8 months since filed, still not approved by IRS?

CuriousInquirer

Hi FreeTax Team — I filed around last April using your service, it was the first time filing married so it is a new return status for both of us. My return is still listed as "pending approval" using their lookup tool, with no additional information from the IRS. They are holding onto a fairly large refund, and I'm getting frustrated. Assumably something got flagged for manual review: how long does it typically take for the IRS to get through this backlog? Is there anything I can do to speed this up or get some kind of an answer?

MadisonY

https://community.freetaxusa.com/discussion/1589/8-months-since-filed-still-not-approved-by-irs

Hello!

That sounds really frustrating! If you have not already, please verify that your tax return was accepted by the IRS (if you e-filed your return) by selecting Final Steps > Check Status/Print Tax Return. You would need to be signed into the 2023 software to view your 2023 return status.

If your return was accepted by the IRS, please take note of your submission ID, which can be found on that same screen under Acceptance Information.

Please also sign into your IRS account to see if they have sent you any notices regarding your tax return. Sometimes the IRS will need more information or supporting documentation before moving forward with the processing of your return.

For more information, you will likely need to contact the IRS and provide them with your submission ID, so that they can look up the status of your tax return and determine what might be delaying the processing.

To reach an actual person when calling the IRS, you can follow these steps:

1. Call 800-829-1040.  
2. Select 1 for English.  
3. Select option 2 for “Personal Income Tax”.  
4. Select option 1 for “form, tax history, or payment”.  
5. Select option 3 “for all other questions.”  
6. Next, press 2 “for all other questions.”  
7. Enter your SSN or EIN.  
8. Select option 1, and then option 1 again.  
9. You will need to hold until you are connected to an IRS rep.

Please note that contacting the IRS earlier in the day when they first open can help avoid longer wait times.