Refund delays may be caused by a variety of reasons. For example, a name and Social Security number listed on the tax return may not match the IRS records. A taxpayer may fail to sign the return or to include necessary attachments such as Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
The IRS can delay your tax refund until it completes any audits. This is most common when the IRS is conducting a mail audit on your EITC or ACTC return from a prior year. Normally, you'll receive IRS Letter CP88 indicating that your refund is frozen until the IRS completes the audit.
Processing times
Some tax returns need extra review for accuracy, completeness, and to protect taxpayers from fraud and identity theft. Returns that fall into this category can take longer to process. Disaster-related returns may take longer to process than tax returns not claiming disaster relief.
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.
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.
What happens after I successfully verify? We'll process your tax return. It may take up to 9 weeks to receive your refund or credit any overpayment to your account. However, if we find other problems, we'll contact you again and this may delay your refund.
If the IRS is reviewing your return, it may have questions about your wages and withholding, or credits or expenses shown on your tax return. The review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing.
This means the IRS experienced a higher volume than normal of electronic payments, which has caused a significant delay in processing payment records for payments received on or after April 18, 2024.
If a taxpayer receives the status update that their tax return was accepted but not approved, this means that the IRS has received their tax return, but they have not yet evaluated the information. Therefore, the taxpayer must wait to see if more action is required.
Most refunds will be issued in less than 21 days. You can start checking the status of your refund within 24 hours after you have e-filed your return. Refund information is updated on the IRS website once a day, overnight. Remember, the fastest way to get your refund is to e-file and choose direct deposit.
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.
The best and fastest way to get your tax refund is to have it electronically deposited for free into your financial account. The IRS program is called direct deposit. You can use it to deposit your refund into one, two or even three accounts.
An incomplete return, an inaccurate return, an amended return, tax fraud, claiming tax credits, owing certain debts for which the government can take part or all of your refund, and sending your refund to the wrong bank due to an incorrect routing number are all reasons that a tax refund can be delayed.
Things that can delay a refund:
The return has errors, is incomplete or is affected by identity theft or fraud.
The IRS says that tax returns can be delayed for the following reasons: It was sent by mail. It contains errors or is incomplete. It needs further review.
Although you can't directly sue for the delay, you may have other legal options if the delay is unreasonable and causes you financial harm. Pursuing a refund suit against the IRS may be an option if other avenues have been exhausted.
Delays can be due to issues like return errors, unpaid taxes, or old debts. Typically, simple returns take under 3 weeks, while complex ones might take 60-90 days. To make the process smoother, ensure accurate filing, settle any debts, and use IRS tools. If things get tricky, consider professional advice.
The IRS sends a 5071C letter when it receives a tax return with your name and tax identification number, but believes the return to be fraudulent. A Letter 5071C will ask you to complete an online identity verification process to confirm your identity.
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). If you filed a married filing jointly return, you can't initiate a trace using the automated systems.
Your refund may be delayed for several reasons. In some cases, you'll just get the money later than expected. In others, the IRS may send you a letter asking for additional information before it can finish processing your return and send your refund.
Overestimating home office expenses and charitable contributions are red flags to auditors. Simple math mistakes and failing to sign a tax return can trigger an audit and incur penalties. Taxpayers should report all income from Form W-2, Form 1099, and any cash earnings.
The IRS won't email, text you, or contact you via social media. It will generally mail you a notice if there is a problem with your return. An IRS agent may call you or visit your home, but usually only after sending several letters first.