Contributed by: KristineS, FreeTaxUSA Agent, Tax Pro
The easiest way to track the status of your original tax return is to use the IRS’ Where’s My Refund? tool. However, updated information isn’t always available there and you may wonder if the IRS even received your tax return.
Proof of filing
- When you e-file your tax return with FreeTaxUSA you’ll receive both a confirmation email and notification in your account that the IRS has accepted (or rejected) your tax return. A Submission ID is provided for an accepted return on the "Check Status/Print Return" screen (under the Final Steps menu tab in our software), which serves as proof that your return is in their system and can be used to help IRS agents locate your return.
- If you mail your tax return using an overnight service or certified mail, you’ll get confirmation the return was received.
- If you use regular mail with the post office, you don’t receive any confirmation the tax return was accepted. In most instances the return is received by the IRS, but not always.
Verifying the status of your return
One way to find out if the IRS has received your original or amended tax return is to call and ask. That could mean constant busy signals, long hold times, or a dropped call when you finally do get through.
If you want to avoid the frustration of calling the IRS, you can go to the IRS website to securely access your individual online account and view the status of your return. You’ll need to allow a minimum of three weeks after e-filing for your tax return to show up in your account history. A mailed return takes even more time. If it’s been a couple of months or longer, here’s how to quickly and easily check the status of your tax return on your own.
Typically, the IRS lists six years’ worth of Account Transcript history and the three most recent years of tax returns filed called Record of Account Transcripts. If you file jointly with your spouse, you can check either spouse’s account.
- Start by going to: https://www.irs.gov/your-account
- Sign in or create an account. Verify your ID with ID.me and complete your IRS.gov account.
- On the Welcome page screen, select the first option, ‘View Tax Records' in the Records and Status box.
- On the Tax Records screen, select 'View your transcripts' in the blue box.
- When the Transcripts screen opens, select the year you’re looking for in the Account Transcripts box. In this example, tax year 2021 is used.
- A PDF for the year you selected will open.
- Scroll down. Near the bottom of the first page or beginning of the second page look for the word TRANSACTIONS in all capital letters in the middle of the page. The very first line of information will show ‘Tax return filed’ if the IRS has accepted AND begun processing your tax return.
However, if you see this below, it means the IRS doesn’t have your return on file.
If you filed an amended tax return, you’ll see this entry below, also telling you your amended return was received. You may need to scroll down in the transcript to find this.
What can you do if the IRS doesn’t show your tax return on file?
If the IRS doesn’t show your tax return on file under the word TRANSACTIONS, and you know you mailed it, you can choose to wait and check your Account Transcript again in another 30 days. If it’s been six months or more since you filed, you can log into your FreeTaxUSA account for the year you need, print your tax return, sign and date it, and mail another copy.
On very rare occasions, a tax return that is electronically submitted AND accepted by the IRS can still show as ‘No tax return filed.’ In this case, you will need to print, sign and date, and mail a copy of the return.
On the copy of a second tax return, at the top of the first page of Form 1040 or Form 1040X, write 'DUPLICATE RETURN’ in bold letters.
It’s best to use a mail service that provides proof of delivery of your tax return. You can choose certified mail return receipt requested, or an overnight service such as FedEx or DHL. The IRS refers to these as private delivery services.
