IRS TAXPAYER PROCESSING DELAYS CONTINUE AND WILL FOR SOME TIME

Although the IRS is making progress, there are still significant return processing backlogs which among others involve expatriate returns, refunds, etc, such as:

  *   6.5 million unprocessed individual returns, as of November 19, 2021;
  *   2.6 million unprocessed Forms 1040-X, Amended Individual Income Tax Returns, as of November 27, 2021;
  *   3 million unprocessed Forms 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, as of December 1, 2021; and
  *   412,000 unprocessed Forms 941-X, Adjusted Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, as of December 1, 2021.

According to the IRS, it may take 90-120 days to process original returns. The timeline depends on how quickly and accurately taxpayers respond to requests for additional information and "the ability of IRS staff trained and working under social distancing requirements to complete the processing of your return." Taxpayers may access "Where's My Refund" (www.irs.gov/refunds<http://send.spidell.com/link.cfm?r=gZ-80FCd5TTpz7rOj3Jhbw~~&pe=owFbb_7HN6kAMuQv1PPM7nlO7x276rI7f0O_5zRKFTRoJ7RtQ29PUE4Rq48sHYFutsmUucA1mMH1lxeD8zJ7aw~~&t=Y7Wj2mPEcByuqBqXr8dzNA~~>) or use their online account to check on the status of these returns.

The ETA for processing amended returns can be more than 20 weeks (although we have heard of far longer timeframes). The IRS has asked that taxpayers not file a second return or contact the IRS about the status of their returns. Taxpayers are directed to check "Where's My Amended Return" (www.irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return<http://send.spidell.com/link.cfm?r=gZ-80FCd5TTpz7rOj3Jhbw~~&pe=wcFMsdWlBZD6nCsGBJ4rLKI7hpm_Uj3OaD3kfww63G1kZtILYQCOa86D2-zKiMhDE9LNwYtPmYEuVFWD3Vxvog~~&t=Y7Wj2mPEcByuqBqXr8dzNA~~>) for the "most up to date processing status available" for Form 1040-X, or to check their online account.

For more information on the IRS delays, see:

www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue<http://send.spidell.com/link.cfm?r=gZ-80FCd5TTpz7rOj3Jhbw~~&pe=WZBS5UrRtXSCNSU76e8B2IscXTDHWo3khIz3q7zBB-vDDIP8InHMzeL4kGWTb-fE82qLt8ecccFVIp1J95Gopw~~&t=Y7Wj2mPEcByuqBqXr8dzNA~~>