Why are 2021 refunds taking so long?

Asked by: Yasmine Howe  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.8/5 (57 votes)

What's Taking So Long? If you don't receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. ... You may also experience delays if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit.

When should I get my tax refund 2021?

Most taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit will get their refund within 21 days, assuming there are no problems with the return, according to the IRS.

Are tax returns delayed 2021?

Save IRS letters about stimulus, CTC

A major reason tax returns were delayed in 2021 was because taxpayers made mistakes in reporting their 2020 stimulus payment amounts on their returns, resulting in their tax filings getting flagged for manual review.

Why have I not received my tax refund 2021?

Though the chances of getting live assistance are slim, the IRS says you should only call the agency directly if it's been 21 days or more since you filed your taxes online, or if the Where's My Refund tool tells you to contact the IRS. You can call 800-829-1040 or 800-829-8374 during regular business hours.

How long will my refund take 2021?

The aforementioned backlog will make it difficult for the IRS to be efficient with their work on 2022 tax refunds, however the treasury is still confident that most Americans should get their refunds within 21 days of filing, although there are some caveats.

2022 IRS TAX REFUND - Important Update - Direct Deposit Schedule, Delays, EITC & CTC, Tax Refunds

16 related questions found

Why are tax refunds taking so long?

Some tax returns take longer to process than others for many reasons, including when a return: Includes errors, such as incorrect Recovery Rebate Credit. ... Includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit.

How long can the IRS hold your refund for review?

The IRS can go back through three years' worth of returns or review up to six years if they find a serious error.

What does it mean when IRS says your refund is being processed 2021?

This means the IRS has processed your return and has approved your refund. The IRS is now preparing to send your refund to your bank or directly to you in the mail if you requested a paper check.

Why haven't I received my federal tax refund?

If you don't receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. The IRS may send you instructions through the mail if it needs additional information in order to process your return.

Why is Where's My Refund not available?

There are a few reasons why you may be getting the following message at Where's My Refund: We cannot provide any information about your refund. You must wait at least 24 hours after you get the acknowledgment e-mail that your tax return was received by the IRS.

Is IRS shut down 2021?

The IRS Will Be Shutting Down Electronic Filing on Nov 20 Until January 2022. This is a standard operating procedure for the IRS as they perform annual maintenance in order to prepare the system for the upcoming Tax Year 2021 Filing Season.

Are IRS refunds delayed this year?

"IRS employees want to do more, and we will continue in 2022 to do everything possible with the resources available to us." ... The IRS says most refunds are issued within 21 days of the return being filed.

Will there be delays in tax refunds 2022?

The processing and refund delays seen in 2021 and likely to be repeated in 2022 can be traced in part to pandemic-related challenges, as well as issues with IRS staffing and funding. ... If your tax refund is delayed, the IRS is required to pay interest on that refund if it not received within 45 days of filing.

Has the IRS started issuing refunds 2021?

The start of this year's tax season – which takes place earlier than last year's February 12 opening – signals the IRS is now accepting and processing 2021 tax returns. More than 160 million individual tax returns for the 2021 tax year are expected to be filed, with most before the April 18 tax deadline.

What day of the week does the IRS deposit refunds 2021?

IRS Refund Schedule for Direct Deposits and Check Refunds

They now issue refunds every business day, Monday through Friday (except holidays). Due to changes in the IRS auditing system, they no longer release a full schedule as they did in previous years.

Why has my refund been accepted but not approved?

Accepted means your tax return is now in the government's hands and has passed the initial inspection (your verification info is correct, dependents haven't already been claimed by someone else, etc.).

How do I know if the IRS received my tax return by mail 2021?

Whether you owe taxes or you're expecting a refund, you can find out your tax return's status by:
  1. Using the IRS Where's My Refund tool.
  2. Viewing your IRS account information.
  3. Calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (Wait times to speak to a representative may be long.)

Why have I still not received my tax refund 2020?

If you haven't received your tax refund after at least 21 days of filing online or six weeks of mailing your paper return, go to a local IRS office or call the federal agency (check out our list of IRS phone numbers that could get you help faster).

Why is my tax still processing?

He said the IRS is still processing $9.8 million tax returns from 2020. The delays are mostly due to errors in filing, some having to do with the economic stimulus payments. ... This year, parents should keep an eye out for a letter from the IRS that will help them accurately report the amount of money they received.

What does it mean when it says your tax refund is still being processed?

Tax returns are opened and processed in the order received. As the return is processed, it may be delayed because it has a mistake including errors concerning the Recovery Rebate Credit, is missing information, or there is suspected identity theft or fraud.

Why is my tax return still processing after 5 months?

REASONS TAX RETURN MAY TAKE LONGER TO PROCESS:

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, which could take up to 14 weeks to process. Needs further review in general.

Is the IRS still backlogged?

"Paper is the IRS's Kryptonite, and the agency is still buried in it." As of late December, the IRS had backlogs of 6 million unprocessed original individual returns (Forms 1040), 2.3 million unprocessed amended individual returns (Forms 1040-X), more than 2 million unprocessed employer's quarterly tax returns (Forms ...

Why would the IRS hold my refund for 60 days?

There are many reasons why the IRS may be holding your refund. You have unfiled or missing tax returns for prior tax years. ... The IRS is reviewing your tax return. Your refund was applied to a debt you owe to the IRS or another federal or state agency.

What is the longest a tax refund can take?

Typically, the IRS issues a refund within 21 days of “accepting” a tax return. If you file electronically, the IRS can take up to three days to accept your return. If you mail in your return, it can take three additional weeks (the IRS has to manually enter your return into the system first).

Has IRS started issuing refunds 2022?

IRS will start accepting income tax returns on Jan. 24, 2022. * = IRS may delay start of tax season by a week or so. ** = Returns with EITC or CTC may have refunds delayed until March to verify credits.