How to Track Down a Missing Refund
Monday January 12, 2009
Tax refunds are sometimes delayed, often for inexplicable reasons. In many cases, you can track your tax refund online using the Where's My Refund? applet on the IRS Web site. This look up tool, however, only tracks a refund for the most current tax year. So if you're trying to find out about your refund from 2007 or an earlier year, you'll need to call the IRS. They have a special toll-free hotline just for refund inquiries at 1-800-829-4477.
Normally, you should allow eight to twelve weeks for a refund check to arrive in your mail box. If it's been longer than twelve weeks, it's definitely time to call the IRS. If it's been much longer than twelve weeks, you might want to contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Twice last year I had to call in the Taxpayer Advocate to find refunds that had been delayed for well over twenty four months. This doesn't happen very often, but when it does happen, it's good to let the Taxpayer Advocate get involved so they can identify if there are any systematic ways to prevent similar problems from recurring in the future.
Comments
I ammended my tax returns from the 2007 year (1040x). I never received anything from the IRS no notice or anything. My tax preparer said dont worry about it. But what does that mean? Also what does code 1102 mean?
If it’s been less than 12 weeks since you filed your amended return, I would not worry about it. If it’s been more than 12 weeks, I’d call them to find out if they received the return and when to expect a refund check.
As for code 1102, I assume you are talking about the internal codes that the IRS uses when looking up refunds on their computer system. Code 1102 is used to indicate that there’s “No data, taxpayer filed electronic return more than 3 weeks ago.” Since you are filing an amendment (which must be filed on paper), it’s unclear what this code might mean. Normally, this code means that the IRS does not have any tax return data in their system even though it should have. Thus this code usually means the taxpayer needs to send in another copy of the return. (Source: Internal Revenue Manual 21.4.1.)
However, I would ask the IRS what the status of your amendment is and get the answer directly from them. They should not use numeric codes when speaking to you. If they do, ask them to explain exactly what it is that indicator means.
LOVE YOUR WEBSITE!
One of the more informative and accurate tax websites around.
One small correction about your piece re: tracking IRS refunds:
I’ve been using the “Where’s My Refund” feature for years and find that one CAN track refunds for prior years.
The only caveat is that since the feature keys on the AMOUNT of the refund, but not the tax YEAR, that you can only track a prior year’s refund if it is a different amount than a more current year.
For example, if my ‘06 refund was $2,000 and my ‘07 refund was also $2,000, the feature would not let you track the earlier (’06) refund. But if the amounts were different, you could track each of the refunds.
I note that the feature only lets you track original return refunds, not amended returns.
Jeff, thanks for the clarification. Personally, I prefer to call the IRS directly, but then I can obtain more specific information about the status of a tax return, such as whether it’s being processed or if a refund is being applied to a different tax year. But for most cases, using the applet on the IRS Web site will do the job just fine.
hi i am also waiting ( filed feb.2) on an amendment refund, tried calling the i.r.s. using two different numbers but only get the automated service which is no help.how do i speak to an actual person ?
how can i contact an actual person from the IRS and not the automated service i keep getting, concerning an amendment refund?
I don’t believe I included copies of my W2’s with my amended return (1040x), although my original return, which I have long since received, did, of course, include them. If they are required for the 1040x, how can I secure my return? I sure appreciate your expertise in this matter.
mark
Mark, you don’t need to include copies of your W-2 forms along with the amended return, unless there was something particular about the W-2s that you wanted to bring to the attention of the IRS. Generally it takes about eight to twelve weeks for the IRS to issue an additional refund from an amendment. So if it’s been at least eight weeks since you mailed it in, you might want to give the IRS a call at 1-800-829-1040.