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Home > Where is my Refund?

Where is my Refund?

March 27th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

So I prepare my taxes on February 5th and it looks like the IRS owes me. I send it via internet though Turbo Tax, within 10 days I get my State Refund and I'm still waiting for my Federal Refund. A few days later I get another mortgage interest statement. I amend my return $300 I'll get back. I cannot send this in by Turbo Tax again as an amended return, so I print out the amended return and send them in via snail mail.

Here we are about 6 weeks later and still no refund. I called the IRS last Thursday to inquire. They advise that they received my taxes on March 13th (that would mean it took over a month for my taxes to get to the IRS by mail), that doesn't sound right. They then tell me they can wait 19 cycles to respond to my amended return (19 weeks), he further advises me that they never received the electronic return. I advised him I never received a rejection, but when I sent in the amended return I sent in the original return attached that I had electronically filed. He says he wouldn't know because when they see a return is amended they just put it in the amended returns and review it later.

At this point, I'm very upset. I received my State refund so it had to go though and I never received notice via email that my return had been rejected. Just great, I'm in the process of trying to settle my credit cards and the IRS owes me $4,758 and they won't pay me until they are ready and they don't pay me interest and penalities for holding up my money. I explain to the IRS Represenative that I need my money, I'm behind on my debts and I'm having a difficult time making my mortgage and utilities; he ask if I'm in foreclosure and I advised him I am not, he says he will forward my case to an advocate but he doesn't think they will help and they don't care about my credit cards, that is not a true hardship. He further advises the advocate will call in the next three business days.

On Tuesday I call the IRS again, I have not heard from an advocate. They give me the name of the advocate that has been assigned to me so I call her number and leave a message; still no call from an advocate.

So the IRS can hold my money, can think my financial crisis is just a minor inconvenience and I will just have to wait until they are good and ready.
This is what I have to say; I paid my bills on time for 20 years, I've never been late on anything, then I fall into this big hole called the "housing crisis", as a result my credit goes to pieces, I can't sleep at night, I get sick from the stress and get pneumonia for the first time in years and they think it is just a minor inconvenience. Having financial problems affects ones life and if you are a conscientious person like myself, it affects every aspect of your life. Until I get this situation rectified, I will not feel complete as a person.

After I settle my debts I will have some tax implications. I'm sure the IRS will have their hand out and they will charge me tax and penalties if I do not pay on time - this all just seems very unfair to me and this could make the difference of me getting sued or not getting sued. If I can't come up with money before chargeoff on a credit card, it opens up the pandora box of litigation.

This is all so very frustrating and being sick has not made things better for me. All I want is my money and I want it as soon as possible so I can settle this financial mess I'm in. I wonder when I will see my money?






11 Responses to “Where is my Refund?”

  1. noppenbd Says:
    1206621303

    You should have received an email from Turbotax stating that your federal return was accepted. Did you get this?

    Even if you did, you still have to mail in a form with your signature on it to be completely filed. Did you do this?

    If both of these were yes, I would contact Turbotax and see if there is anything they can do to help you. Maybe they can put in a good word with the IRS and speed along your amended return. It is the IRS, but who knows?

  2. merch Says:
    1206621785

    Ah … government agency moving at the speed of molasses. I usually don’t count my money until the check is in the bank. My state taxes took like a week to turn around. My IRS refund was just mailed out yesterday (or their site said it was).

    You’re in a tough spot. Looks like Murphy invited his brother over to your house. Do you have an emergency fund you could use just until you get the check? If not, you may want to call the CC companies and let them know what’s up.

    The tax stimulus starts mailing out in May but you may not get a check until July. So, I’m not planning on budgeting that money until I get the check.

    Being proactive may help you feel a little better. I could of divide issues into 2 camps. Those that I choose to do something about and those I don’t. For those I don’t it could be that the situation is out of my control (and I can’t do anything about it) or the really don’t have a strong feeling one way or the other and don’t care.

    For those things I take action on, I attack and do everything I can to resolve. Sometimes these issue linger and can be become frustrating, but if I truly believe I have done everything I could, that’s all you can do and I am at peace with that. You might want to right a quick action plan just to give you more of a sense of control.

    Good luck and I hope things work out.

  3. monkeymama Says:
    1206627007

    The IRS is SO backed up you don't even know. Doesn't surprise me they throw the amended returns in a pile. They are busy with 2007 returns (original) and this economic stimulus thing.

    I called them with a simple issue in the fall and they said they couldn't even look at it for 6 weeks because they were backlogged. It should have been resolved that minute.

    Sorry, just the way it is. I have never seen it so bad over there though. I usually only resort to calling to clear something up that isn't getting anywhere by mail. I was surprised when I didn't get anywhere with a call. It isn't usually quite this bad. & that was in the fall, before all this stimulus mess...

    So they never got your original return? I would mail in a copy. Lord knows when they will get back to you. If they still haven't received it, I'd just send it with a note that you already e-filed, but that you were told it was never recieved. OR heck, skip the note and let them figure it out. Sign it and everything. But I mean that's the fastest way to get your refund. They said they didn't have it so send it and you should get your refund rather quickly.

  4. lost in debt Says:
    1206641947

    Fortunately I sent both originals signed, sealed and delivered - but because it is amended they won't look at it until they are ready. I don't recall an email saying I was filed after transmission, but I did get one refund which would make believe it went. However, they have asked me not to send anymore information until I hear from them (how convenient).

  5. noppenbd Says:
    1206649245

    I believe you will get 2 separate emails, 1 for state and 1 for federal. They are accepted by the respective bureaus so just because the state was accepted doesn't mean the federal was even sent, let alone accepted. Sounds like it is water under the bridge at this point.

  6. jaiparis Says:
    1206852164

    Oh, the govt, it's going to take them forever! I'm sorry your having to deal with this, it is crazy. I think the other poster had a good idea, do what you can with whatever funds you have now and try not to stress to much about the others, one thing is usually they will have to serve you if they decide to sue, and then you have time to respond, and a court date is set, so even if one of the companies decided to do this, it's most likely a 2 month process, which gives you alittle time and you can still call them to try and work something out.

  7. girlndebt Says:
    1207010269

    I am so sorry you are going through this. Hang in there. I know I am frustrated just reading about what you are going through.

    Frown
    Things will get better soon!

  8. Nurca Says:
    1210081718

    I sent my amendment return in March and they receive it March 29, 2008 and I'm still waiting. I am to in a financial situation but I trust in God and whatever bill thats not paid it will just have to wait. I will be praying for you so be in encourage.

  9. Michael Says:
    1211452714

    I FEEL FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS. ONE RULE I HAVE IS PAY ALL MY BILLS FIRST AND NOT RELY ON MONEY THIS IS NOT IN THE BANK. THOUGH I AM GETTING THE STIMULUS PAYMENT, I DID NOT BANK ON THAT MONEY UNTIL IT IS IN MY BANK ACCOUNT. I USED MONEY ON HAND AND PAID ALL MY BILLS. THEN WHEN MY STIMULUS PAYMENT DOSE ARRIVE I CAN SEND IN EXTRA PAYMEMTS OR HAVE SOME FREE MONEY. I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY PAYMENT AND THE IRS WEB SITE IS STILL TELLING ME MY INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE PEACE OF MIND I HAVE IS THAT MY BILLS ARE PAID.
    I HAVE EVEN WENT AS FAR AS SENDING A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH AND STILL YET HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER TO MY LETTER. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THIS EVENT. THOSE IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU.

  10. Kim Says:
    1218554350

    I am in the same predicament! The IRS assigned me an Advocate who I'm contanstly calling, she taking vacation time off and being out of her office, so today she says she contacted the IRS and unless I'm facing forclosure and experiencing extreme hardship there is very little that she can do now! I'm the one who is now facing extreme hardship as I have to pay my Property and School Taxes and I do not want my Mortgage Company to pay for them because that would raise my monthly payment and the school taxes the gov't would put a lien on my home, etc. I made a simple mistake by placing my withholding amount on the wrong line, you'd think the IRS would figure it out and give me my refund but oh no! I'm at a lost as to what to do now and I'm attempting to 'rob Peter to pay Paul' to just keep my head above water! I'm so stressed out and depressed and this is no good as I recently lost my husband January 1, 2007.Is there anyone out there that have any suggestions as to how I can get through this all??? if so, please comment. I thank everyone for their advice!

  11. Kelly Says:
    1236353402

    I am VERY sorry you are going through this. I filed my taxes via turbo tax on January 30th. I received my State return a week later but STILL have yet to receive my federal return (and by the way, I paid extra for it to be direct deposited!!)

    This is so frustrating. If we "took our time" or were "backed up" on PAYING our taxes, we would be charged huge interest. Shouldn't we have the same right? By the time I receive my federal refund I could be a millionaire!!!

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