How long after filing taxes does the actual letter come in the mail?

Per IRS Publication 1345 (Rev. 1-2023), acknowledgment letters are no longer automatically sent for e-filed returns as of 2021. What you're likely waiting for is either your refund check (if you didn't select direct deposit) or a notice of adjustment/error, which typically arrives 2-3 weeks after processing is complete. Given the current backlog at IRS processing centers, you should monitor your status online immediately rather than waiting for postal mail. The 21-day processing window is closing rapidly based on your January 22nd filing date.

Oh my god, I was in the EXACT same situation last year and I was freaking out!!! I kept checking my mail every single day and nothing came for like 6 weeks! Turns out if you selected direct deposit, you might not get ANY letter unless there's a problem with your return. I wish someone had told me that before I drove myself crazy with anxiety! Did you check the Where's My Refund tool? That's way more reliable than waiting for mail these days. I literally set calendar reminders to check it every morning during tax season! 😩

Let me clear up some misconceptions about IRS correspondence: • The IRS no longer routinely sends acknowledgment letters for e-filed returns • You will ONLY receive a letter if there's an issue with your return or they need additional information • If you selected direct deposit, you'll get your refund electronically with NO paper correspondence • The "letter" many people refer to is actually just the refund check if you didn't choose direct deposit The IRS is still operating with significant delays this season. Their phone systems are completely overwhelmed, which is why checking online is your best option.

I understand your anxiety about waiting for mail that might never come. If you're really concerned about your return status, have you tried calling the IRS directly? I was in a similar situation last month and spent 3 days trying to get through their phone system with no luck. A friend recommended Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed my return was processing normally and explained I wouldn't get any mail unless there was a problem. Saved me a lot of stress wondering if I'd missed something important in the mail.

You're confusing a few different things here. If you e-filed and chose direct deposit, you typically won't get any mail from the IRS unless there's a problem. Compare this to paper filing where you'd get a physical refund check. I've filed electronically for the past 8 years and only received actual mail from the IRS twice - once when they adjusted my refund and once when they needed verification of my identity. Most people just get their refund deposited with no paper trail at all.

Did you receive your e-file acceptance notification from your tax software? That's different from IRS correspondence and usually comes within 24-48 hours of submission. I'm curious if you're expecting a refund or if you owed taxes this year? The correspondence timeline differs significantly between the two scenarios.

You should definitely check the Where's My Refund tool instead of waiting for mail. I filed on January 18th and got my refund direct deposited on February 8th without receiving any physical mail whatsoever. If you're waiting for a physical check, those typically go out on Fridays, and you'd see a scheduled date on the WMR tool about 5-7 days before it's mailed. April 15th is coming up quickly, so you'll want to verify everything is processing correctly!

I completely understand your stress about waiting for mail! As someone who's been through this exact situation, let me reassure you - if you e-filed and selected direct deposit, you most likely won't receive ANY mail from the IRS unless there's an issue with your return. The IRS stopped sending routine acknowledgment letters for e-filed returns back in 2021. Your best bet is to check the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website (it's completely free) rather than obsessively checking your mailbox. I filed around the same time as you last year and got my refund deposited without ever receiving a single piece of mail. The tool will show you exactly where your return is in the process and give you a timeline for when to expect your refund. Save yourself the daily mailbox anxiety - the online tool is way more reliable than waiting for correspondence that probably isn't coming!

I totally get the mailbox-checking anxiety! I went through this same exact situation when I filed in January last year. Here's what I learned: if you e-filed with direct deposit, you're probably not getting any mail at all unless there's a problem. The IRS basically went paperless for routine stuff a few years ago. Instead of driving yourself crazy checking the mailbox, use the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website - it's free and way more accurate than waiting for mail that's probably never coming. I checked mine obsessively every morning until my refund hit my bank account with zero mail correspondence. The tool will tell you if there are any issues or delays, and honestly it's much faster than waiting weeks for a letter. Your January 22nd filing date means you're right in that 21-day processing window, so hopefully you'll see movement on the tool soon!