Filed my 2023 and 2024 taxes together but haven't received any info about my 2023 return
I'm getting super anxious about my 2023 taxes. I filed both my 2023 and 2024 returns on March 15th, and I got my 2024 federal and state refunds about 3 weeks later. But there's absolutely no trace of my 2023 return! When I check "Where's My Refund" for 2023, it says the information doesn't match their records or something like that. I've tried calling the IRS like 20 times but can't get through to a human being - just endless automated messages. The weird thing is that my 2024 processing went totally smooth, but it's like my 2023 return just disappeared into thin air. I haven't gotten my state refund for 2023 either. Could this be because I filed the 2023 return late? I was supposed to file it last year but completely forgot until I was doing my 2024 taxes. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'm worried they'll hit me with some huge penalties or something.
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Emma Wilson
When you file a prior year return (like your 2023 taxes filed in 2025), it gets processed differently than current year returns. These returns are typically handled manually rather than through the automated system, which explains why your 2024 return was processed quickly while your 2023 return seems to be in limbo. Late-filed returns typically take 6-8 weeks to process at minimum, but can often take 3-4 months due to the manual processing required. The "Where's My Refund" tool often doesn't work properly for prior year returns until they're fully processed in the system. The fact that you haven't received information doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem - it just means your return is still being processed. The IRS prioritizes current year returns during tax season, which further delays prior year processing.
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Malik Davis
•Does this mean OP will get hit with late filing penalties for the 2023 return? And is there any way to check the status of a prior year return if Where's My Refund doesn't work?
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Emma Wilson
•Yes, there will likely be late filing penalties for the 2023 return. The IRS typically charges 5% of unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month the return is late, up to 25% maximum. There's also interest that compounds daily on any unpaid tax from the original due date. To check the status of a prior year return, your best option is to create an account on IRS.gov and view your tax account information online. This shows more detailed information than Where's My Refund, including if the return has been received and any penalties assessed. Alternatively, you can request a tax transcript which would show if the return has been processed.
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Isabella Santos
I went through something similar last year! I filed a late 2022 return alongside my 2023 taxes and had the exact same confusion. After weeks of frustration trying to figure out what was happening with my 2022 return, I found this site called https://taxr.ai that saved me so much stress. I uploaded my confirmation that I had filed both years and it analyzed exactly what was happening with my return. Turned out my 2022 return was flagged for manual review (common with late returns) but was actually being processed normally. The tool showed me precisely what was happening and when I could expect my refund based on current IRS processing times. Gave me a lot more insight than the vague IRS status checker!
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Ravi Gupta
•How does taxr.ai actually work? I'm in a similar situation with a late-filed return and the IRS website is useless. Does it actually connect to the IRS somehow or is it just making educated guesses?
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GalacticGuru
•Sounds interesting but I'm skeptical... how does some random website have better info than the actual IRS? Is it safe to upload tax documents to a third party?
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Isabella Santos
•It works by analyzing your tax documents and filing confirmation against their database of IRS processing patterns. It doesn't directly connect to the IRS systems, but uses AI to interpret your specific situation based on thousands of similar cases and current IRS processing timelines. They use bank-level security encryption for all documents, which actually made me feel safer than some tax prep websites I've used. They can't file or modify anything with the IRS - it's strictly an analysis tool that helps you understand what's happening with your return and what to expect. They also have tax pros who review complex cases.
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GalacticGuru
Ok I have to admit I was super skeptical about taxr.ai but I decided to try it since my 2023 return has been stuck in limbo for weeks. Surprisingly helpful! It analyzed my filing confirmation and showed me that my return was in the "verification queue" due to being filed late, which apparently is normal. The timeline it gave me was much more specific than the IRS site - said I should expect processing to complete in about 5 more weeks based on current IRS backlog data. It even highlighted that I had a math error on line 37 that might cause additional delays (something I hadn't caught). Really helpful to know what's actually happening instead of just waiting in the dark.
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Freya Pedersen
If you really want to know what's happening with your 2023 return, you need to talk to an actual IRS agent. I was in the exact same boat last year with a prior year return that seemed to vanish. After 15+ calls and hours on hold, I found https://claimyr.com and it literally changed everything. I was super frustrated with the IRS phone system, but Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual endless hold. The agent was able to see exactly where my return was stuck in their system (there was a simple verification flag that needed to be cleared). You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - so much better than endless redials and hold music!
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Omar Fawaz
•Wait, how is this even possible? I thought there was no way to skip the IRS phone queue? Is this some kind of scam or do they have some special connection with the IRS?
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Chloe Anderson
•This sounds too good to be true. The IRS phone system is notoriously impossible. I've literally spent 3+ hours on hold multiple times. What's the catch here? Do they charge a fortune for this?
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Freya Pedersen
•It's completely legitimate - they don't have special access to the IRS, but they use technology to navigate the phone system efficiently. Think of it like having a robot assistant that handles the calling and waiting process for you, then rings your phone once an IRS agent is actually on the line. There's no catch with the service itself. They call the IRS and navigate the phone tree, wait on hold for you, and then connect you directly to an agent when one becomes available. This way you don't waste hours listening to hold music. It's especially helpful during tax season when wait times can be 2+ hours. They've helped over 300,000 people get through to government agencies like the IRS.
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Chloe Anderson
I'm honestly shocked but I have to report back that Claimyr actually worked. After reading about it here, I was convinced it would be a waste of time because NOTHING works with the IRS phone system. I've literally spent entire afternoons on hold before. Tried it yesterday for my missing 2022 return situation. The system called me back in about 30 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line! The agent explained that my return was flagged for identity verification (which they never notified me about). Got everything resolved in one call. Would have had no idea without talking to an actual person. Just wanted to let others know since I was so skeptical at first.
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Diego Vargas
The same thing happened to me in 2023. I filed 2021 and 2022 returns together. The current year (2022) processed normally but my 2021 was delayed by about 3 months. Prior year returns get put in a different queue and processed manually. If you owed money for 2023, you'll also get charged interest from the original due date (April 2024). If you're getting a refund, you might still get a late filing penalty if you were required to file, but the good news is they'll just deduct it from your refund.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Do they send some kind of notice about the penalties before they just take it out of your refund? I'm in a similar situation and wondering if I should just be patient or if I need to be proactive about figuring out what's happening.
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Diego Vargas
•They don't always send a notice beforehand. The penalties are calculated when they process your return, and they'll simply deduct them from your refund automatically. You'll see the breakdown on your tax transcript once it's processed, or they'll send you a notice afterward explaining the adjustments they made. I'd recommend being proactive, especially if it's been more than 10 weeks. Either create an account on the IRS website to view your transcript or try to speak with an agent. The penalty is usually 5% of unpaid taxes per month up to 25% maximum, plus interest, so it's good to know what you might be facing.
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StarStrider
Has anyone had this happen but with state taxes? I filed both my 2023 and 2024 MI state returns together but only got my 2024 refund. It's been 12 weeks now and nothing for 2023.
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Sean Doyle
•State tax processing is totally separate from federal, but most states also process prior year returns more slowly. Each state has their own "where's my refund" tool on their tax department website. Have you checked that?
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Zara Rashid
•I had this exact issue with CA state taxes. The current year processed normally but the prior year took almost 5 months! Different states have different processing times, but all of them handle prior year returns more slowly than current year.
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Aisha Mahmood
I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Filed my 2023 and 2024 returns together in March, got my 2024 refund within 3 weeks, but my 2023 return seems to have vanished. The "Where's My Refund" tool for 2023 gives me the same error message you're getting. What I've learned from calling around is that late-filed returns (like our 2023 taxes) go into a completely different processing queue that's mostly manual. They prioritize current year returns during tax season, so prior year returns can take 3-6 months to process. The automated tracking systems often don't work properly for these returns until they're fully processed. For penalties, if you owed money for 2023, you'll definitely get hit with late filing penalties (5% per month up to 25% max) plus interest from the original April 2024 due date. If you're getting a refund, they might still charge a late filing penalty but will just deduct it from your refund. My advice: try to create an account on IRS.gov to view your tax transcripts - this sometimes shows more info than the refund tracker. And honestly, don't stress too much about the lack of communication yet. It sounds like your return is just sitting in the manual processing queue, which is totally normal for late-filed returns.
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Jordan Walker
•This is really helpful info, thank you! I'm actually in almost the exact same boat - filed both years together and only the current year processed. One question though: when you say they "might still charge a late filing penalty" even for refunds, is that only if you were legally required to file? I thought if you're getting money back, there's no penalty for filing late since you don't owe them anything. Or am I missing something here?
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