Why haven’t I gotten my refund yet?

There are many possible reasons:

  • The IRS hasn’t had enough time to process your tax return yet. Allow 3 weeks for an electronically-filed tax return and 6 weeks if you filed by mail. Amended tax returns take several weeks longer to process; any type of tax return filed by mail can take several months.

  • Your tax return may have been sent to the IRS Error Resolution Unit for a closer look. This could happen if:

    • you received advance payments of the Child Tax Credit last year

    • this is the first tax return you’ve filed in several years – or ever

    • the IRS flags your tax return for possible identity theft

  • The IRS may have found a problem with your tax return. If so, the IRS will send you a notice. Problems include mismatches involving W-2s and the advance Child Tax Credit payments.

  • Your refund may have been lost or stolen.

  • The U.S. Treasury Department may have used the refund to pay down a debt you owe – to the IRS, for child support, for a defaulted student loan, or for another federal debt

How can I find out what happened to my refund?

You have a few options:

What if the IRS says it sent me the refund, but I never got it?

You can request a refund trace by calling (800) 829-1954 or downloading Form 3911 and mailing it to the IRS service center where you would mail your tax return.

What do I do if the IRS sends me a notice?

Getting an IRS notice makes a lot of people nervous. Here are the four most important things to do if you get one:

  • Open the envelope. There will not be an arrest warrant inside.

  • Read the notice. Read it slowly and carefully.

  • Respond, if required. Respond before any deadlines on the notice.

  • Ask for help. If you’re not sure how to respond or what a notice means, ask for help. You can apply for assistance from the Low-Income Taxpayer Project here or from the Taxpayer Advocate Service here.