Tax Refund still being processed? What You Should Know

Tax Refund Still Being Processed
 
It can feel like ages to those who desperately need tax refunds before they get the money. For an unlucky few, the wait has taken months.
Tax Refund still being processed

With the deadline to file and pay 2019 taxes extended to July 15, 2020, it’s natural to wonder what impact that might have on the timing of your expected tax refund.

You may likewise want to know what, if any, effect the massive distribution of stimulus checks to most Americans might have. Or maybe you filed a while ago and just want to know where your tax refund is.

1. Your Return Includes Inaccurate Information

If your tax return contains numerical errors or other mistakes, that can slow down the pace of your refund. When an error is detected, your return is earmarked for human review, meaning an IRS employee must comb through it to find the mistake.

That can add days or weeks to the processing time.

2. Your Return Is Incomplete

Having an incomplete return can also trigger an IRS review, which could mean a longer wait for your refund.

If you filed a paper return, for example, and forgot to enter in a key piece of information such as your Social Security number, or you didn’t sign your tax forms.

The IRS wouldn’t be able to process your return until those items are checked off.

3. You’re a Victim of Tax Fraud

Tax fraud occurs when someone uses your personal information to file a fraudulent tax return and claim a refund in your name. For the 2019 tax-filing season, the IRS identified approximately $15.8 million in fraudulent refund claims, with more than 3,700 fraudulent returns being associated with identity theft.

If you think you’re a victim of tax-related identity theft, you’re encouraged to contact the IRS and the Federal Trade Commission to report fraud.

4. Your Refund Was Sent to the Wrong Bank

Filing your return electronically is the fastest way to get your refund if you’re using direct deposit. That assumes, however, that you plugged in the right numbers for your bank account.

If you transposed a digit in the routing or account number your money could be sent to someone else’s account.

Note: If your refund does indeed end up in someone else’s bank account, you’ll have to work with the bank directly to get it back. The IRS can’t and won’t compel the bank to return your money to you.

5. You Claimed Certain Tax Credits

Tax credits reduce your tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Certain tax credits, including the Earned Income Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit, often draw scrutiny from the IRS because of taxpayers claiming these credits fraudulently.

If you claimed either credit, that could be the reason why your refund hasn’t arrived yet.

Remember: The advance tax credit (stimulus) will not be a factor for 2019 taxes since it is for the 2020 tax year.

6. You Amended Your Return

Amending your tax return can also create a delay. Amended returns must be mailed, rather than filed electronically.

When you amend a return, it can take up to three weeks for it to show up in the IRS system, and another 16 weeks to be processed, meaning you may be waiting several months for your refund.

7. Your Refund Has Been Offset to Pay a Debt

If you owe certain debts, including unpaid child support, unpaid state taxes, or federal student loans, the IRS can offset your refund by the balance owed.

If they offset your refund, you’ll receive a notice from the Bureau of Fiscal Services advising you why your refund was taken and which agency the debt was owed to.

You have the right to dispute the debt with the agency that received your refund.

Read: Tax Refund Loan 2020 Updates: Should You Get One in Advance?

Check the Timing

It’s also possible that your tax refund could be delayed if you filed your return too early or waited until the last minute.

If you tried to file in January, for example, a last-minute change to the tax code could have triggered an error on your return that slowed down its processing.

Similarly, waiting until the very last minute to get your return in can mean a longer wait for your refund if the IRS is attempting to process a larger than usual volume of tax filings.

Also, keep in mind that filing a paper return can also slow things down. The fastest way to file—and to get your refund—is to file electronically online.

Should I Call the IRS if My Return is Being Processed?

The IRS representatives can only research the status of your refund 21 days after you filed electronically or six weeks after you mailed your paper return.

If you are beyond the 21-day threshold, here are the steps I recommend taking to determine why your refund is still being processed.

  1. Use the Where’s My Refund tool on the IRS website to determine the current status. This tool updates the status of your refund nightly. If there are updates, it will automatically post them to this page.
  2. If no updates are available using the online tool, use these instructions to reach a real person at the IRS. Diligently follow these instructions and you will avoid being stuck in the IRS phone tree.

The IRS Refund Status Bar has Disappeared. Where’s my Refund?

Many taxpayers have to mention that the status bar has disappeared when they check the status of their refund on the IRS website.

Unfortunately, this is a bug on the IRS refund tool and means nothing regarding the status of your refund.

Final Words

These are the most common reasons for a delayed refund. A refund could also be late if it’s lost in the mail. Having your refund stolen from your mailbox is another possibility.

And a government shutdown, such as the kind that took place in January 2019, could also result in a longer wait for your return to be processed and your refund sent.

If the Where’s My Refund? The tool isn’t offering any answers, you can turn to your local IRS office for help.

The IRS may be able to trace your refund to find out what’s happened to it and issue a replacement check if needed.

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