What do I do if the IRS won't give me my refund?
Asked by: Ernesto Harvey | Last update: February 13, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (21 votes)
- IRS.gov “Where's My Refund?”
- The IRS2Go mobile app.
- IRS Refund Hotline – 800-829-1954. Wait at least 21 days after electronically filing and six weeks after mailing your return to contact the IRS by phone.
What happens if the IRS doesn't give you your refund?
The IRS will send you a CP237A if the tax refund check they sent you was never deposited. If you received this notice, call 1-800-829-0115 to claim your refund. In most cases, you will get your refund within 30 days of contacting the IRS.
Can I sue the IRS for not giving me my refund?
Generally, if you fully paid the tax and the IRS denies your tax refund claim, or if the IRS takes no action on the claim within six months, then you may file a refund suit. You can file a suit in a United States District Court or the United States Court of Federal Claims.
What to do if IRS never sends a refund?
If the IRS withheld a portion of your refund or made changes to your tax return and you do not receive a letter within 14 days you can call the IRS at 800-829-1040. If you call this number before the 14 days are up, though, they will not have any information to give you.
What to do if they won't give you a refund?
Submit a complain with the BBB agency. Some company's take those complaints very serious and overturn their original denial to refund you.
IRS Tax Refund 2023 Update - 3 Things To Do If You Say "I Haven't Received My Tax Return"
What can I do if I don't receive a refund?
Contact your bank or payment provider straight away. Let them know what happened and ask if you can get a refund. It's important to help them while they look at your claim - make sure you give them any information they ask for.
How to sue for a refund?
- Gather evidence of the transaction and attempts at resolution.
- Determine which court has jurisdiction over your claim based on the amount in dispute.
- File a complaint with the appropriate court and pay any required fees.
- Serve notice of the lawsuit on the company.
- Allow time for the company to respond.
Why is the IRS not sending my refund?
If you have contacted the financial institution and two weeks have passed with no results, you will need to file Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund PDF to initiate a trace. This allows the IRS to contact the bank on your behalf to attempt recovery of your refund.
Should I be worried if my refund is still being processed?
If your refund details state that it's still processing, you can check your tax return to see if you catch any errors. If your refund status instructs you to contact the IRS, you can speak to an agent to get clarification by calling 1-800-829-1040.
How long can the IRS hold your refund?
If the IRS is reviewing your return, it may have questions about your wages and withholding, or credits or expenses shown on your tax return. The review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing.
Is it illegal for the IRS to hold your refund?
If you owe a federal tax debt from a prior tax year, a debt to another federal agency, or certain debts under state law, the IRS may keep (offset) some or all your tax refund to pay your debt. In fact, in many situations the IRS is legally required to forward your refund to pay the debt.
How do I complain about not getting my tax refund?
If you still aren't sure what happened with your refund, contact an IRS representative at IRS Tax Help Line for Individuals – 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059).
What happens if someone refuses a refund?
If you can't get the support you need from the retailer in the form of a refund, repair or replacement, you can file a complaint with the company. If that still doesn't help, you can contact the Consumer Ombudsman.
Is it possible to never receive your tax refund?
The IRS is required to keep the filing open and hold on to unclaimed income tax refunds for three years. If you don't file for the tax refund after three years, the money becomes property of the US Treasury, and you won't be able to get it back.
How do I speak to someone at the IRS for a refund?
For individual tax returns, call 1-800-829-1040, 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday local time. The wait time to speak with a representative may be long. This option works best for less complex questions. For questions about a business tax return, call 1-800-829-4933, 7 AM - 7 PM Monday through Friday local time.
Should I be worried if my refund is delayed?
Your refund may be delayed for several reasons. In some cases, you'll just get the money later than expected. In others, the IRS may send you a letter asking for additional information before it can finish processing your return and send your refund.
How do I contact the IRS about a missing refund?
If you lost your refund check, you should initiate a refund trace: Use Where's My Refund, call us at 800-829-1954 and use the automated system, or speak with an agent by calling 800-829-1040 (see telephone assistance for hours of operation).
How do I know if my tax return has been flagged?
If the IRS decides that your return merits a second glance, you'll be issued a CP05 Notice. This notice lets you know that your return is being reviewed to verify any or all of the following: Your income. Your tax withholding.
Why is the IRS not showing my refund status?
It takes at least 24 hours after your e-filed return has been accepted by the IRS for your refund information to show up on the IRS system. If you filed Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, with your tax return, it can take 11 weeks before your tax return status is available on the IRS system.
Why I never received my refund?
Failure of credit of refund can be due to one or more reasons as listed below: Incorrect Bank Details (Account no, MICR Code, IFSC Code, Name mismatch etc.) Account details given are other than Current Account or Saving Bank Account. PAN-Bank accounts are not linked.
How to get IRS to release refund?
Request an expedited refund by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059). Request a manual refund expedited to you.
How do I fight for a refund?
- Go Back to the Store or Website.
- Write a Letter.
- Get Outside Help.
- Post an Online Review.
- Consider Dispute Resolution Alternatives.
Do you legally have to give refunds?
You don't have an automatic right to get your money back if you just change your mind about something you've bought and there's nothing wrong with it. It's the same no matter how expensive the item was - it's really down to the seller whether they offer you anything.
What can I do if a company won't give me my refund?
You can notify the consumer protection division of your local district attorney's office of any violations, or file a complaint with our office using our online complaint form.