Mission-critical functions continue.

According to the IRS, they state that they are open and processing mail, tax returns, payments, refunds and correspondence. However, COVID-19 continues to cause delays in some of their services. The service delays include:

• Live phone support
• Processing tax returns filed on paper
• Answering mail from taxpayers
• Reviewing tax returns, even for returns filed electronically

Information about IRS’ safety protocols can be found in the Treasury COVID-19 Workplace Safety PlanPDF.

COVID-19 International Mail Disruption and Form SSA-1099

If you live outside of the United States and receive Social Security Benefits, you may not receive Form SSA-1099 due to the temporary suspension of International mail to some locations. If you did not receive Form SSA-1099 or Form SSA-1042S, you may access your information through the SSA website. Social Security Benefits may be taxable and should be reported on Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

What You Can Expect

Look on the following list for the action you took – whether that’s sending the IRS your individual or business tax return or answering an IRS letter. Then, open the action to see how long you may have to wait and what to do next.

Filed a Tax return (Updated August 29, 2022)

The IRS is opening mail within normal timeframes and all paper and electronic individual returns received prior to January 2022 have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review.

As of August 19, 2022, the IRS has 8.7 million unprocessed individual returns received in calendar year 2022. These include tax year 2021 returns and late filed tax year 2020 and prior returns. Of these, 1.7 million returns require error correction or other special handling, and 7 million are paper returns waiting to be reviewed and processed. This work does not typically require the IRS to correspond with taxpayers but does require special handling by an IRS employee so, in these instances, it is taking the IRS more than 21 days to issue any related refund and in some cases this work could take more than 120 days. If a correction is made to any Recovery Rebate Credit, Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

How long you may have to wait: The IRS understands the importance of timely processing of tax returns and refund issuance. They have processed all error free returns received prior to January 2022 and continue to work the returns that need to be manually reviewed due to errors. They are continuing to reroute tax returns and taxpayer correspondence from locations that are behind to locations where more staff is available, and they are taking other actions to minimize any delays. Tax returns are opened and processed in the order received. As the return is processed, whether it was filed electronically or on paper, it may be delayed because it has a mistake including errors concerning the Recovery Rebate Credit and the Child Tax Credit, is missing information, or there is suspected identity theft or fraud. If the IRS can fix it without contacting the Taxpayer, they will. If the IRS needs more information or need you to verify that it was you who sent the tax return, we will write you a letter. The resolution of these issues could take more than 120 days depending on how quickly and accurately the taxpayer responds, and the ability of IRS staff trained and working under social distancing requirements to complete the processing of your return.

What you should do: In most instances, no further action is needed but you may check Where’s My Refund? or you can view your account. If you filed electronically and received an acknowledgement, you do not need to take any further action other than promptly responding to any requests for information. If you filed on paper, check Where’s My Refund? If it tells you the IRS has received your return or are processing or reviewing it, we are processing your return, but it may be under review. If you filed before January 2022 and Where’s My Refund? does not have any information, your return has been opened but work on it has not begun. The IRS is working hard to get through the carryover inventory. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

Status of Processing Form 1040-X, Amended Individual Tax Return: As of August 20, 2022, we had 1.9 million unprocessed Forms 1040-X. The IRS is processing these returns in the order received and is working hard to get through the inventory. The current timeframe can be more than 20 weeks instead of up to 16. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your amended return. Taxpayers should continue to check Where’s My Amended Return? for the most up to date processing status available.

Please do not hesitate to call us if you need any further information, or come to the office US Tax Consultants from 9am to 2 pm, Monday to Friday. Phone: 915 194 302 info@ustaxconcultants.net