A former student filed her taxes March 17th. She hasn’t gotten her refund back yet (~$600), and she is wondering what to do next. She had to paper file due to a problem with her SSN. She has tried every IRS phone number in OK and Kansas City. The automated number won’t work due to previously mentioned SSN issue.

I would appreciate any ideas for next steps.

Thanks in advance!

Does she know that the IRS actually received her return? Or, has it been "lost in the mail"?

She needs to fix the problem with the SSN. Until that happens, she's pushing a rope.

SSA - 800-772-1213

Isn’t there a return tracker webpage?

I remember it being vague but at least she could make sure they received the paperwork.

Go to IRS.gov and search for "taxpayer advocate". You should be able to find a number for an advocate in your region.

They are gov't employees but don't work directly for the.IRS. They have access to tax records and direct contact with reps at the IRS.

I used one who was extremely helpful when the IRS offices closed due to covid - got my issue resolved and her follow up was amazing.

Hope this helps.

You say she had to return a paper file because of a problem with her SS but you don't say if that problem was resolved prior to her filing. As others have said, if that was not fixed she is running in circles.

That advocate thing may be the way to go.

The reality is IRS is not fully staffing their offices so mail is just sitting waiting to be opened.

Option 1
Does she know anyone that does tax work that's willing to help (probably after the corporate deadline of Oct 15)? There is a practitioner's hotline. I haven't tried it since COVID hit but maybe the IRS is answering that number.

Don't try the number if you're not a practitioner. After being on hold they will ask for your PTIN and CAF. If you don't know what I'm talking about or don't have those numbers assigned, they can't help you. You will have waited on hold for nothing.


Option 2
Google and see if there is an IRS office nearby. I don't know if those are staffed but she might be able to walk in and request help.

Taxpayer Advocate
Generally you have to make some number of attempts to resolve the matter before the Taxpayer's Advocate Office will take the matter. She should document steps she's taken. These would include writing letters (send it certified mail) and waiting on hold until she talks with a real person. From memory, the magic number is 3. And you need to document what you did.

That said, sounds like they were able to help Gator73 so there is no harm in trying. (Just don't get mad if she is asked to document that she work the issue through the normal channels.)

Calling the IRS is a waste of time. If there is a local office you can try and make an appointment.

Best of all is to contact your Senator or Representative. It is election time and all of them have specialists to help with this concern. I would contact the one who has been in office the longest.

IRS is a mess still! Train car loads of unopened mail, paper returns, correspondence, etc. Have a new client that, his now former accountant, paper filed late Feb, just got the refund in the last three weeks.

If you don't want to wait longer, a practitioner can do a power of attorney and file it by fax which will allow the IRS to discuss matters with the practitioner - on the practitioner priority line. That will also allow them to get a transcript and see what actions the IRS has recorded in the taxpayers account. Once status is determined, the practitioner can follow up on that. But, probably going to eat up that refund in fees IMO.

Or, if you can get to a local office, and they can schedule an appointment, you can pursue on your own.

I wasn't asked about any prior efforts to resolve it myself. The advocate was quite aware of the mess the IRS is in.

Hopefully you'll get a rep as helpful as the one that assisted me.

Good luck.

Wife and I were just talking about ours not getting back yet, we also paper filed. I need to start looking for tracking number, I put that thing somewhere.

Has she tried here to see if the IRS has the return?

I filed end of Feb. just got my refund a few weeks ago. They did pay interest.

Could have someone stole her information/identity and filed a claim that was processed and refund issued to that person. Would not have been the first time these things have happened. Can a search be done to see if a refund was issued ?? Wish for a happy outcome. ........................ drill sgt.

Thanks so much for the responses, folks. I will pass on to her and let you know how it turns out. She is a college student who works weekends at a nursing home, so I doubt they will have an advocate.

Have her start here and check her refund status:

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

She should check to make sure her birth date is correct with the Social Security Administration. That caused an issue with me the first time I tried to e-file.

Edit: I really do need to learn to read the entire post. I see where you wrote the automated telephone system won't work. If the telephone system won't work I doubt the Web site will work either.

Can you give us some idea of the "problem" she is having with her Social Security Number? It might help with offering advice.

A college student, if she's under 24, it could be her parents are claiming her as a dependent. They can do that if they are providing over 50% of her financial support. That might explain the SSN problem since it would be on the parents' return if they claim her as a dependent.

What she’s telling me is that the SSN appears To be incorrect in the electronic system. She paper-filed last year, and all was good.

The Refund Status website is one she had tried with no luck. I gave her the tax advocate numbers (both OK and the main number) to try tomorrow. Plan B is to go to the local IRS office on Friday when she comes home for the weekend. I told her to try to get the SSN issue fixed while she was there.

I know this doesn't help the OP but the update might be of interest.


I'm literally participating on an AICPA webcast as I type this note. The AICPA is the national association for CPAs. The AICPA has almost daily contact with the IRS regarding administrative items driven by COVID. The presenter said:

Half of the IRS workforce is still working remotely

The largest COVID related challenge for the IRS is processing and sorting mail.

Mail backlog now 5 million pieces (was 11M)

2.5 million paper filed tax returns waiting to be processed.


Recommendations mentioned by the presenter:
> Do not cancel any check you might have mailed to the IRS. (Assume it has not been processed)

> Do not resubmit any paper filed tax return


The presenter said the IRS is expected to be lenient as far as penalty waiver if there are any late filings or payment that can be linked to COVID. Specifically, the presenter said many CPA are concerned they cannot meet the 10/15 deadlines for all of their clients.

quote:

Originally posted by Herknav:
What she’s telling me is that the SSN appears To be incorrect in the electronic system. She paper-filed last year, and all was good.

Did she get married or have a name change?

the IRS system is fed by the Social Security system. Names on returns should be an exact match to the way the name is recorded in the Social Security records.