According to the Internal Revenue Service, approximately 30 million tax refunds totaling $103 billion have already been distributed. This equates to an average of $3,473, or roughly $450 more than what taxpayers received at the same period last year. The average refund, however, may fall as more returns are processed. The deadline for submitting taxes is Apr. 18.
The IRS has already formed "surge teams" to deal with a massive backlog of unprocessed tax returns and correspondence, with the goal of bringing the inventory down to more manageable levels. In addition, the beleaguered agency recently stated that it will hire 10,000 more full-time employees to assist reduce the backlog.
This comes after Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate, said that "the coronavirus pandemic has created enormous challenges for taxpayers, tax professionals, and the IRS," and that the unprocessed returns are from the "most challenging year taxpayers and tax professionals have ever experienced."
For several weeks, the IRS has been announcing that most American taxpayers should be able to get their tax refunds within 21 days of filing if their returns are error-free and filed electronically.
There are other convenient methods for tracking returns.
Where's My Refund?
Using the IRS's Where's My Refund? tool, navigate to the Get Refund Status page. tool, enter your personal information, and then press the Submit button. If you submit your information correctly, you will be directed to a page that displays the status of your refund. If you don't, you could be prompted to verify your personal tax information before you can advance. If everything appears to be correct, enter the date you filed your taxes, as well as whether you did so electronically or on paper.
IRS2Go
Meanwhile, the IRS offers IRS2Go, a smartphone app that lets you track the status of your tax return. It comes in two versions: English and Spanish. You'll be able to check whether or not your return was accepted, approved, and shipped. You'll need your Social Security number, filing status, and anticipated return amount to log in.
The data in this tool is updated overnight by the IRS, so if you don't find a status change after 24 hours or more, check again the next day. You will be given a particular date to expect your money after your return and refund have been completed.
Informed Delivery
Taxpayers who are awaiting a paper check via traditional mail can use the USPS Informed Delivery service to obtain alerts on when it will arrive. Simply go to the USPS Informed Delivery page, click "Sign Up for Free," and then follow the simple instructions.
