What to make of a perpetually processing tax refund?
May 11, 2020 4:30 AM   Subscribe

I filed electronically and my return was accepted on 3/12. I'm owed a refund. In looking it over now, I see that my 1040 does NOT have my routing and account number on it as I meant it to -- I filed using Credit Karma for the first time, and it seems not to have filled in those fields, even though it did for my state return. On the IRS's status checker, it says my return is still being processed. There's no one answering phones. What should I do?

Are the missing fields likely the problem, and is there something I need to do to fix it, or will they eventually just mail me a check instead? Or, if those missing fields aren't enough of an explanation for a two-month delay, is it more likely that I'm in a queue for auditing or something?

I've read there are a few conditions that cause delays (EITC, ACTC, and form 8379), but they don't pertain to me. I found an accountant's online instructions for how to navigate the IRS phone tree to get to a person, but they don't work now. Anyone know what's likely going on, how it will resolve, and whether I need to do something?
posted by daisyace to Law & Government (9 answers total)
 
Same thing happened to me. Keep going to the status checker every day or two. After about a month of doing that, it finally accepted my entries and I had a deposit less than a week later.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 4:46 AM on May 11, 2020


You're not the only one. I filed 2/24 and it still shows as processing. I also won't get my stimulus check until my tax return is processed. So we wait, I guess.
posted by signondiego at 7:49 AM on May 11, 2020


I've found /r/tax useful for really detailed tax information/questions.
posted by Jahaza at 8:27 AM on May 11, 2020


I filed late March and am also still processing. I don't think there's anything we can do right now except wait. They are most likely overwhelmed with getting the stimulus checks out.
posted by Jacqueline at 9:03 AM on May 11, 2020


People have a deadline of 11 a.m CT on Wednesday, May 13 to submit direct deposit information at the IRS Get My Payment portal.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 10:26 AM on May 11, 2020


Response by poster: Interestingly, I did already get my stimulus payment, on 4/14, and it was deposited to the account that I've used for e-refunds before (and that I meant to this time as well).
posted by daisyace at 1:12 PM on May 11, 2020


I have it on good authority you have until 12 pm noon on Wednesday the 13th to go to the irs.gov (NOT IRS.COM!) website and add your bank information to receive your stimulus payment. If state refunds can process in a separate office and often are. If you've already gotten your stimulus payment go to the site anyway and validate the mailing address and name spelling. Put your bank info in just for good measure.
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 7:42 PM on May 11, 2020


Response by poster: This past week, I finally got through to a real person at the IRS, who said they were supposed to have sent me an ID verification letter in April. She transferred me to someone who did the ID verification they needed on the phone. Now my refund will go back into processing and I should have it within 9 weeks, and usually sooner. The call with holds was just under two hours. I hope that’ll be that.
posted by daisyace at 2:26 PM on June 7, 2020


Response by poster: Final update: I received my refund in the mail last week, with interest.
posted by daisyace at 4:25 AM on August 10, 2020


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