Where Is My 2020 Tax Refund?
Sue Schloemer
Jun 19, 2021

Where’s my 2020 tax refund? If you are asking this question you are not alone. In May 2021, the Tax Advocate Service provided an update stating the IRS has struggled to handle a recent backlog of about 30 million tax returns. About half of the backlog is 2020 individual tax returns that were suspended during processing. These returns were flagged for a manual review to verify the legitimacy of some aspect of the tax return. A tax return flagged for review does not necessarily mean something is wrong. The IRS is just taking a closer look.
Many things can trigger a tax return for a review. Some of the more common triggers are matching the Recovery Rebate Credit claimed on the tax return to the IRS records, potentially missing information, identity theft or fraud verification measures, and earned income or child tax credits.
As a result of COVID, there were long periods during which many IRS employees worked from home. To protect the confidentiality and security of tax return information, the IRS restricted activities that could be performed on a remote basis. This coupled with the IRS diverting resources to the issuance of stimulus payments and launching the Advance Child Tax Credit payments that will begin in July have contributed to the backlogs.
Where can you get information about your 2020 Tax Refund?
Live telephone assistance from the IRS is extremely limited at this time. During the tax filing season, only 9% of calls to the IRS were answered. Contacting the IRS at this time is not accelerating the process for your tax refund. For tax returns that have been flagged and are waiting for someone to begin the manual review process, the IRS status will remain in the received and in-process stage. You can check the status of your tax return by going to www.irs.gov and choosing “Get Your Refund Status.” The IRS website indicates that it is taking more than 21 days to issue refunds, but, in reality, many taxpayers are finding that this is taking 8-10 weeks or significantly longer.
We will continue to monitor the IRS website for updates and communicate any new information. If you need more information please contact us.

About The Author
Sue enjoys helping clients succeed. Her breadth and depth of accounting knowledge combined with over 25 years of…
Tags
Sign Up for Email Updates
Related Articles












Does your Business Deduct Research & Development Expenses? Major Changes Impact 2022 Taxes…
- 11-09-22
- Elizabeth Michalak






Why Have Your Financial Statements Reviewed (Even When Not Required)
- 10-17-22
- Kirsch CPA Group















Case Study: Strategic Accounting Support from Acquisition to Sale
- 09-20-22
- Kirsch CPA Group



























Prevent a Poorly Structured Chart of Accounts from Hiding Your Profitability
- 01-06-22
- Nick Roell















Entrepreneurial Mindset: Kirsch CPA Group Sets a Framework for Growth
- 10-28-21
- Kirsch CPA Group






























What Your Numbers Are Saying: Are You Listening?
Part 2: How Attractive Is Your Balance Sheet?
- 07-19-21
- Kirsch CPA Group









What Your Numbers Are Saying: Are You Listening?
Part 1: Do You Know Your Profitability?
- 06-09-21
- Kirsch CPA Group




































Using Cash Flow Forecasting to Avoid Problems & Grow Your Business
- 04-07-21
- Kirsch CPA Group









Selecting the Right Payroll System for Your Construction Business
- 04-01-21
- Kirsch CPA Group















Self-Employed May Be Eligible for COVID-Related Tax Breaks for 2020
- 03-17-21
- Kirsch CPA Group






COVID-19 Relief: Overview of the New American Rescue Plan Act for Individuals
- 03-17-21
- Kirsch CPA Group



COVID-19 Relief: Business Overview of the New American Rescue Plan Act
- 03-17-21
- Kirsch CPA Group



























Opportunity Zone Investments: A Tax Deferral Opportunity You May Have Overlooked
- 02-17-21
- Kirsch CPA Group




































The Status of Temporary COVID Tax Relief Measures After the New Law
- 01-21-21
- Kirsch CPA Group















8 Accounting Practices for a Financially Healthy Construction Business
- 01-07-21
- Kirsch CPA Group









Appropriations Law Adds Some Business Tax Breaks and Extends Others
- 01-07-21
- Kirsch CPA Group



























Contending With the Patchwork of State Requirements for Nonprofits
- 12-17-20
- Kirsch CPA Group




































Employee or Independent Contractor? The Rules May Be Getting Simpler
- 11-12-20
- Kirsch CPA Group









Do the COVID-19 Extended Deadlines for Health Plans Still Apply?
- 11-12-20
- Kirsch CPA Group












Using Remote Workers? Protect Sensitive Company Data from Exposure
- 10-28-20
- Kirsch CPA Group













































What You Need to Know About the Deferral of Payroll Tax Obligations
- 09-15-20
- Kirsch CPA Group









Hobby or Business? How to Treat COVID-19 Sideline Activities for Taxes
- 09-15-20
- Kirsch CPA Group















Monitor These 3 Things as COVID-19 Changes Your Nonprofit’s Priorities
- 08-11-20
- Kirsch CPA Group












FASB Offers Reprieve from Updated Lease and Revenue Recognition Rules
- 07-23-20
- Kirsch CPA Group






COVID-19 Crisis May Affect Tax Angles for Rental Property Losses
- 07-10-20
- Kirsch CPA Group









Last-Minute Strategies for Businesses that Deferred Filing Tax Returns
- 07-01-20
- Kirsch CPA Group









Can Your Business Survive and Even Thrive in These Trying Times?
- 06-18-20
- Kirsch CPA Group






Five COVID-19 Obstacles a Construction Company Needs to Navigate
- 06-12-20
- Kirsch CPA Group












Cash Flow Tip: Postpone Payment of Certain Federal Employer Payroll Taxes
- 04-20-20
- Sue Schloemer


















Tax Filing Deadline Remains April 15 – Payment Due Extended to July 15
- 03-19-20
- John Kirsch










































8 strategies to help you adapt to economic down turn without layoffs
- 02-24-18
- Diane Glover





















Which Research Activities Qualify for the Qualified Small Business Tax Credits
- 07-17-17
- Diane Glover





































