Americans who are eligible for tax refunds from the Internal Revenue Service may wait years for their payments to show up in their bank accounts, sometimes without even receiving an explanation as to why.
Identity theft, discrepancies, or IRS computer glitches could be reasons why some filers don’t receive their promised refunds within a reasonable time.
Chris Horan of Virginia Beach, Virginia, works as a sales executive for a financial services software company. told the Wall Street Journal He has been waiting for at least 13 months for his $30,000 refund starting in 2022.
Horan, 42, checks in regularly. “Where is my refund?” If you go to the IRS portal site, you will see the same message. “We have received your tax return and are currently reviewing it.”
Both he and his account called the IRS and were told to try again in another 60 days.
“I never imagined that in April 2024 I would be waiting for my 2022 refund,” Horan said.
Meanwhile, Horan has already received a tax refund on his 2023 return. The refund was made on April 8th. That was less than three weeks after his account e-filed his return.
The Post has reached out to the IRS for comment.
The agency told the Journal that refunds are rarely delayed for long periods of time, and the increased number of delays could be explained by a long backlog that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The IRS said there were 686,000 personal returns waiting to be processed as of Dec. 21, most of them from last year’s tax season and due refunds.
Of these, 600,000 require error correction or special handling.
The IRS was also processing 844,000 amended returns in the queue.
Tax advisers said filers like Mr. Horan should escalate the issue beyond the IRS’ customer service channels.
Taxpayers should first check the “Where to Refund” site to see if there is an explanation for the delay. Filers must enter their Social Security or Taxpayer Number, filing status, and expected refund amount.
Twila Midwood, an enrolled agent based in Rockledge, Fla., said filers should call the IRS if their refund doesn’t show up within six weeks.
If that fails, Filer must file 911 — IRS forms to get help from the Taxpayer Advocate Service, a watchdog agency that helps taxpayers resolve issues with government agencies.
Taxpayer Advocacy Services can intervene if delays in refunds create financial hardship for filers.
John Quilter, a former Jaguar Land Rover warranty manager based in Eugene, Oregon, filed a 911 call form after being told by the IRS that he owed the money, when in fact he was owed the money.
After investigating his case, it was determined that the IRS did not recognize the estimated tax payments.
Quilter’s 2022 return showed he owed nearly $5,000 in refunds, but instead he received a notice in April of last year saying he owed more than $5,000 to the IRS.
After mailing in proof that her IRS refund was due, Quilter began receiving letters from two different IRS offices stating that she needed an additional 60 days to resolve the issue. .
Tax experts also recommend that filers contact their representatives in Congress.
Last year, Brooklyn resident Sandy Lerner told Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) that she had yet to receive a nearly $9,000 tax refund for her late mother since filing an amended return in November 2020. We contacted the state office.
Schumer’s office provides monthly updates on Lerner, the newspaper said. Aides to the senator blamed the delay on IRS system glitches.
“At least Mr. Schumer’s office, even if they can’t penetrate the IRS bureaucracy, will keep me updated with entertaining messages every month or so,” Lerner said. Ta.
