2012 IRS Tax Refund Delay

You filed your 2011 tax return early and didn’t get your refund? Yes, according to the alert from the IRS, there is a delay again this year. 2012 tax refunds are delayed approximately one week.

Update: For information about IRS tax refund delays for the current year see the 2013 IRS Tax Refund Delay.

What’s the Reason for the Delay?

According to the IRS:

The one-week delay for some refunds relates to fine-tuning IRS systems to adjust for new safeguards put in place this tax season to provide stronger protection against refund fraud. The IRS is providing additional screening for fraud this year before issuing refunds, but the vast majority of taxpayers can still continue to expect to receive their refunds in a timely fashion.

Update: The IRS requested tax preparers to return to legacy efile processing on Feb. 11, 2012. Here is the latest update from the IRS for tax preparers about the Modernized e-File the IRS was testing in 2012:

• We have discovered some issues with linkages to downstream processing systems that have primarily affected returns filed between February 6 and 10, 2012. Those issues, we believe, have been resolved.
• However, as a temporary measure to ensure future processing runs smoothly, and to provide adequate time to complete processing of the affected returns, we have temporarily lifted all restrictions on the Legacy system. We encourage you to use Legacy until further notice.
• Be assured all systems used for processing returns are operational and are accepting returns.
• Some taxpayers who filed electronically and received an acknowledgement from the IRS are concerned when they visit “Where’s My Refund” and are told that IRS has no information regarding their tax return. The IRS informed us on February 10 that this is a temporary situation and should be resolved in several days. At that time, you will be able to get an expected refund date when you visit “Where’s My Refund.”
• IRS expects the vast majority of tax refunds to continue to be issued within the historical range of 10 to 21 days.

Another Update: Preparers can return to using modernized efile, but no additional timeframes were released.

Share your results: Poll: How Long Did it Take to Get Your Tax Refund?

How Long is the Refund Delay?

If your refund is subject to the delay, you’ll get your refund “approximately one week later” then the initial refund projections.

Who is Subject to the Delay?

At this time, the IRS hasn’t said which taxypayers are impacted by the delay. They state that “some taxpayers” will get their refunds later. As soon as we know who is impacted, we’ll update our information.

To find out if you might be subject to the IRS tax filing delay this year, check the Where’s My Refund? tracker to check the status of your tax refund and see if the date changed. The IRS said that the Where’s My Refund tracker is subject to revision, so I hope they’ll update it for those who are impacted by the delay.

You can continue to efile your tax returns, and companies like TurboTax will allow you to file your form as usual.

More Tax Filing Questions

• What are the Tax Brackets?
• When is the Tax Deadline?
• How Much Money Do You Have to Make to File Taxes?

Get your biggest tax refund, guaranteed. Plus FREE Expert Tax Advice. File your Federal tax return for FREE today with TurboTax!

You can get my latest articles full of valuable tips and other information delivered directly to your email for free simply by entering your email address below. Your address will never be sold or used for spam and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Email: