Why does it take so long to get tax refund

It is tax season in the United States and that means that many people in the country are not far away from receiving a tax refund, with three in four Americans receiving a tax refund from the IRS each year.

However, it is thought that there could be a similar situation to what roughly 30 million taxpayers experienced last year, as they had a delay with regard to receiving their tax refund.

The IRS began to process tax returns on January 24, 2022, and officials from the Treasury Department have already warned that there will be challenges along the way, thanks in part to the backlog of returns from last year.

In fact, on December 31, 2021, the IRS still had six million unprocessed individual tax returns, and while it's worth noting that the backlog was as high as 30 million in May 2021, the six million figure is still higher than the usual figure of one million for this time of year.

When should I receive my tax return?

The majority of Americans should expect to receive their refunds inside 21 days of filing, the IRS say, and a glance at social media indicates that some people have already begun to receive their refunds. What's more, on February 11, the IRS declared that 4.3 million refunds have so far been issued for a combined sum of $9.5 billion.

Why are refunds taking so long?

Although the IRS indicate that there is a typical 21-window for you to receive your tax refund, your return could take longer to process if you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Child Tax Credit.

The reason behind this is that they want to deter fraud, but if you filed your tax return as soon as you could - from January 24 - you are unlikely the receive your refund until the beginning of March, say the IRS.

Additionally, any errors on your tax return can slow down your tax refund, so this could be an incorrect math problem or not being correct in stating the amount you got from the advanced Child Tax Credit payments.

Tax

Many different factors can affect the timing of a refund after the IRS receives a return. A manual review may be necessary when a return has errors, is incomplete or is affected by identity theft or fraud.

Mar. 24, 2022

    Why does it take so long to get tax refund

    Even though the Internal Revenue Service issues most refunds in less than 21 days for taxpayers who filed electronically and chose direct deposit, some refunds may take longer.

    Many different factors can affect the timing of a refund after the IRS receives a return. A manual review may be necessary when a return has errors, is incomplete or is affected by identity theft or fraud.

    Other returns can also take longer to process, including when a return needs a correction to the Child Tax Credit or Recovery Rebate Credit amount, includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit, or includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation , which could take up to 14 weeks to process.

    The fastest way to get a tax refund is by filing electronically and choosing direct deposit. Taxpayers who don’t have a bank account can find out more on how to open an account at an FDIC-Insured bank or the National Credit Union Locator Tool.

    The IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take longer. Also, remember to take into consideration the time it takes for a financial institution to post the refund to an account or to receive it by mail.

    To check the status of a refund, taxpayers should use the Where’s My Refund? tool on IRS.gov. Information for the most current tax year filed is generally available within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of a taxpayer’s e-filed return. If they filed a paper return, taxpayers should allow four weeks before checking the status.

    The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail when more information is needed to process a return. IRS phone and walk-in representatives can only research the status of a refund if it has been:

    • 21 days or more since it was filed electronically (or since the IRS filing season start date – whichever is later),
    • Six weeks or more since a return was mailed , or when
    • Where’s My Refund? tells the taxpayer to contact the IRS.

    Before filing a return, taxpayers should make IRS.gov their first stop to find online tools to help get the information they need to file. The tools are easy-to-use and available anytime. Millions of people use them to help file and pay taxes, find information about their accounts, get answers to tax questions and get tips on filing a return.

    2020 tax returns

    Still waiting on a 2020 tax return to be processed? The IRS expects to be caught up this year, but people whose tax returns from 2020 have not yet been processed should still file their 2021 tax returns by the April due date or request an extension to file.

    Those filing electronically in this group need their Adjusted Gross Income, or AGI, from their most recent tax return. For those waiting on their 2020 tax return to be processed, make sure to enter $0 (zero dollars) for last year’s AGI on the 2021 tax return. Visit Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return for more details.

    Also, when self-preparing a tax return and filing electronically, taxpayers must sign and validate the electronic tax return by entering their prior-year Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or prior-year Self-Select PIN (SSP). Those who electronically filed last year may have created a five digit Self-Select PIN to use as their electronic signature. Generally, tax software automatically enters the information for returning customers. Taxpayers who are using a software product for the first time may have to enter this information.

    Taxpayers should review the special instructions to validate an electronically filed 2021 tax return if their 2020 return has not been processed or they used the Non-Filers tool in 2021 to register for an advance Child Tax Credit payment or third Economic Impact Payment in 2021.

    Why are 2022 refunds taking so long?

    Is There a Delay on 2022 Tax Refunds? Last year, many taxpayers ended up waiting longer than the usual 21 days — some as long as eight weeks — to receive their refunds as the IRS was dealing with the backlog of returns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The IRS is still working through this backlog of 2020 tax returns.

    Why is it taking so long for my tax refund?

    What's Taking So Long to Receive Refunds? 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.

    How long does it take to get tax refund 2022?

    Overall, the IRS anticipates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically if they choose direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax return.

    How long does it take for tax return Netherlands?

    The Dutch tax administration only transfers refunds to the personal bank account of the referred taxpayer. An income tax assessment will be issued by a tax inspector after the tax return has been audited. The refunds will be received after receipt of the final assessment; normally within two months.