IRS haven't cashed my check yet - should I be worried about my tax payment?

Don't worry too much yet. The IRS is notoriously slow with processing paper returns and payments. Paper returns take 6-8 weeks to process in normal circumstances, and sometimes longer during busy periods. Your check won't be cashed until they actually begin processing your return. Since you mailed it on the deadline day (April 15th), you're probably still well within the normal timeframe. Many people who file paper returns don't see their checks cashed for 3-4 weeks or even longer. The important thing is that you have documentation that you sent it by the deadline - keep your certified mail receipt if you have one. I'd recommend giving it at least another 2-3 weeks before getting concerned. If they haven't cashed it by then, you can always call the IRS to confirm they received your return.

I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after freaking out about my check not being deposited. My paper return was sitting in processing for almost 2 months! The tool analyzed my situation, confirmed I'd done everything correctly, and gave me the timeline to expect processing. Seriously saved me from constant anxiety checking my bank account every day. Their document analysis confirmed I'd paper-clipped everything correctly and that I didn't need to worry since I had proof I'd mailed by the deadline.

Ok I'm eating my words about being skeptical of taxr.ai. I decided to try it out of desperation since my check situation is almost identical to the OP's. Uploaded my return copy and it immediately identified that my form was likely in the "paper processing queue" based on when I mailed it and showed me exactly where in the process my return probably was. The timeline estimate was super specific to my situation, not just a generic "6-8 weeks" answer. Their analysis also confirmed I had attached my check properly so I wouldn't get one of those dreaded "we received your return but not your payment" notices. Peace of mind was totally worth it!

If you're really worried about your check not being cashed yet, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the same boat last year - paper return, check not cashed after 6 weeks, couldn't reach anyone at the IRS to confirm they'd received it. I tried calling the IRS for DAYS, always getting the "call volume too high" message. Found Claimyr through a tax group and it was amazing - they got me connected to an actual IRS agent who confirmed they had my return but it was in the processing backlog. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - shows exactly how it works.

I need to publicly apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr. After posting that comment, I was still so frustrated about my similar situation that I decided to try it anyway. Holy crap it ACTUALLY WORKS. I got a call back in about 2 hours telling me an IRS agent was on the line. The agent confirmed they received my return on April 20th (I mailed April 15th) and that my check was in the payment processing queue. She said it would likely be cashed within the next 7-10 days. I've literally never been able to get through to a human at the IRS before. Worth every penny just to stop the constant anxiety of wondering if my payment was lost in the mail!

Is there an option to track your paper return? I know you can track refunds through Where's My Refund, but what about when you owe money instead?

Just to add my experience - last year I mailed a check with my return on April 10th and they didn't cash it until May 23rd! I was checking my account daily and driving myself crazy. And then when they finally did cash it, my "Where's My Refund" status (I also had a small refund coming separately) updated to "received" the very next day. The systems are just incredibly slow with paper processing.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my paper return on April 14th with a check for about $1,200 and it's been almost 4 weeks with no check being cashed. I've been obsessively checking my bank account every morning thinking something went wrong. Reading everyone's experiences here is actually really reassuring - sounds like 4-6 weeks is totally normal for paper returns. I think I was just used to electronic payments being instant, so this waiting period feels scary when you're not sure if the IRS actually received your payment. Next year I'm definitely going to file paper but pay electronically like some of you suggested. The peace of mind of knowing the payment went through immediately would be worth it, even if the return processing still takes forever. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines - helps a lot to know I'm not alone in this!

I'm a tax preparer and see this situation constantly during filing season. What you're experiencing is completely normal - paper returns with attached checks typically take 4-8 weeks to process, and the IRS won't cash your check until they actually begin processing your return. A few things to keep in mind: First, make sure you have proof of mailing (certified mail receipt is ideal). Second, the IRS received thousands of returns on April 15th, so yours is likely in a processing queue. Third, once they do cash your check, you'll typically see it clear your account within 1-2 business days. One tip for next year: you can actually get a transcript of your account from the IRS website (irs.gov) about 6-8 weeks after filing. This will show if they've received and processed your return, even before your check is cashed. It's under "Get Transcript" in the online tools section. Don't panic yet - you're still well within normal processing times. But if it hits 8 weeks with no activity, that's when I'd recommend calling or using one of the services others mentioned to check on the status.

As someone who works in financial services, I can confirm that what you're experiencing is completely normal. The IRS processes millions of paper returns during filing season, and they handle them in batches. Your return from April 15th is likely sitting in a queue with thousands of others from that same day. One thing that might give you peace of mind: banks typically process government checks (including IRS deposits) very quickly once they receive them. So when your check does get cashed, you'll see it hit your account almost immediately. The delay is entirely on the IRS processing side, not the banking side. Also, keep in mind that if there were any issues with your payment or return, the IRS would send you a notice within a few weeks. No news is generally good news in this case. The fact that you haven't received any correspondence suggests everything was filed correctly and is just working its way through their system. Hang in there - based on the timelines others have shared, you should see movement in the next 2-3 weeks!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I mailed my return on April 13th with a check for about $800, and like everyone else, I've been obsessively checking my bank account. It's now been about 5 weeks and still no check cashed. What's really interesting is reading all these different timelines - it seems like there's such a wide range of processing times depending on when you mail and probably which processing center handles your return. Some people are seeing 4 weeks, others are waiting 6-8 weeks or more. I think the advice about filing paper but paying electronically next year is spot on. I prefer paper returns too (call me old fashioned, but I like having the physical documentation), but the electronic payment would definitely eliminate this anxiety about whether they received the check. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines - it's really reassuring to know this is just how slow the system is, not that something went wrong with my payment!

I'm dealing with this exact situation right now and it's such a relief to find this thread! Filed my paper return on April 14th with a check for about $920, and it's been almost a month with no movement in my bank account. I was starting to panic that something went wrong. What really strikes me from reading everyone's experiences is how much the processing times vary - some people waiting 4 weeks, others 8+ weeks. It sounds like it really depends on which IRS processing center gets your return and how backed up they are. The advice about keeping your certified mail receipt is so important. I'm glad I spent the extra few dollars for that peace of mind. And the suggestion about filing paper but paying electronically next year makes total sense - you get the best of both worlds without this nail-biting wait to see if they received your check. Thanks to everyone who shared their timelines and experiences. It's helping me stay sane during this waiting period! I'm going to stop checking my bank account daily and just give it another few weeks before I start worrying.

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same nightmare! Filed my paper return on April 17th with a $875 check and it's been over 3 weeks with no activity in my bank account. I've been checking obsessively every morning thinking maybe today will be the day. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea paper return processing could take this long! This is my first time mailing a check to the IRS instead of paying online, and I was starting to convince myself that my envelope got lost or something went wrong. The range of processing times people are sharing is wild - anywhere from 4-8+ weeks seems completely normal. It really sounds like the IRS is just completely overwhelmed with paper returns during filing season. I'm definitely taking everyone's advice about electronic payment next year. I don't mind mailing my return (I actually prefer having the paper trail), but this anxiety about whether they even received my check is brutal. At least with electronic payment you get instant confirmation and can focus your worrying energy on just the return processing part! Thanks to everyone for sharing your timelines and experiences. This community is a lifesaver for dealing with IRS stress!

I'm new to this community and dealing with the exact same anxiety-inducing situation! Filed my paper return on April 18th with a check for $1,250 and it's been about 3 weeks with zero movement in my bank account. I've been refreshing my online banking app probably 5 times a day hoping to see that check finally get cashed. This thread has been an absolute godsend - I had no clue that 4-8 weeks was totally normal processing time for paper returns! I've always filed electronically in the past, but had to go paper this year due to some complex investment forms my tax software couldn't handle properly. I was starting to spiral thinking my envelope got lost in the mail or that I somehow messed up the payment attachment. The insight about the IRS processing returns in batches really puts things in perspective. And the advice about keeping your certified mail receipt is spot-on - thankfully I did that for peace of mind. The suggestion about using electronic payment next year while still mailing the return is genius - you get the instant payment confirmation without sacrificing the paper documentation trail. Thanks to everyone who shared their processing timelines and experiences. This community is amazing for helping navigate the stress of dealing with IRS bureaucracy. I'm going to stop obsessively checking my bank account and just trust the process for another few weeks!

I'm completely new to this community but found this thread while frantically googling about my uncashed IRS check! Filed my paper return on April 20th with a $1,150 check and have been obsessively monitoring my bank account for 3+ weeks now. Every morning I wake up hoping today will be the day they finally cash it. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly calming - I had absolutely no idea that 4-8+ weeks was standard processing time for paper returns with checks! I've always done everything electronically before, but this year I had some rental property complications that required paper filing. I was genuinely starting to panic that my envelope got lost or that I somehow attached the payment incorrectly. The advice about certified mail receipts is so smart (thankfully I got one), and the insight about IRS processing in massive batches really explains the delays. What really resonates with me is everyone's plan to file paper but pay electronically next year - that seems like the perfect compromise to get immediate payment confirmation while keeping the paper trail benefits. This community is incredible for providing real experiences and practical advice during such a stressful process. I'm going to stop checking my account multiple times daily and trust that this is just how painfully slow the IRS paper system works. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and keeping me sane!

I'm new to this community but dealing with this exact same stressful situation! Filed my paper return on April 22nd with a $725 check and it's been about 2.5 weeks with absolutely no movement in my bank account. I've been checking my online banking obsessively every single day, sometimes multiple times, hoping to finally see that check get processed. This entire thread has been such a huge relief to find - I honestly had no idea that 4-8+ weeks was completely normal processing time for paper returns! I've always filed and paid electronically in previous years, but this year I had some complex Schedule C business expenses that my tax software couldn't handle properly, so I had to go the paper route. I was starting to seriously worry that my envelope got lost in the mail or that I somehow messed up attaching the check. The insight about the IRS processing returns in huge batches really helps explain these long delays, and the advice about keeping certified mail receipts is spot-on (thankfully I did that for documentation). What I'm finding most valuable is everyone's plan to combine paper filing with electronic payment next year - that sounds like the perfect solution to get instant payment confirmation while still maintaining the paper trail benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their processing timelines and experiences. This community is amazing for helping navigate the anxiety of dealing with IRS bureaucracy. I'm going to stop refreshing my bank account multiple times daily and just trust that this is the normal (albeit painfully slow) process!