Mailed 2022 Tax Return Stuck on "Return Received" Status for Over 6 Weeks - No Movement on IRS Website

Anyone know why my 2022 refund is taking so long? I mailed my return and when I check WMR (Where's My Refund), it just shows "Return Received" with a checkmark, but "Approved" and "Refund Sent" both still show question marks. Here's what I'm seeing on the IRS website (sa.www4.irs.gov): Tax year 2022 Return Received ✓ Refund Approved ? Refund Sent ? It says "We have received your tax return and it is being processed. If you filed a complete and accurate tax return, your refund should be issued within 4 to 6 weeks of the received date. Keep in mind, processing sometimes takes longer." But it's already been way longer than their stated 4-6 week timeline. I've been checking the IRS website constantly at sa.www4.irs.gov but nothing is changing. The status is frozen at "Return Received" and hasn't progressed to "Approved" or "Refund Sent" despite weeks of waiting. I'm starting to get really worried about what's going on with my return. The website just shows this same message every time I check, with no additional information or explanation for the delay. Has anyone else experienced this lengthy delay with their 2022 refund? Did you eventually receive your refund or did you have to take additional steps? I'm wondering if I should call the IRS directly or if I just need to keep waiting.

0 coins

15 comments

Aisha Hussain

The WMR status page confirms your return is in the initial processing stage, with only the "Return Received" step completed. Your screen shows the typical three-step process: Received (checked), Approved (pending), and Refund Sent (pending). While the IRS notice states 4-6 weeks processing time, this timeline primarily applies to electronic returns, not paper returns like yours. The status message "We have received your tax return and it is being processed" is the standard first-stage notification. It's important to note that paper returns filed for tax year 2022 are experiencing significant delays, often taking 6-8 months to process due to the IRS's current backlog. This extended timeline is far beyond the 4-6 week estimate shown on your screen. To avoid such delays in the future, consider e-filing - electronic returns typically receive refunds within 21 days when filed accurately. The website you're checking (sa.www4.irs.gov) will update automatically when there's movement on your return, though for paper returns, these updates can be weeks or months apart.

0 coins

- 1M