We are now almost six weeks from the tax filing date of April 18, and some of you might be wondering where your tax refunds are. Here are some helpful suggestions about how to check on your refund.
The IRS issues more than nine out of ten refunds in the normal time frame: less than 21 days if you filed your return electronically. However, it's possible that some tax returns may require further review and could take longer.
The first place to check is the IRS page intended to help you track your refund status, Where's My Refund? You'll need to provide your Social Security number or ITIN, your filing status (single, married, head of household, etc.), and the exact amount of your refund.
The Where's My Refund? page includes a tracker that displays progress through three stages: (1) Return Received, (2) Refund Approved, and (3) Refund Sent. The Where's My Refund? tool provides a personalized refund date as soon as the IRS processes your tax return and approves your refund.
However, it doesn't show information about amended returns. To check the status of an amended return, use Where's My Amended Return? The IRS has said that amended returns generally will take 16 weeks, but more recently, due to COVID, refunds will take 20 weeks or more.
But what if Where's My Refund? doesn't provide you with specific information about your refund? Then, you should consider if your return might fall into one of the categories below that the IRS has stated will take longer to process than others. These are cases that include a return that:
- needs a correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount,
- needs a correction to the Child Tax Credit amount,
- is incomplete,
- is affected by identity theft or fraud,
- includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit using 2019 income,
- includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation PDF, which could take up to 14 weeks to process,
- needs further review in general.
The IRS warns that it's taking more than 21 days (and up to 90 to 120 days) to issue refunds for tax returns with the Recovery Rebate Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and Additional Child Tax Credit.
One thing to keep in mind is that Where's My Refund? provides information for the current and two previous tax years. If you need other return information, view your Online Account.
Contact us at Myrick CPA for assistance with tax preparation, financial and tax planning, consultations on the best strategies to build wealth, and for tax resolution help. We are experts in the latest tax law developments to advise our clients on making the most of their individual financial position.