Can you believe that “I sent my taxes by post nearly two months ago and still haven’t received the refund.” Many people who sent paper tax returns this year are waiting to get their money back, and it can be of great annoyance especially when no updates are available.
Why not try to understand the reasons for this and what actions to take if you have the situation where your paper return that was filed almost two months ago is still without a refund.
Is it normal to wait this long?
Yes, regrettably, it is.
Many people file their taxes by mail resulting in a longer processing time than when they file electronically. The former usually takes 6 to 12 weeks until they are successful in the best case, but at peak periods or if there is something unsolved, it may take much longer
Thus, here two months of waiting for the return from the tax authority to your mailbox can lead to just hopping onto an inquiry, because the latter has the number of weeks, giving at least eight weeks a piece of
How can you check your status?
So what if you did file but still, no refund has reached you?
- Find “Where’s My Refund” on IRS.gov and check there. If the process seems normal, enter the data accordingly with your returned confirmation.
- If “return not received” is displayed, even though you are certain the tax return was mailed, then the system has not been reconciled with the paper return and everything has not been entered.
- You may also reach the IRS at 800-829-1040, but they inform about the long wait times.
Remember, a small mistake in paper returns, such as forgetting the signature or a mathematical error, will require them to be manually opened and scanned and, therefore, will take longer to be processed.
What if the delay is extended even further?
Assuming it has been over 12 weeks since you submitted your return by mail, and you still do not observe any progress, the following tips may hold:
- Request a refund trace
- Check your transcript online to see if your return has been posted
- Think about reaching out to the Taxpayer Advocate Service if you are going through financial grievances
Ensure your mailing address on your return form is also correct. Otherwise, it may lead to the incorrect delivery of your check.
How to prevent the delay in the future?
Are you eager to use your refund faster next time? Then file electronically and select the direct deposit option. Paper returns can be heavily delayed, particularly during the time when the IRS has the most filings or immediately after a long weekend.
Hold on for now, the thought, “I mailed my tax return almost 2 months ago and still no refund,” relax and take a breath. Be aware that quite a number of people are in the same predicament as you, and most probably, your return is in the process of being handled.
