TurboTax says return filed, IRS.gov shows nothing - What's going on with my tax return?
Hey everyone, I'm having a weird issue with my tax return. I filed using one of those online tax prep services, and they're telling me my return is supposed to come today. But when I check the IRS website, it says they haven't even received my filing yet! Has anyone else run into this? I'm so confused about what's going on with my return.
26 comments


Victoria Charity
Ugh, that sucks. I've had similar issues before. Sometimes the online services take a while to actually submit your return to the IRS, even if they say it's been filed. Have you tried calling the IRS directly to check on the status?
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Evan Kalinowski
•I tried calling but got stuck in this endless phone tree. It's so frustrating! 😤 I just want to talk to a real person who can look at my account.
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Jasmine Quinn
•Pro tip: call early in the morning right when they open. You might have better luck getting through to someone then.
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Evan Kalinowski
•Thanks for the tip! I'll give that a shot tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed 🤞
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Oscar Murphy
I found a way to actually get someone on the phone. I used this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool that dials the phone menu, stays on hold, waits for a live agent to pick up, then sends the call to my phone. It does cost $20, but it works. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c
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Nora Bennett
•Wow, that sounds too good to be true. Does it really work? How long did you have to wait?
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Oscar Murphy
•It worked for me! I waited about 2 hours, but I was able to do other stuff while the service was on hold. When an agent picked up, my phone rang and I was connected.
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Ryan Andre
•Idk man, paying to talk to the IRS seems sketchy. Shouldn't this be a free service?
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Oscar Murphy
•I get it, but for me, the time saved was worth the $20. I was going crazy trying to get through on my own.
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Lauren Zeb
This happened to me last year. Turns out there was a glitch in the tax prep software and my return wasn't actually submitted even though it said it was. You might want to double-check with the company you used.
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Daniel Washington
The IRS is such a joke. They expect us to pay our taxes on time, but they can't even process returns efficiently. 🤡 The whole system needs an overhaul.
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Aurora Lacasse
•Preach! 🙌 I've been saying this for years. It's 2023, why is everything still so complicated?
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Anthony Young
•To be fair, they're dealing with millions of returns. But yeah, they could definitely use some modernization.
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Charlotte White
Here's what you need to do: 1. First, double-check with your tax prep service to make sure your return was actually submitted. Sometimes there can be a delay between when they say it's filed and when it's actually sent to the IRS. 2. If they confirm it was sent, wait at least 24 hours and then check the IRS 'Where's My Refund' tool again. Sometimes it takes a day or two for their system to update. 3. If it's been more than 3 days and still nothing shows up, you'll need to contact the IRS directly. Use the toll-free number: 800-829-1040. Be prepared for a long wait. 4. When you get through, ask them to check if they've received your return. If they haven't, you may need to re-file. 5. Keep all documentation from your tax prep service, including any confirmation emails or numbers. Remember, patience is key here. The IRS is notoriously slow, especially during peak tax season. Good luck!
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Evan Kalinowski
•Wow, thank you so much for this detailed response! This is really helpful. I'll start working through these steps right away.
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Admin_Masters
•This is great advice. I'd add: make sure to keep a record of all your calls and who you spoke to. It can help if you need to follow up later.
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Matthew Sanchez
have you tried checking your tax transcript on the IRS website? sometimes that updates before the wheres my refund tool
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Evan Kalinowski
•I didn't even know about tax transcripts! How do I access that?
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Matthew Sanchez
•just go to IRS.gov and search for 'Get Transcript'. youll need to create an account if you havent already. it shows all the info they have on file for you
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Evan Kalinowski
•Thanks! I'll check that out right now.
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Ella Thompson
Plot twist: what if the IRS already processed your return and sent your refund, but it got lost in the mail? 😱 Happened to my cousin last year!
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JacksonHarris
This is why I always file a paper return. Call me old-fashioned, but at least I know it's been mailed out. 📨
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Jeremiah Brown
•Bruh, paper returns take way longer to process. You're just asking for delays 🐌
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JacksonHarris
•Maybe so, but I've never had an issue like OP's. I'll take the extra wait time for peace of mind.
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Chloe Boulanger
I had this exact same issue two years ago! Turned out my tax prep software had a technical glitch during submission. What I learned is that you should always save/screenshot the confirmation page when you file electronically. Also, most tax prep companies have a "transmission status" page where you can check if your return actually made it to the IRS. I'd recommend logging back into whatever service you used and looking for that feature. If it shows "rejected" or "failed," you'll need to resubmit. The IRS typically updates their system within 24-48 hours of receiving a return, so if it's been longer than that and still shows nothing, something definitely went wrong with the initial submission.
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Danielle Mays
•This is super helpful! I never thought to check for a transmission status page. Just logged back into my tax prep account and found it - looks like my return shows "pending transmission" which explains why the IRS hasn't received it yet. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! 🙏
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