What to Do If You Still Haven’t Received Your Tax Refund
When nationwide blackouts began in March, the IRS closed many of its offices . Although staff returned before the 15 July tax deadline , there were delays in processing documents , especially in the case of paper returns, due to staff shortages.
According to the IRS , the agency has processed over 134 million returns – 90% of what it received as of July 16 – but many have yet to be received. If you are one of thousands waiting for a refund, here are a few things that can calm your nerves until you get your money back.
Don’t File Another Tax Return
When you want a tax refund, you might be tempted to send in another copy of your tax return – in case they lost the first one. But the IRS prohibits re-uploading because it can slow down the process.
Check your refund status online
The IRS offers several digital tools to track the status of your reimbursement. You can check through the IRS ” Where is my refund?” or by using the IRS2Go mobile app by entering your Social Security number or ITIN, tax return status and the exact amount to be reimbursed. The portal is updated once a day, usually at night, according to the site.
When to call the IRS
If 21 days have passed since the application was submitted, or the question “Where is my refund?” The portal invites you to call, you can contact the IRS at 800-829-1954. You can use the agency’s automated system or talk to an agent who may have a longer wait time.
You can get interest
However, there is one advantage to your inconvenience: if you filed your tax return before June 15th, you may receive interest payments on late refunds. According to the IRS, you can receive a separate payment – reflecting your interest from April 15th until the payment is received – at a rate of 3-5% per annum, charged daily.