IRS not withdrawing my electronic tax payment - normal delay or cause for concern?
I've always used one of the big tax prep websites to file my taxes online, and typically I owe money each year. I always set up electronic withdrawals from my checking account for both state and federal payments. This year I completed everything on March 15th and my banking information was already saved in the system from previous years. I just confirmed the withdrawals for both state and federal using the same account as last year. A few hours later I received email confirmations that both my federal and state returns were uploaded and "accepted," and the next day my state tax payment (around $580) was properly withdrawn from my account. But here's the weird part - no withdrawal has been made by the IRS yet. It's now April 5th, three weeks later, and still nothing! No letters, no emails from the IRS... just complete silence. One potentially complicating factor: I received a fraudulent 1099 from Pennsylvania claiming I received $13,500 in unemployment benefits. I've never even been to Pennsylvania and immediately filed a police report and forwarded it to Pennsylvania's fraud department. They told me not to include this 1099 on my tax return, which I didn't. Should I be concerned about the missing IRS withdrawal (about $2,450), or is the IRS just moving slowly this year? Has anyone else experienced unusual delays with the IRS collecting payments?
22 comments


Jacob Lewis
The IRS can sometimes take longer to process electronic fund withdrawals than state agencies, especially during peak tax season. A few weeks delay isn't unusual, particularly this year with their backlog. Here's what I suggest: First, log back into the tax preparation website you used and verify that the payment was scheduled correctly with the proper bank information. Sometimes there can be glitches in the transmission of payment details. Second, create an online account at IRS.gov if you don't already have one. You can check your account to see if your return was processed and if the payment is scheduled. This will show whether the IRS has your payment information on file. If everything looks correct on your end and it's been more than 3-4 weeks, I'd recommend calling the IRS at 800-829-1040. Have a copy of your tax return handy when you call. The fraudulent 1099 situation shouldn't affect your payment processing, but it's worth mentioning when you speak with them. Remember that if the IRS doesn't withdraw the payment but you filed on time, you won't be penalized for their delay in processing the payment.
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Mia Rodriguez
•Thanks for the advice. I just checked my tax prep account again and everything looks correct - same bank account that's worked fine for years, right routing/account numbers, and payment authorized for the correct amount. I'll set up that IRS.gov account to take a look. Do you think there's any chance this is related to the fraudulent 1099 situation, like maybe my return got flagged because someone tried to file using my SSN in Pennsylvania?
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Jacob Lewis
•It's definitely possible your return was flagged for extra review due to the identity theft concerns. When there's potential identity theft involved, the IRS often implements additional security measures which can delay processing. The fraudulent 1099 from Pennsylvania could have triggered an internal review even though you didn't include it on your return. This is actually a good reason to create that IRS.gov account, as you'll be able to see if there are any notices or indicators of review that haven't reached you by mail yet. While on the phone with the IRS, make sure to mention the fraudulent 1099 situation as it could help them connect the dots if that's what's causing the delay.
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Amelia Martinez
After dealing with some really complex tax issues last year, I found this amazing AI tool called taxr.ai that helped me understand what was happening with my delayed IRS payments. I was in a similar situation where my state payment went through right away but the IRS payment was MIA for almost a month. I uploaded my return details to https://taxr.ai and it analyzed everything and explained that the IRS was likely holding my payment due to a mismatch between reported income documents. It even suggested exactly what to check on my account. Turns out there was indeed a problem with a 1099 from a side gig that was causing the delay! The best part was it showed me exactly what to look for on the IRS portal and what to say when I called them. Saved me hours of stress and confusion. Might be worth checking out if you're worried about that fraudulent 1099 situation.
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Ethan Clark
•How exactly does this AI tool work? Like does it actually connect to the IRS systems somehow or is it just giving generic advice based on what you tell it?
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Mila Walker
•I'm skeptical about these kinds of services... How would an AI know anything about internal IRS processing that isn't public knowledge? Seems like they'd just be guessing based on common situations. Did it actually tell you something you couldn't have found with a basic Google search?
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Amelia Martinez
•The AI doesn't connect directly to IRS systems - it analyzes your tax documents and situation based on what you upload. It's more about interpreting tax codes, identifying potential issues in your filing, and explaining IRS procedures in plain English. What made it valuable was how it took my specific situation (including the exact forms and timing) and provided targeted guidance. It highlighted a specific line on my 1099 that didn't match my reported income, which I completely missed. This wasn't something generic like "check your forms" - it pointed to the exact issue. For my situation, it saved me from hours of IRS hold music and multiple calls because I knew exactly what the problem was when I finally got through. And no, this wasn't something I found through Google searches - believe me, I tried that first!
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Mila Walker
I was super skeptical about AI tax tools, but I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. I've been dealing with this exact situation where the IRS wasn't taking my payment for nearly 5 weeks! I honestly didn't expect much, but the analysis was surprisingly helpful. It flagged that my electronic withdrawal might be delayed because I had filed an amended return last year, which apparently can trigger additional verification steps for future electronic payments. This wasn't mentioned ANYWHERE on the IRS website or my tax software. I followed the advice and called the specific IRS department it recommended. The agent confirmed that my account had a "delayed electronic payment" flag from the previous year's amendment. They processed my payment while I was on the phone. Never would have figured this out on my own!
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Logan Scott
I had a nightmare situation trying to figure out why my electronic payment wasn't being processed last year. Called the IRS literally 14 times and could never get through - just endless hold music and then disconnects. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it changed everything. They have this system that basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an actual human picks up. You can see a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was skeptical but desperate after weeks of trying. Got a callback within 2 hours, and finally spoke to someone who explained that my payment was held up because of a name mismatch between my tax return and bank account (my bank had my maiden name). Would have NEVER figured this out on my own, and the payment deadline was approaching fast.
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Chloe Green
•Wait, you pay a service just to call the IRS for you? How does that even work? Does it actually get you through faster than calling yourself?
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Lucas Adams
•Sounds like a scam to me. How do you know this service isn't just collecting your personal information? And why would they have special access to the IRS that regular citizens don't? I'd be very careful about using third-party services for something this sensitive.
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Logan Scott
•It doesn't call the IRS for you - it holds your place in line. You still talk directly to the IRS yourself. It works by using an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold so you don't have to. When an actual IRS agent picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. It absolutely gets you through faster because you're not personally waiting on hold for hours. The system can dial hundreds of times with the right timing to get through during peak hours when most people give up after a few tries. As for the security concern, they don't collect your tax information at all. You're only sharing your phone number so they can call you back when they reach an agent. When you actually speak to the IRS, it's a direct connection - Claimyr isn't on the call or collecting any of your tax details.
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Lucas Adams
I want to apologize for my skeptical comment earlier. After my 8th failed attempt to reach the IRS about my missing payment (and getting increasingly desperate as the deadline approached), I decided to try Claimyr as a last resort. I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked. Got a callback in about 90 minutes and spoke directly to an IRS agent who found my payment was stuck in their system because of a routing number digit transposition. She fixed it while I was on the phone. The service doesn't ask for any tax details at all - just your phone number for the callback. Would have saved me literally days of frustration if I'd used it sooner instead of being stubborn. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!
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Harper Hill
Check if you have a pending transaction in your bank account. Sometimes the IRS will place a hold on the funds but it won't show as fully withdrawn until they finish processing your return. Mine sat in "pending" status for almost 3 weeks this year! Also, did you get a confirmation number when you scheduled the payment? That's your proof that you authorized payment on time, even if they're slow to collect it. Keep that number and a screenshot of your payment confirmation screen just in case.
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Mia Rodriguez
•Good idea about the pending transactions - I checked and there's nothing there. I do have the confirmation number from my tax software showing I authorized the withdrawal. I'll save a screenshot too just to be safe. Really weird that the state had no issues taking their money right away but the IRS is dragging their feet. Makes me nervous since it's nearly $2,500!
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Harper Hill
•The difference in processing time between state and federal is totally normal. My state (Michigan) always processes payments within 1-3 days, while the IRS can take weeks or even a month in some cases. As long as you have that confirmation number, you're protected from late payment penalties. If you're really concerned, you could make a direct payment through IRS Direct Pay on their website as a backup. If they eventually process both payments, you can request a refund of the overpayment on next year's return. I've done this before when I was anxious about a delayed withdrawal.
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Caden Nguyen
That fraudulent 1099 from Pennsylvania is definitely causing your delay! The exact same thing happened to me last year - got a fake 1099-G from a state I've never lived in. Even though I didn't include it on my return, my refund was delayed by 6 weeks and when I finally got through to the IRS, they said my account had been flagged for potential identity theft. You should immediately: 1) Place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus 2) File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS 3) Check your credit reports for any other suspicious activity Don't just wait for them to take the money - be proactive about the identity theft issue first!
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Avery Flores
•The identity theft advice is spot on. I work at a bank and we see this all the time. The IRS likely flagged your account for manual review because of the fraudulent 1099, which means any automatic withdrawals might be suspended until they verify your identity. The state systems are separate, which explains why that payment went through normally.
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Wesley Hallow
I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Filed in mid-March, state payment was withdrawn immediately, but the IRS still hasn't touched my federal payment after 3+ weeks. No fraudulent documents in my case though. What's really frustrating is that my tax software shows the payment as "scheduled" but there's been zero communication from the IRS about any delays or issues. I've been checking my bank account daily expecting to see the withdrawal, but nothing. Based on what others are saying here about the identity theft angle, it sounds like your situation might be more complex than just a normal processing delay. The fraudulent 1099 from Pennsylvania could definitely be the culprit. Even though you didn't include it on your return, the IRS systems probably detected the discrepancy when cross-referencing your SSN. I'd strongly recommend following the advice about filing Form 14039 and setting up that IRS.gov account to check for any flags on your return. Better to be proactive than wait and potentially face bigger issues down the road. Keep us posted on what you find out - I'm curious if my delay is just normal backlog or if there's something else going on with my return too!
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Lucas Lindsey
•I'm in almost the exact same boat as you! Filed on March 18th, state payment went through within 48 hours, but it's now been over 3 weeks and the IRS hasn't touched my federal payment either. No fraudulent documents in my case, just radio silence from the IRS. What's making me nervous is that this is the first year I've had this kind of delay - usually they withdraw within a week or two max. I'm starting to wonder if there's some kind of system-wide processing slowdown this year or if individual returns are getting stuck in review for other reasons. I'm definitely going to set up that IRS.gov account today to see if there are any status updates. Have you tried calling them yet, or are you waiting it out a bit longer? The idea of sitting on hold for hours isn't appealing, but I'm getting anxious about having this much money just sitting in limbo. Really hope we both get some answers soon! Please keep me posted if you find out anything useful.
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Hassan Khoury
I've been following this thread with interest because I experienced something very similar last year. The combination of a delayed IRS payment and potential identity theft issues can be really stressful. Based on what you've described, I'd lean toward the fraudulent Pennsylvania 1099 being the main culprit behind your payment delay. Even though you didn't include it on your return, the IRS likely flagged your account when their systems detected that someone attempted to file using your SSN in another state. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1) Set up that IRS.gov account to check your transcript and account status 2) File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) as others have mentioned 3) Keep detailed records of everything - the fraudulent 1099, your police report, correspondence with Pennsylvania's fraud department 4) Consider placing a credit freeze with all three bureaus as an extra precaution The good news is that since you filed on time and have confirmation of your payment authorization, you won't face any penalties even if the withdrawal is significantly delayed. The IRS is required to honor the original payment date you scheduled. That said, don't just wait indefinitely. If it's been more than 4-5 weeks total, I'd definitely try to get through to them by phone. The identity theft situation needs to be resolved properly to prevent future filing complications.
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Arnav Bengali
•This is really helpful advice, especially the part about filing Form 14039. I had no idea that identity theft issues could cause payment delays even when you don't include the fraudulent documents on your return. One question - when you say the IRS systems "detected that someone attempted to file using your SSN in another state," does that mean someone actually tried to file a tax return with the fraudulent 1099, or just that the 1099 itself was issued? I'm trying to understand exactly what triggers these security flags. Also, do you know if there's a way to check if someone has attempted to file a return using your SSN? I'm getting paranoid that there might be other fraudulent activity I'm not aware of beyond just the fake Pennsylvania 1099.
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