The tax season is here and millions of Americans are eagerly waiting for their refunds from the IRS. However, there are times when the IRS tells taxpayers that it cannot provide any information about their refunds. This can be frustrating and confusing, especially when taxpayers have already filed their tax returns. So, why does the IRS say “we cannot provide any information about your refund” in 2021?
Well, the short answer is that the IRS is currently experiencing a backlog of tax returns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to delays in processing tax returns and issuing refunds. In addition, the IRS has implemented various measures to protect its staff and taxpayers from the virus, which has resulted in reduced staffing levels in some areas.
One of the main reasons for delayed refunds is the processing of 2020 tax returns. In response to the pandemic, the IRS extended the tax filing deadline for individuals from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. This means that many taxpayers have filed their tax returns only recently, causing a massive backlog of returns to process.
Moreover, the IRS has been dealing with a large volume of returns that require manual processing, such as paper tax returns and those with errors or inconsistencies. The manual processing of returns takes longer than electronic processing and can lead to more extended refund wait times.
Another reason for delayed refunds is the IRS’s identity theft and fraud prevention measures. The agency is continuously monitoring tax returns for signs of fraudulent activity and taking steps to prevent identity theft. This process can cause tax return verification to take longer and delay taxpayers’ refunds.
In conclusion, delays in processing tax returns and issuing refunds are common in 2021 due to the pandemic and other factors. The IRS is working hard to process refunds quickly, but taxpayers may still experience delays. It’s worth noting that the IRS provides updated refund status information once a day on its website, and taxpayers can also use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool to check their refund status. As a result of the backlog of returns, it is advisable to allow for six weeks before checking the status of a tax refund filed electronically and 12 weeks if filing a paper return.
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