Why haven't I received my 2024 tax return check yet? Filed on deadline.

Paper refund checks definitely take longer than direct deposit, but a month wait isn't unusual, especially since you filed on the deadline day when millions of others did too. First thing you should do is check your refund status using the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS website or IRS2Go app. You'll need your Social Security number, filing status, and exact refund amount to check. This will tell you if your return has been processed and if your check has been mailed. If the tool shows your refund was sent but you haven't received it, it might be lost in the mail. In that case, you'll need to request a payment trace with the IRS. You can do this by calling 800-829-1040 or filling out Form 3911. Generally, paper checks can take 6-8 weeks from filing, so you're still within the normal timeframe. But given your moving situation, I'd recommend checking the status ASAP so you can take action if needed.

I was in a similar situation last year waiting forever for my refund! Check out https://taxr.ai - it saved me so much stress. I uploaded my tax documents and it told me exactly what was happening with my return and gave me a more accurate timeline than the IRS site. The coolest thing was it actually predicted when my refund would arrive based on current IRS processing patterns, and it was spot on! Much more specific than the generic "6-8 weeks" everyone tells you. It also explained why my return got flagged for additional review (something about a credit I claimed) which the IRS never bothered to tell me.

Just wanted to update - I tried https://taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and wow! It actually showed me my amended return was stuck in a specific review queue and estimated 3 more weeks for processing. The IRS website was still just showing "received" with no details. The timeline estimate turned out to be exactly right - got my check 22 days after using the tool. It also explained which part of my amendment was causing the delay (something about reconciling a credit). Wish I'd known about this months ago instead of obsessively checking the useless IRS tracker every day!

If you need to talk to an actual human at the IRS (which you probably do at this point), try https://claimyr.com. I wasted DAYS trying to get through on the IRS phone lines last year - kept getting the "call volume too high" message and automatic disconnects. Claimyr basically waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you once they have an agent on the line. You can see a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical but desperate after waiting 9 weeks for my refund with no updates. The service got me through to an IRS agent in about 90 minutes when I'd previously spent hours just trying to reach a human. The agent confirmed my check had been issued but sent to an old address, so they helped me get it reissued. Would have never known without actually talking to someone.

I need to eat my words from earlier. After another week of failing to reach the IRS myself, I broke down and tried Claimyr out of pure desperation. No joke, I had an IRS agent on the line within 45 minutes. Turned out my refund check was actually issued but then put on hold because they needed to verify my address (I moved last year). The agent was able to confirm my current address and release the hold while I was on the phone. Would NEVER have figured this out without talking to a human. My check arrived 9 days later. I've literally spent more time on hold with my cable company than it took to solve a 2-month IRS refund problem. Wish I hadn't been so stubborn earlier!

Have you been checking your mail carefully? My neighbor's tax refund check came in one of those super plain envelopes that looked like junk mail. She almost threw it away! The envelope just says "Department of Treasury" in the corner without any obvious markings that scream "THIS IS YOUR TAX REFUND!" Also, depending on the amount, they sometimes send those debit cards instead of actual checks now. Those definitely look like spam/junk mail.

Don't panic yet! The IRS is running behind schedule this year. My brother filed on April 10th (paper return) and just got his check yesterday. Paper processing is super slow compared to e-filing. Did you verify your mailing address was correct on your return? A lot of people forget to update their address when they move during the year.