Missing a Really Old Refund?

Unusual and unexpected delays in a tax refund might be a symptom for any number of problems. But every so often, refunds have been delayed for so long, that you may need to ask the help of the Taxpayer Advocate. This may be especially pertinent for refunds from earlier tax years. One reader complained that the IRS is taking too long to process a refund from 2006. And in my own experience I've sometimes seen significant delays with refunds from prior years. So here's how to track down your federal tax refund:

First, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040, or use the Where's My Refund? utility on the IRS web site. The important information to find out is whether the IRS has processed your refund, when they sent out the refund, or if your refund was used to pay off another federal debt. This last possibility is called a refund offset, in which the IRS sends all or part of your refund to be used to pay off child support, state taxes, or student loans. If the IRS does apply your refund to another debt, they are required to notify you of this in writing.

Second, if it's been over ten weeks since you filed your return and you still haven't heard from the IRS, call the IRS and initiate a refund inquiry. Ask the agent why there has been a delay. The IRS will then look into the matter and get back to you in another eight to ten weeks.

Third, it may be time to have your refund inquiry referred to the Taxpayer Advocate. The Advocate is an independent agency that functions as an ombudsman for IRS matters, resolving complaints and problems between the IRS and taxpayers. You can call the IRS and request that your case be referred to the Advocate, or you can call the Advocate directly using their intake hotline at 1-877-777-4778 (a toll-free number). An advocate will then be assigned to review your case and follow up with you to track down your refund.