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Are you still waiting on your tax refund? Although most people will receive their tax refund within 21 days of filing electronically, the IRS warns of possible delays due to lingering backlogs caused by the pandemic. So far, the IRS has issued more than 45 million tax refunds in 2022, at an average of $3,352 per refund—up from last year's $2,800 average check. Waiting for that money to land in your bank account can be a challenge, especially if you're counting on it to make a large purchase, cover expenses or give your financial health a boost. Here's what could be causing delays in processing your 2021 tax return, how to receive your refund faster and what to do while you wait for your tax refund. How to Check the Status of Your Tax RefundYou can check the status of your refund using the IRS' Where's My Refund? tool. According to the IRS, the Where's My Refund? tool is the fastest and easiest way to check your refund status. It shows your return's status within 24 hours of e-filing or four weeks of mailing your return. The tool is updated daily to reflect your current return status. Here's how to use the tool to check your tax return status:
Your status will indicate one of the following:
Can You Call the IRS to Check Your Refund Status?In some cases, you can call the IRS to check the status of your tax return. Individual taxpayers can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 if:
Calling outside of these conditions isn't recommended because the IRS representatives won't be able to provide additional information on your tax return status. Because of the high volume of calls, the phone line is often busy and it may take you a long time to get through. Reasons Your Tax Refund Can Be DelayedIf you're still waiting on your tax refund, it's possible that your tax return is taking longer for the IRS to process because it requires additional review. There are several reasons why your tax return may be delayed:
How to Get Your Tax Refund FasterIf you've already filed your tax return, you won't be able to speed up the refund process by checking your refund status or calling the IRS. The IRS will contact you if they need additional information to process your return. If you haven't filed yet, the IRS offers the following tips to speed up your refund: 1. Use E-filingFile your taxes electronically for the quickest tax refund. With paper returns, IRS workers have to manually input information, so filing by paper can cause substantial delays in processing your return. 2. Choose Direct DepositThe fastest way to receive your tax refund is to elect to have it deposited directly into your bank account. If you don't have a bank account and don't wish to open one, you can also use direct deposit with a prepaid debit card. 3. Avoid ErrorsIncorrect, missing or incomplete information on your tax return can trigger a manual review and lead to processing delays, thus slowing your tax refund. The IRS urges taxpayers to gather all relevant tax documents and take these steps to avoid the most common return errors:
How to Pay Bills While You Wait for Your Tax RefundBecause tax refunds can be delayed for a number of reasons, the IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving their tax refund within three weeks in order to cover expenses or make an important purchase. Here are some ideas for getting by while you wait for your refund check.
Waiting Is the Hardest PartTracking the progress of your tax return and refund won't make the money arrive any faster. But you may be able to allay some of your fears about refund delays by using Where's My Refund or IRS2Go to see exactly where you are in the process. Why is my refund taking longer than 21 days?Things that can delay a refund:
The return has errors, is incomplete or is affected by identity theft or fraud. The return needs a correction to the child tax credit or recovery rebate credit amount.
What should I do if it's been over 21 days and no refund?Individual taxpayers can call the IRS at 800-829-1040 if:. It's been 21 days or more since you e-filed your return.. It's been six weeks since you mailed a paper tax return.. Where's My Refund? tells you to contact the IRS.. Why haven't I received my refund It's been 21 days?If you don't receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. The IRS may send you instructions through the mail if it needs additional information in order to process your return.
Who to call if it's been more than 21 days and no refund?If it has been longer than 21 days and your return is still processing, please contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to check on your return. When calling the IRS do NOT choose the automated Option 1.
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