In previous years, most Americans would receive their tax refunds within a few weeks of filing. However, due to delays in processing due to COVID-19, many people have been waiting much longer.

The IRS has announced that most refunds will still be issued within 21 calendar days. So what happens if you have not yet received your refund? This section explains why you have not received your refund and what to do about it.

While the IRS has been slow in processing returns throughout the entire tax season, there are a few situations that are causing additional delays for some taxpayers:

If you are contacted by the IRS (by mail only) requesting clarification or more information, responding in a timely manner will If you respond in a timely manner, your tax return may proceed smoothly.

If your return is processed, there are several reasons why you may not receive your refund. If you opted for a paper check instead of direct deposit, the check may have been lost or stolen in the mail. If you thought your refund would be deposited into your bank account, the account information on your tax return may have been entered incorrectly.

Another unfortunate possibility is tax return preparer fraud. This is when the individual who requested your tax return falsifies the return after you have authorized and signed it, and directs the funds to a different account than the one you selected. While this situation may be difficult to track, the IRS can often alert you to discrepancies in your tax return. You can also request a certified copy of the tax account to verify that it matches the signed return.

A final possibility is that the IRS is holding your refund in connection with an EITC or ACTC claim or to offset outstanding taxes or debts such as child support.

The only way to track your return and refund is to call the Where's My Refund? IRS Tax Help Line at IRS.gov (800-829-1040), or if your return is active on Where's My Refund? you are unlikely to get additional information that is not provided online.

You will receive a status within 24 hours for electronic filings and within 4 weeks after mailing for paper filings. A status of "received" indicates that the IRS is processing your return, while a status of "approved" indicates that the IRS has approved your refund. If the status is "sent" it means that the IRS has approved your refund. It will also indicate when your refund will be deposited and the status will change to "sent" when the refund is deposited.

If your bank statement shows IRS TREAS 310, it is a refund due to a tax return. You may also see this code if you received a stimulus adjustment or credit.

Again, if there are no specific problems with your return or evidence of fraud, there is no way to expedite the processing of your return and payment of your refund; if the IRS needs more information to determine your refund, please provide it in a timely manner.

If you submitted incorrect bank account information for an account transfer, you may contact your bank to resolve the issue. If the problem still cannot be resolved, you may file a Form 3911 with the IRS and request assistance. However, the IRS cannot compel the bank to remit or refund the money.

If a paper check is suspected to be lost or stolen, the IRS can initiate a trace.

In cases of fraud by tax return preparers, the process to remedy the situation can be lengthy. A police report must be filed and several documents must be submitted to the IRS.

Finally, if you experience financial hardship while waiting for your return to be processed, you may be able to request that the IRS expedite your refund.