7 Reasons Why Your Tax Refund May Be Delayed

How long does it take to get a tax refund? If you efiled and requested a direct deposit you should receive your refund within 21 days. When you efile and request a check it can take up to a month. If you paper file, it will take longer than a month to receive your refund. But sometimes the IRS does not meet these timelines. In this article, we will go over 7 reasons why your tax refund may be delayed.

1. There Are Errors on Your Return

There are a few types of errors that will delay your refund. These include math errors, a left out social security number, dependent information does not match IRS records, or you left off a schedule or form that supports a credit or deduction. If it is a small math error, the IRS may just correct the return on your behalf. If the issues are larger, you may need to respond to the IRS with additional information.

2. The Income You Report Does Not Match IRS Records

The IRS receives copies of all your W-2s and 1099s. If what you report on your tax return does not match what the IRS has on file there may be a delay. You may receive a letter about reconciling the discrepancy.

3. Direct Deposit Accounts Do Not Match Up

If the owner’s information on the bank account, you are using for direct deposit does not match what is on the return it can delay your refund. An example of this would be you are having your refund sent to an individual account while you are filing a joint return. Or the numbers your entered are incorrect and do not match up to a bank account on file. In some cases, they may issue a paper check instead.

4. IRS Suspects Fraud

The IRS uses identity filters, and that process can sometimes delay refunds. It may cause them to reach out to you and request additional information to further verify your identity. You may need to provide the Taxpayer Protection Program with last year’s return, a copy of your current return, and current W-2s and 1099s.

5. Dependents Have Been Claimed Twice

Sometimes young adults do not coordinate with their parents on taxes. This can lead to the kids claiming themselves on their own individual return and the parents also claiming them as a dependent on their tax return. The IRS will hold the refund until you amend one of the returns.

6. You Are Missing a Previous Return

If you owe the IRS previous tax returns, they can freeze your refund until you file the missing tax returns. If you owe on any of the previous tax returns the IRS may take the amount that you owe out of your refund.

7. You Mailed Your Return

If you choose to mail in your return expect a few weeks’ delay. It may be even longer if your return contains errors or inconsistencies.

Receiving Your Refund

You can track the status of your return on the IRS’s website. You will need to enter your social security number, filing status, and the exact dollar amount of your refund. If it is delayed, remember these 7 reasons why your tax refund may be delayed. You can also call the IRS for additional information.

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