When to expect 2023 FICA TAX REFUND? Anyone received theirs yet?

The FICA refund process is different from regular tax refunds, which is why the "Where's My Refund" tool doesn't work for these. FICA refunds are processed manually by a specialized unit at the IRS, which is why they take longer. For background, FICA taxes are your Social Security and Medicare contributions. You might be eligible for a refund if you paid more than you should have, typically when working multiple jobs or if you're exempt from these taxes for certain reasons. The 12-week timeline is honestly more of a best-case scenario. With current IRS backlogs, many people are seeing processing times of 20-30 weeks for FICA refunds. The pandemic created massive delays that they're still working through, plus they're chronically understaffed. The best way to check status is to call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040. Have your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount ready. Be prepared for a long wait time though.

After struggling with a similar situation waiting for my FICA refund, I discovered taxr.ai and it really helped me understand what was going on. I was confused because the normal refund tracking tools weren't working for me either. I uploaded my FICA refund application documents to https://taxr.ai and their system analyzed everything and explained that my application was likely in the specialized processing queue at the IRS. It also pointed out that I had missed a signature on one of my supporting forms that could have been causing delays – something I completely overlooked! The tool gave me a detailed explanation of exactly what documentation would help support my case and even helped me draft a follow-up letter to the IRS to check on my status.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here, and it was actually really helpful! I uploaded the copy of my FICA refund application that I had saved plus the certified mail receipt, and it immediately identified that I had filed Form 843 but was missing Form 8919 that should have accompanied it in my situation. The tool explained exactly why this additional form was needed in my case (I had a special circumstance with misclassified contractor income) and walked me through creating a follow-up package to send to the IRS. I received a letter from the IRS just last week acknowledging receipt of my additional documentation and saying my refund should be processed within 30 days! I probably would have been waiting indefinitely without realizing what was missing. Wish I'd known about this sooner rather than waiting 5 months in limbo.

After spending literal WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS about my delayed FICA refund (I'm going on 24 weeks now), I found Claimyr and it was a game-changer. I was so frustrated with the constant "due to high call volume" messages and hangups. I used https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to make sure it was legit first. Basically, they wait on hold with the IRS for you, then call you when they get a human agent on the line. I was skeptical but desperate at this point. Within 2 hours, I got a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent! The agent was able to see that my FICA refund application was received but was sitting in a backlogged queue. She flagged it for priority processing after I explained how long I'd been waiting. Never would have gotten this info without actually talking to someone.

Ok I need to eat some humble pie here. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr myself for my own FICA refund situation (26 weeks and counting). I still thought it wouldn't work, but I was desperate and figured I had nothing to lose. To my complete surprise, I got connected to an actual IRS agent within about 90 minutes. The agent was able to pull up my file and found that my FICA refund request had an issue - they needed additional documentation to verify my eligibility, but the letter they sent me requesting this info had been returned as undeliverable (I moved shortly after filing). The agent resent the letter to my current address and I now know exactly what I need to provide. Without this call, I might have been waiting forever while the IRS thought the ball was in my court. I'm still not thrilled that we need services like this to deal with our own government agencies, but I can't deny it worked. Sorry for the skepticism.

For anyone else dealing with FICA refund delays, I finally got mine after 22 weeks! Here's what worked for me: 1) Call your local Taxpayer Advocate Service office. They can sometimes help with extreme delays. 2) Have all your documentation ready - copy of your Form 843, any supporting evidence, and proof of when you mailed it. 3) Be polite but persistent! The first person I talked to wasn't helpful, but the second person really went to bat for me. Also worth noting - I got a letter about 2 weeks before my refund arrived saying it had been approved but would take additional time to process. So if you get that letter, you're almost there!

Has anyone else noticed that FICA refunds seem to come faster if you file them electronically rather than by mail? I filed mine electronically through my accountant in April 2025 and got the refund in exactly 10 weeks. My brother mailed his in February and he's still waiting.

I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - filed my FICA refund application in February 2025 and it's now been 28 weeks with no word from the IRS. Reading through all these responses has been really helpful, especially learning about the specialized processing unit and why the normal refund tracking tools don't work. I'm planning to try the Taxpayer Advocate Service route since I'm well past the normal processing time. Has anyone had experience with them specifically for FICA refunds where you were misclassified as an independent contractor? That's my situation - my employer incorrectly classified me and I had to pay both the employer and employee portions of FICA taxes. Also, for anyone else in this boat, I found that keeping detailed records of all your communications attempts with the IRS (dates, times, reference numbers if you get them) really helps when you're talking to representatives. They seem to take your case more seriously when you can show you've been trying to resolve it for months. The waiting is incredibly frustrating, but it sounds like persistence eventually pays off. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this!

I've been following this thread closely as I'm in week 31 of waiting for my FICA refund - filed in January 2025 for overpaid Social Security taxes when I had two jobs that year. The information everyone has shared here has been incredibly valuable. I wanted to add a few things I've learned through my own research and calls: 1) The IRS has a specific unit called the "Accounts Management" department that handles FICA refunds, and they're severely backlogged. When you call, ask to be transferred specifically to "Accounts Management" rather than general customer service. 2) If you're claiming a FICA refund for excess Social Security taxes (like when you earn over the annual wage base across multiple employers), you need to include wage statements from ALL employers for the year. Missing even one W-2 can cause major delays. 3) I learned that certified mail receipts are crucial - if you didn't send your original application via certified mail, they recommend sending a duplicate application with a cover letter explaining it's a follow-up to your original submission. The wait is absolutely maddening, especially when you're counting on that money. But seeing all these success stories gives me hope that persistence will eventually pay off. I'm planning to try the Taxpayer Advocate Service next week based on the recommendations here. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community support makes the frustrating process a bit more bearable!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation - filed my FICA refund request in March 2025 and I'm now at 23 weeks with absolutely no communication from the IRS. Like you, I was counting on this money for some important expenses and the uncertainty is really stressful. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though. I had no idea that FICA refunds go through a completely different processing system than regular tax refunds, which explains why the normal tracking tools don't work. The 12-week timeline they publish is clearly just wishful thinking at this point. I'm definitely going to try calling that direct number (800-829-1040) early in the morning like others suggested, and ask specifically to be transferred to "Accounts Management" based on Dylan's advice. I'm also going to look into the Taxpayer Advocate Service since I'm well past their delay threshold. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had success with contacting their Congressional representative's office? I've heard they sometimes have special channels to inquire about delayed government processes, though I'm not sure if that applies to tax matters. Thanks Mae for starting this thread, and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. It's frustrating that we need to jump through all these hoops, but at least now I have a game plan instead of just sitting here wondering what's happening with my application.