on a forum I am on in Texas said they have mailed in Tax payments (With proof of Receipt) and they have not cashed those checks Since October.

[j44ke]

This article in the WaPost mentions delays on 2019 returns, among other things.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...t-cp21c-error/

[ColonelJLloyd]

Saw this today. Note the last bulletin regarding filing your 2020 return.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-ope...tions-continue

IRS.PNG

[Mabouya]

Thanks for the info.

I'm still waiting...

[Mabouya]

Venting...

Not that anyone here should gad, but it's now been over three months since I mailed in my 2019 Fed tax return to the IRS and they still don't even acknowledge having received it.

I guess I'll try giving them a call again to see what they say.

That will teach me for waiting so long to file that I can't do it electronically.

[jlyon]

I received my 2019 refund check in the mail last week. It took 50 weeks from the time I filed it to receive my $20 refund.