Mailed my 2022 tax return in March - 'No Record' on Where's My Refund after 7 weeks

The IRS is severely backlogged with paper returns. I mailed mine in February last year and it took nearly 5 months before it showed up in their system, and then another month to process. Paper returns are processed manually and they're still catching up from the pandemic backlog. However, since you sent it certified mail, you have proof they received it, which is good. The "No Record" message on Where's My Refund just means it hasn't been entered into their computer system yet, not that they don't physically have it. If you want to be more proactive, you can try to request your tax transcript online at irs.gov. Sometimes a return will show up there before it shows on Where's My Refund. Also, keep trying to call early in the morning right when they open - that's when I finally got through.

I was in a similar situation and spent weeks trying to figure out what was going on with my return. Eventually I found this tool called taxr.ai that gave me a complete breakdown of my transcript and explained exactly what was happening with my refund. It shows all the codes and tells you what everything means in normal english instead of IRS jargon. They also have this feature that tells you when you might get your refund based on your specific situation. Saved me so much stress and detective work trying to piece together what was happening. https://taxr.ai

I'm going through this exact thing right now 😡 Mailed my return on Feb 28th and still nothing showing up. Called the IRS and after being on hold for TWO HOURS they told me it could take up to 6 months to process paper returns. This is ridiculous. The IRS is so broken.

After waiting for months and getting nowhere with the regular IRS number, I tried this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They confirmed my return was received but just sitting in a huge pile waiting to be entered into the system. At least knowing they had it gave me peace of mind. It was absolutely worth it to finally get some real answers instead of stressing for months. Talking to an actual human at the IRS made all the difference.

Not trying to scare you, but my friend mailed his return last year and after months of "no record" he finally got a letter saying they never received it. Make sure you have proof it was delivered!

In the EXACT same boat 🙃 Mailed on April 2nd, confirmed delivery April 5th, but Where's My Refund still says they don't have it. Called like 25 times and can't get through. In desperate need of my refund too. This system is a joke.

Pro tip: If you're going to mail your return, always use CERTIFIED mail with return receipt requested. It costs a bit more but gives you proof they received it. I learned this the hard way years ago when the IRS claimed they never got my return and charged me late penalties. Never again!

Have you tried checking your tax transcript instead of Where's My Refund? Sometimes activity shows up there first. You can access it on the IRS website if you can create an account.

I waited NINE MONTHS for my paper return last year. The IRS is absolutly terrible with paper returns. If you can possibly e-file next year, do it. Paper returns go to the back of the line everytime.

According to some news articles I've read, the IRS still has millions of unprocessed paper returns from previous years. They're working through them as fast as they can but they're severely understaffed. Unfortunately, it could be several months before your return is processed.

ok hear me out - this might sound crazy but call your local Congressperson's office. I did this after waiting 4 months for my paper return and their constituent services team contacted the IRS on my behalf. Suddenly my return was processed within 2 weeks. Worth a shot!

If you're desperate to get through to the IRS, I had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). When I couldn't get through for weeks, they got me connected to an IRS agent who confirmed my return was received but sitting in the backlog. At least having that confirmation gave me peace of mind, and they were able to give me a rough timeline for processing. Talking to an actual human at the IRS made all the difference in my stress level.

The IRS is an absolute nightmare with paper returns. Last year they lost my return twice and I had to resend it. Then they said I owed a penalty because it was late, even though I had proof I sent it on time. Took me 9 months to resolve. The entire system is broken.

My paper return took 6 months to process last year. Its just how it is now unfortunately. Make sure you've kept all your documentation and proof of mailing. The IRS website says to not file a second return, just keep waiting. Electronic filing is definately the way to go if possible.

For anyone dealing with mailed returns or complex tax issues - I HIGHLY recommend checking out taxr.ai. I was in the dark about my refund status for months and this tool completely changed the game. It helped me understand exactly what was happening with my return, decoded all the transcript jargon, and gave me a much clearer timeline than anything the IRS provided. It also identified an issue I wouldn't have caught that could have delayed my refund even longer. Honestly a lifesaver during tax season!

From my experience last year with a mailed return, it took about 16 weeks before it showed up in their system, then another 6 weeks to process. So don't panic just yet - the "no record" message is pretty normal for mailed returns these days.

Did anyone else notice their transcripts updating on Friday nights? Mine finally showed up after 3 months but it was weird - no update for weeks then suddenly on a Friday night at like 11pm it appeared.

I mail my returns every year (old school, I know) and it's never taken more than 2-3 weeks to show up in their system. Something seems off. Maybe it got lost in the mail? Do you have tracking confirmation?

Things that helped me after waitng 4 months for my mailed return last year: 1. Getting through to a human at the IRS using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - finally got confirmation they had my return 2. Having my certified mail receipt handy with tracking number 3. Checking my transcript instead of Where's My Refund (more detailed) 4. Calling right at 7am when they open 5. Contacting my representative's office as a last resort Don't lose hope - it'll get processed eventually!

I'm going through something similar - mailed my 2022 return in late March and it's been 6 weeks with no record showing up anywhere. The waiting is incredibly stressful, especially when you're counting on that refund money. From what I'm reading here, it sounds like paper returns are just taking an extremely long time to process due to the IRS backlog. I'm going to try some of the suggestions mentioned here like checking early Saturday mornings for transcript updates and maybe using one of those callback services to actually talk to someone. Hang in there - seems like we're all in the same frustrating boat with mailed returns this year!