Ask the Tax Editor: Questions on Late Refunds and Calling IRS

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Each week in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week, she's looking at four tax questions from readers who are still awaiting their tax refunds and problems with calling the IRS. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)

1. Delayed refunds

Question: I electronically filed my 2025 Form 1040 in early April and still haven't received my refund. I received an IRS letter saying my return is under review and that it can take up to 60 days for the agency to process. I checked the IRS website, and it also says my return is under review. What can I do to speed up my refund?

Joy Taylor: We wrote in our last Kiplinger Tax Letter that the 2026 filing season has gone smoothly for most taxpayers, and most filers received their refunds without delay. We also said that despite this, some taxpayers face challenges and have been waiting months to receive their refunds. This group includes victims of identity theft, filers who make errors on their returns, taxpayers whose returns were selected by IRS computers for further review and others. Unfortunately, it appears that you fall within this second group.

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2. Erroneous IRS letters

Question: We timely filed our 2025 Form 1040 earlier this year. The IRS sent us a notice adjusting one of the line items on our return. We believe that the IRS made an error. We have tried calling for weeks at all different times and we usually get a recording to call another time. There doesn't seem to be an email we can use. Is there any help you can give us?

Joy Taylor: The IRS has overall operated a successful 2026 filing season, but there are exceptions. And one of those involves the agency's handling of correspondence. The notice you received from the IRS was likely automatically generated. But the IRS doesn't have enough employees to respond to questions that taxpayers have about those notices once they receive them.

There's not much you can do. I suggest continuing to call the IRS. If the agency's mistake is causing you severe financial hardship, then you might want to contact the IRS's Taxpayer Advocate Service for help.

3. Late refunds

Question: I filed my 2025 federal tax return in March, and I am expecting a large refund. I received a letter from the IRS in late April, saying that the IRS was reviewing my return. I haven't received any communication from the IRS since that letter, and I still haven't received my refund. I checked with my tax return preparer, who indicated that many refunds have been late this year. Do you know anything about this?

Joy Taylor: You are not the first reader that I have heard from who is facing a tax refund delay. Unfortunately, because of lack of staffing at the IRS and other factors, some taxpayers have been waiting months to receive their refunds.

You can try calling the IRS, but reaching a live person might be difficult. If your refund delay is causing you financial difficulty, you can contact your IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service office. If the delay continues, you might think about calling your U.S. representative to Congress. Sometimes, a staff member there can be helpful and move things along more quickly then you just waiting for your refund.

There is one small bright side to this. The IRS is required to pay you interest on your delayed refund, so when you eventually see the money, it should be higher than your refund amount.

4. Refund in the form of a paper check

Question: I have a bank account, but I don't like using it for electronic payments or receipts. I filed my 2025 Form 1040, which claimed a refund. I didn't include my bank account information on the return because I want to receive my refund as a paper check. I got a letter from the IRS asking for my bank account information. I didn't respond, and I still don't have my refund. What can I do if I still want a paper check?

Joy Taylor: The IRS is in the process of phasing out paper refund checks in accordance with President Trump's March 2025 executive order. Individuals who request paper refund checks when filing their Form 1040 are seeing their refunds delayed. The IRS mails letters to filers whose 1040s claim a refund but omit bank account details for direct deposit. These notices ask the filers to supply their bank account information within 30 days or say why they can’t. I am guessing this is the letter that you received from the IRS.

You said that you didn't respond to the IRS notice. That's OK. You will eventually get your refund check in the mail, but it can take time. The IRS says it will issue a paper check to nonresponders six weeks after the date it sent the original notice. However, this timeframe can also be subject to delays, as is the case in your situation. I would suggest continuing to wait. You can also check the "Where's My Refund" tool on the IRS's website to see if there is any more information.

About Ask the Editor, Tax Edition

Subscribers of The Kiplinger Tax Letter, The Kiplinger Letter and The Kiplinger Retirement Report can ask Joy questions about tax topics. You'll find full details of how to submit questions in each publication. Subscribe to The Kiplinger Tax Letter, The Kiplinger Letter or The Kiplinger Retirement Report.

We have already received many questions from readers on topics related to tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill, retirement accounts and more. We will continue to answer these in future Ask the Editor roundups. So keep those questions coming!

Disclaimer

Not all questions submitted will be published, and some may be condensed and/or combined with other similar questions and answers, as required editorially. The answers provided by our editors and experts, in this Q&A series, are for general informational purposes only. While we take reasonable precautions to ensure we provide accurate answers to your questions, this information does not, and is not intended to, constitute independent financial, legal, or tax advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, based on any information provided in this feature. You should consult with a financial or tax advisor regarding any questions you may have in relation to the matters discussed in this article.