How do I find out why my refund is delayed?

Asked by: Tiffany Monahan  |  Last update: May 6, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (46 votes)

If your refund is delayed Your refund may be delayed if your return needs corrections or extra review. If we need more information to process your return, we'll send you a letter.

Can I find out why my tax refund is delayed?

Contact the IRS and research your IRS account.

After you understand more about why the IRS delayed your tax refund, and how to respond to the IRS, do so right away to avoid further problems. Your H&R Block tax professional can also help you investigate the cause of a refund delay and communicate with the IRS for you.

How do I talk to the IRS about a delayed refund?

Call the IRS toll-free at (800) 829-1040, any weekday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. In the case that the IRS already sent the payment, you will need to contact the financial institution. If the institution can get the funds, it will return the refund to the IRS.

How do I know if my tax return has been flagged?

If the IRS decides that your return merits a second glance, you'll be issued a CP05 Notice. This notice lets you know that your return is being reviewed to verify any or all of the following: Your income. Your tax withholding.

How long is too long to wait for tax refund?

If you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund should be issued in about six to eight weeks from the date IRS receives your return. If you file your return electronically, your refund should be issued in less than three weeks, even faster when you choose direct deposit.

Where's My Refund?? | Top Reasons Your Tax Refund is Delayed

24 related questions found

What is the farthest the IRS can go back?

Generally, the IRS can include returns filed within the last three years in an audit. If we identify a substantial error, we may add additional years. We usually don't go back more than the last six years. The IRS tries to audit tax returns as soon as possible after they are filed.

How do I know if my tax refund will be seized?

BFS will send you a notice if an offset occurs. The notice will reflect the original refund amount, your offset amount, the agency receiving the payment, and the address and telephone number of the agency.

What raises red flags for the IRS?

Another easily avoidable audit red flag is rounding or estimating dollar amounts on your tax return. Say, for instance, you round $403 of tip income to $400, $847 of student loan interest to $850, and $97 of medical expenses to $100. The IRS is going to see all those nice round numbers and think you're making them up.

How do I know if the IRS is investigating me?

If a CID special agent contacts you by phone or unexpectedly shows up at your business, attempting to extract incriminating information without the presence of legal counsel, it is a clear sign that you are under criminal investigation.

How can I speed up my delayed tax return?

Request an expedited refund by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059). Request a manual refund expedited to you.

Can you sue the IRS for delayed refunds?

Generally, if you fully paid the tax and the IRS denies your tax refund claim, or if the IRS takes no action on the claim within six months, then you may file a refund suit. You can file a suit in a United States District Court or the United States Court of Federal Claims.

What is the 810 refund freeze?

Webthe 810 refund freeze, also known as the tc 810 hold, is a temporary delay of your tax refund. The 810 code is placed on your transcript by the irs to halt release of your. Webthe 810 freeze overrides refund codes like 846 to prevent release of funds.

How do I contact the IRS about a delayed refund?

Use Where's My Refund, call us at 800-829-1954 (toll-free) and use the automated system, or speak with a representative by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation).

Should I be worried if my tax return is under review?

When your taxes are under review, it's normal to wonder if you'll still get your refund. The answer is, it depends. If your information checks out, your refund will be processed. If there's a discrepancy, and you've incorrectly reported, you may end up owing instead of receiving a refund.

What if it's been 21 days and still no refund?

The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail if more information is needed to process a return. IRS phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of a refund if: 21 days or more have passed since it was filed electronically. Six weeks or more have passed since a return was mailed.

Is TurboTax accurate on refunds?

TURBOTAX ONLINE GUARANTEES. 100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee: If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest.

What income is most likely to get audited?

High income

As you'd expect, the higher your income, the more likely you will get attention from the IRS as the IRS typically targets people making $500,000 or more at higher-than-average rates.

What triggers the IRS to audit you?

Taxable income that is not reported on your tax return is likely to trigger an IRS audit. Common kinds of unreported income include: Income from a hobby or side hustle. Freelance income.

How do you know if your tax refund was flagged?

Taxpayers whose tax returns have been flagged for possible IDT should receive one of the following letters: Letter 5071C, Potential Identity Theft during Original Processing with Online Option – Provides online and phone options and is issued most widely.

How long can the IRS hold your refund for review?

See our Held or Stopped Refund page or our video for more information. If the IRS is reviewing your return, the review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing. Follow these steps if you know you made a mistake, before the IRS contacts you.

Can I track my offset refund?

You can contact the agency with which you have a debt to determine if the debt was submitted for refund offset by calling the Bureau of the Fiscal Service at 800-304-3107 (or TTY/TDD 800-877-8339), Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

Who gets audited the most?

Who Is Audited More Often? Oddly, people who make less than $25,000 have a higher audit rate. This higher rate is because many of these taxpayers claim the earned income tax credit, and the IRS conducts many audits to ensure that the credit isn't being claimed fraudulently.

Is it illegal for the IRS to hold your refund?

The IRS can hold your current-year refund if it thinks you made an error on your current-year return, or if the IRS is auditing you or finds a discrepancy on a filed return from the past. If the IRS thinks you made an error on your return, the IRS can change your refund.

Does the IRS forgive debt after 10 years?

The IRS has a limited window to collect unpaid taxes — which is generally 10 years from the date the tax debt was assessed. If the IRS cannot collect the full amount within this period, the remaining balance is forgiven. This is known as the "collection statute expiration date" (CSED).