How Do I Know if the IRS Received My Tax Return?
Written by
Kellan Jansen
Edited by
Elizabeth Constantineau
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Tax season is finally here. But whether you owe money this year or are looking forward to a refund, it’s important to make sure the Internal Revenue Service receives the tax return you submit. But how do you know if the IRS has received your tax return? Read on to find out.
How Do I Know if the IRS Received My Tax Return?
There are two easy ways to know whether the IRS has received your tax return — look for an alert from the company that you filed your taxes with or manually check on the IRS website.
To check through your tax filing service, visit their website and follow the prompts. Many services, like TurboTax have a tax refund tracker that will send you emails as your tax return moves through the different stages of the IRS process. Once the agency has received your return, TurboTax will send you an email to confirm it. Most competing tax-filing software providers have similar features.
You can also manually check whether the IRS has received your tax return through the agency’s “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Just visit the IRS’s website, click on the “Check your refund” button and then input the information it requests. You’ll learn the status of your refund right away.
How Long Does It Take for the IRS To Accept a Tax Return?
The IRS hasn’t issued any official guidelines on how long it takes the agency to accept a tax return after you submit it. But since the majority of refunds are issued within 21 days, you can expect to know whether your tax return was accepted or not within that time frame.
If the IRS Hasn’t Received Your Tax Return
What if the IRS didn’t receive your tax return? In rare cases, the IRS may not have a record of your tax return even if you know you’ve submitted it. There are two main reasons why this happens.
First, there may have been a problem with your tax return that led the IRS to reject it. In that case, log into your tax software and check the status of your return. It may prompt you to correct mistakes you made with your initial filing. Once you do that, you can resend the tax return and check to see if the IRS accepts it after a few days.
Second, if you filed your return through the mail, it may not have made it to the IRS. The post office may have lost it, or there may have been an issue with the address you wrote on the envelope.
If you’re still not sure what happened to your tax return or are looking for more personalized instructions, contact the IRS directly. You can do so by calling 1-800-829-1040.
Good To Know
If the IRS doesn’t have any record of your tax return and the filing deadline has passed, you may receive a Letter 4903. This says you have 10 days to file your return before facing penalties and interest.
If you receive a Letter 4903 and believe you’ve already filed your return, contact the IRS quickly. Doing so will help you promptly resolve the issue so you don’t face any fees.
When Will You Get Your Tax Refund?
The IRS issues most tax refunds within 21 days of receiving a tax return. However, there are a few tax-filing problems and non-filing issues that can cause delays, including:
- Submitting a tax return with errors or incomplete information.
- Having your Social Security number associated with identity theft or fraud.
- Your bank delaying your payment over a weekend or holiday.
The IRS will contact you by mail if it needs more information before processing your tax return. Just note that you shouldn’t rush into filing your return if you’re not ready. Tax experts recommend taking your time with filing.
Final Take
Should you worry if you haven’t received your tax refund? If you’re worried about your refund, you can always contact the IRS directly. The agency will tell you if you need to fulfill any outstanding requirements before it can issue the refund. But the simplest solution is to check online to see if the IRS has received your tax return. If the agency has it, then your refund’s status is out of your hands. The IRS will look at your return and either issue your refund once it’s finished or reach out to you directly to request further information.
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