Where's My Refund? Tool Still Proving Glitchy For Users

Where is my refund? It's a question Americans are probably asking themselves increasingly as they file their taxes.

But they might have trouble finding an answer. Some Americans visiting the Internal Revenue Service's "Where's my refund" page are getting a message indicating the IRS has no information about their return -- even though they've filed their return electronically, according to the IRS website. But don't worry, the IRS says the situation is temporary and expects "to resolve the matter in a few days," according to the site.

The reason for the glitch? A new e-file system that's aimed in part at increasing safeguards against refund fraud, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. But this isn't the "Where's my refund?" tool's first snafu this year. At the beginning of tax season the IRS was issuing refunds to taxpayers a week later than the tool told them to expect their check.

Though it's causing some trouble, the new e-file system's extra protections against refund fraud may be necessary. Some residents of Sylvester, Georgia are getting their refunds swiped after thieves stole their identities and then got their refunds through Turbo Tax, according to the local NBC and ABC affiliate.

And taxpayers are counting on that cash. Nearly half of Americans say they plan to use part of their refund to pay for necessities like food or their utility bills, according to a survey from Ameritrade. Some -- 14 percent -- said the plan to use the refunds on items that are a bit more fun, like travel and gadgets.

Comments

[Stewart Goss]

02:27 PM on 03/26/2012

Mailed paper tax return January 31, 2012, certified mail.

March 26, no word of refund, no information on IRS site.

Yet when I owe them money they cash my check within 3 days, amazing.

[Jemar707311]

02:01 PM on 03/22/2012

 Here we are more than a month later and my site is still getting in upwards of 400+ new visitors per day on my site launched 1/25/12: http://igotmyrefund.com.  Why?  There are still people who filed in January that remain in IRS Cyberspace and the Where's My Refund tool is still not providing answers for taxpayers.  Some user have reported receiving different dates that we call "flip flopping" because nobody can decide what is real.  Yes, we've seen improvement for those taxpayers who are filing now, but what about those who filed in January and are facing eviction or who have other crisis and were expecting their refunds weeks ago?  Yes, I get the part about not counting your ducks until they hatch, but some people depend on income tax refunds as a supplement to their income.  Many were already facing tough times because of unemployment...and an income tax refund may just be helping them float a little longer.  Where are the refunds?  We want to know.  Personally, as the owner of igotmyrefund.com, I am not hunting down a refund because mine somehow was processed without getting caught in the "glitch"; but I'm still here everyday with the rest of the confused taxpayers wondering why the WMR tool just doesn't give accurate info?  I call it the magic eight ball now.

[Marc Buchan]

10:13 PM on 02/20/2012

Join the push to correct this issue: http://wh.gov/89F this is a petition with the White House about correction of the issue.

[cleansociety]

04:40 PM on 02/19/2012

Interesting tax filing and cheating statistics http://www.statisticbrain.com/tax-filing-statistics/

[rdb5 3]

02:38 PM on 02/19/2012

Does anyone know what steps to take if a refund is not deposited after the 10-21 days? They have 7 more days to get me my money and know word yet of anything!!! This is saddening me because they are not providing enough information to us!

[refund-waiting]

06:19 AM on 02/19/2012

I filed on 2-2-12 Got confimation that the IRS accepted my return and still Where's my refund states that they have no information on my return. They keep saying that the glitch will be fixed within a few days but Hello that has been 17 days ago and still not fixed

[rdb5 3]

02:35 PM on 02/19/2012

The same here and I am getting pissed! you cant call the irs bc all you get is an automated message. I am so trying to be patient with the whole 10 - 21 days thing you know. So as of today the irs processed and accepted my return on 2-5-12 two days after I filed on 2-3-12 and here it is with direct deposit 14 days later and no information. Well they have 7 more days to give up my money or something has to give, this is ridiculous and unfair!

[InHeathsMemory]

11:04 AM on 02/21/2012

same here..i filed on 2/4 was accepted on 2/6 and Where's My Refund is giving me nothing....and it's so frustrating that you can't even talk to a human to get a straight answer. I am trying to be patient but it is stressing me out....they should at least have to tell us something.

[kjthompson]

05:15 PM on 02/16/2012

I don't believe that this is an accident or glitch - I don't believe they have the money! In other words it's a stall tactic!!!

[kalea123]

02:01 PM on 02/16/2012

There's more than a problem with the "Where's My Refund" tool. I am a tax accountant. I efiled my return on Feb 1st. According to the refund cycle chart provided by the IRS, my refund should have been directed deposited on Feb 8th. When I didn't get it - I went to the site. The "Where's My Refund" said that the direct deposit would come through on Feb 28th. Two days later...it said Feb 21st... a day after that, is said Feb 14th. On Feb 14th - still no refund and the site is stil saying Feb 14th. On Feb 15th - still no refund...still saying Feb 14th. Today, Feb 16th - the site now says Feb 21st. Don't tell me the "glitch" isn't going to affect the processing of refunds. It has been playing yo-yo with mine all month!

[Jenni Soto]

02:22 PM on 02/16/2012

I've been having the same problem!!

[Kalari]

09:51 AM on 02/17/2012

Same here it went from by the 8th to the 14th now it just says its being processed. I am more then disheartened at the moment if I owed the IRS you can believe this process would have been done with but because they owe me money Im stuck waiting wondering if I am ever going to see my refund and it's frustrating. And the worst is no way to complain about them because they are just that powerful.

[taxkilla1]

09:06 PM on 02/15/2012

the very existence of the irs depends on the terror that it is able to strike in the hearts and minds of the American people.
www.taxkilla.com