Why is wheres my refund not updating

If you mail your return instead of e-filing it, the IRS is more likely to identify an error after the fact. The IRS can also change your return if you forget to include a corresponding schedule or form to support a deduction or credit.

At that point, you would have to amend your return and follow up with the IRS to get your refund. IRS identity theft filters sometimes delay returns and tax refunds until taxpayers verify their identities.

Technically, this is an IRS audit. Learn how to handle an IRS audit. The IRS can use this information to question the accuracy of tax returns and delay potential tax refunds. If your return has discrepancies or a missing reconciliation of the advance payments of the premium tax credit, the IRS can request more information from you to process your return Letter 12C , or even begin an audit to charge you penalties for not having required insurance coverage. After you file your return, the IRS may challenge your reporting of insurance coverage if it conflicts with Forms the IRS has on file.

The only way to fix this issue and get your refund is to file the past-due return. If you owe taxes on the old return, the IRS will take that amount out of your current-year refund. Learn how to handle back tax returns. The IRS can delay your tax refund until it completes any audits. If you respond with the requested information by the deadline, the IRS will generally finish the audit within six months and can release your refund.

This can be a daunting task because refund holds can feel like audits. Best course: If you get a notice from the IRS about your refund hold, immediately investigate the cause. After you understand more about why the IRS delayed your tax refund, and how to respond to the IRS, do so right away to avoid further problems.

The IRS has the authority to take or hold your tax refund if they think your return isn't accurate and in other situations as well. Electronic filing e-filing , prevents many common taxpayer missteps that delay refunds, like illegible writing, math errors and entering info on the wrong lines, but e-filing also speeds up your refund even if you haven't made any errors. Paper returns are processed manually, which usually takes between four and six weeks.

In , the IRS warned taxpayers of delays in processing paper returns, suggesting that the minimum turnaround time could be as long as seven weeks.

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New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system. The Internal Revenue Service began accepting returns on February 12, and for taxpayers who have set up direct deposit, refunds could begin to start appearing about three weeks after they file.

The good news is, the IRS says delays with the tool do not mean that returns themselves have been delayed. The coronavirus pandemic has created additional urgency this year for Americans expecting tax refunds, particularly as many have not been able to rely on other forms of relief from the government.