The Internal Revenue Service posted an alert on its Web site Thursday to tell taxpayers and the tax community that it is experiencing high traffic on its online “Where's My Refund?” tool as more tax returns arrive.
The IRS delayed tax season until Jan. 30 this year and was not able to process a number of important forms until this week (see Two Major Tax Forms Ready for Filing Soon). The heavy volume of refund inquiries means that the IRS anticipates both "Where's My Refund?" on IRS.gov and the refund feature on the IRS2go phone app will have limited availability during busier periods.
“Due to the large number of inquiries and to avoid service disruptions, the IRS strongly urges taxpayers to only check on their refunds once a day,” said the IRS. “IRS systems are only updated once a day, usually overnight, and the same information is available whether on the Internet, IRS2go smartphone app or on IRS toll-free lines. While 'Where's My Refund?' is updated nightly, your account will not change that frequently.”
The IRS added that it is seeing a “good start” to the filing season, with tax refunds being issued on a timely basis. Nine out of 10 taxpayers typically receive refunds in less than 21 days when they use e-file with direct deposit, the IRS noted.
Last tax season, there were a number of delays due to new identity theft filters (see IRS Fraud Detection System Leads to Refund Delays). Late last month, when it launched tax season, the IRS promised improvements in the "Where's My Refund?" tool to provide taxpayers with a personalized tax refund date, along with improved identity theft filters (see IRS Promises Better Service as it Kicks off Tax Season).
The IRS said it expects to see the number of tax returns—and related refund inquiries—steadily increase around the President's Day holiday week.
The IRS offered the following tips to help taxpayers with their refund questions:
• Have the right tax information ready before using any of the IRS refund tools. This includes Social Security number, filing status and refund amount.
• You don't need to check “Where's My Refund?” more than once a day as your information will not change.
• To avoid system delays, the best time to check on refunds is evening and weekends.
• There is no need to call the IRS about your refund; the telephone service has the same information that is available on “Where’s My Refund?”.
11 Comments
Its amazing how this becomes a preparer issue and no one will come out and say what the real cause is. Preparers wouldnt be on "Wheres My Refund" if clients were not burning the phones up mainly because of the IRS delays this year.
Posted by: louisvilleliberty | February 19, 2013 2:51 PM
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We need to remember that the Congress, not the IRS, writes the tax laws. If the IRS is having difficulty processing the number of returns this late, it's because the Congress did not provide the information (to them) in a timely manner. This is what I am telling my clients. None have complained once I explained this.
Posted by: McWord | February 19, 2013 11:22 AM
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iI HAVE NOTICED THAT THE INFORMATION ON "WHERE'S MI MY RREFUND," IS NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE. MOST DIRECT DEPOSITS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND THE IRS MESSAGE IS STILL POSTING 21 DAYS.
Posted by: CLYDEBRR | February 16, 2013 9:42 PM
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Hey accontants: We want to chrarge you fees for the right to be our unpaid police. If we find that you aren't doing your job right we have some special penalties for you. Oh and by the way...don't use the resources that we told you could use.
In a free market, I could put those bozos out of business with a Commadore 64 and a busload of interns inside of a year. OK that's probably an embellishment. I might need a Pentium 386.
"Your expected hold time is..."
Posted by: CincyCPA | February 15, 2013 4:42 PM
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I am a registered tax preparer and this year my customers are riginging my phone off the hook because the IRS added two ore questions to the earned income inquires that my software did not have on January 30(the beginning filing date) These questions were not added until February 7.My hands are tied in this matter yet my custoners don't seem to understand how the IRS do business. My tax service is being jeopardized because of a late decision the IRS made.This has been the worse tax season I have had because of this.Some of my customers have called the IRS about their refund and then spread all kind of wrong answers they may get about their earned income credit. I just wish this nightmare would stop.If the IRS tell us to file the taxes then I think they should have all the necessary requirements at the same time. This year has been a great big holy MESS!!!!!
Posted by: MrsJudson | February 15, 2013 2:25 PM
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I was disappointed that we could not have a refund cycle chart for use this year. However, I have to agree with the "check once daily" rule esp since your information is not likely to change and the system would be "over capacitated".
Posted by: TaylorTaxAndBooks@hotmail.com | February 15, 2013 1:22 PM
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I agree! Last year they gave us a refund cycle chart. This year they said to check Where's My refund? They also instructed us to tell our clients that they update their system every 24 hours, and to check back often! Now they are contradicting themselves in saying don't check the website! Wow!
Posted by: vanidosa27 | February 15, 2013 12:13 PM
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Just to let you know. I have asked my clients to call me when they received their refund so I could get an idea as to how long it would approximately take and they all have called me back before 10 days. Their refunds have averaged 5 to 8 days turn around.
Posted by: SNAFU | February 15, 2013 10:29 AM
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In defense of the IRS, it makes sense to check your refund status ONCE DAILY - any more than that is redundant, and a drain on the already over "taxed" computer system.
Posted by: StAlice | February 15, 2013 9:38 AM
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Exactly! The IRS won't give us a timeline so what are we supposed to tell our clients? "You'll get it when you get it." does NOT work. I created a handout that every tax return folder gets instructing my clients to check their refund at the "Where's My Refund" link. Why? Because it's the only resource the government gave us! And now they're complaining? Please. Should have thought that one through a little better guys. Sorry about your luck.
Posted by: KoreDemeter | February 15, 2013 7:56 AM
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Makes sense to send every taxpayer to one site rather than publish the time frames for preparers NOT
Posted by: Terrim | February 14, 2013 5:51 PM
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