IRS Refund Tracker Not Updating

When you’re filing a return and expect to receive a refund, IRS Refund Tracker (Where’s My Refund) can check on the status of your refund. Just enter your Social Security number or taxpayer ID, filing status, and the amount you’re owed in whole dollars. You should see an updated status within 21 days after e-filing and between four weeks to six months after mailing your paper return. However, some returns may take longer to process and may cause IRS Refund Tracker not to update your refund status.

One of the biggest causes of delays in refund processing is incorrect bank account information. It’s important to double-check that your account and routing numbers match your tax return information. If you haven’t done this, it could delay your refund and cause your stimulus checks to be delayed as well.

Another reason why your refund might be delayed is that the IRS may be waiting on additional reviews of your tax return, which can add several weeks to your refund processing timeline. This is typical because the IRS needs to make updates to security measures or process tweaks.

IRS Where’s My Refund Tool

Using the IRS’s Where’s My Refund tool is one of the fastest ways to check on your refund status. It updates the tracker once a day, typically overnight. You can start tracking your refund 24 hours after you e-file or four weeks to six months after mailing a paper return.

While most returns get processed and paid in a timely manner, there are still cases where it takes longer. This can be caused by errors on your return, such as an incomplete form or incorrect tax code, or it could be due to the high volume of filings that occur during each tax season.

It can also be a result of other issues at the IRS, such as staffing shortages or increased workloads for COVID-related economic relief checks. Last year, for example, the IRS faced a huge backlog of returns, and some taxpayers reported delays in their tax refunds.

Some people have had problems getting a live agent when calling the IRS over the phone to ask questions about their refund. This is especially true if you’re dealing with a complex return, such as a claim for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit. The IRS has launched a new tool called Interactive Tax Assistant, which can answer basic questions about your refund and other tax issues.

If you’re not able to reach a live agent over the phone, you can try the WMR chat service. However, you may have to re-dial several times before getting a live agent. Another option is the IRS2Go app, which you can use to access your transcript and track your return and refund status.