New IRS delay excuse ?

[FEDUKE404]

A federal tax return was efiled in a timely manner, and after acknowledgement of filing within the usual payment schedule the refund was expected as a direct deposit on Friday, May 6th.

That time has come and gone, and the IRS web site now shows the following:

"Your expected refund date has been changed due to processing delays. You should receive your refund by May 17, 2011."

I have never seen such an explanation. Is this something new, or perhaps a lurking problem with the return? Another much "simpler" return with the same expected refund/deposit date also shows a similar response.

FE

[dkss]

I have seen this message several times this year, most were involving the FTHBC payback. Although, a few were for reasons unknown.

[FEDUKE404]

Not that one!

I have seen this message several times this year, most were involving the FTHBC payback. Although, a few were for reasons unknown.

FTHBC is not an issue with either return.

This is my first encounter with "processing delays" especially for an efiled tax return. Perhaps I've just been lucky?

FE

[Uncle Sam]

New IRS delay excuse

That's grounds for contacting your Congressional representative - IRS not keeping its word.

[Snaggletooth]

Congressman!

Yes, your congressman! I'm sure he'll jump right on it!

[bgiez]

A federal tax return was efiled in a timely manner, and after acknowledgement of filing within the usual payment schedule the refund was expected as a direct deposit on Friday, May 6th.

That time has come and gone, and the IRS web site now shows the following:

"Your expected refund date has been changed due to processing delays. You should receive your refund by May 17, 2011."

I have never seen such an explanation. Is this something new, or perhaps a lurking problem with the return? Another much "simpler" return with the same expected refund/deposit date also shows a similar response.

FE

I got that "refund date has been changed due to processing delays" message on my own return which I filed in early February. It turns out that the processing delay was the IRS computer deciding to take the SEHI deduction on my husband's Schedule SE in addition to the deduction I had taken on my own Schedule SE. They then direct deposited the refund and I had to actually order a transcript to see what they had done, as it wasn't obvious from the explanatory letter I received about 10 days after the direct deposit.

So, it doesn't have to be FTHB that is causing the problem. It could be anything, including IRS error.

[Bees Knees]

Maybe the government ran out of money and is having a hard time finding someone to lend them some more.

[Nashville]

Excuses

Whatever the real reason, it is a cinch that we are not being told the truth when we receive messages such as this. "Processing??" After 13 weeks of processing refunds, now all-of-a-sudden they can't process a refund?

Very much like that balderdash this February about having to delay 2 weeks before being able to process a Schedule A. The reason being "last minute changes by Congress" in December. Sounds very convenient, except none of these "last minute changes" even involved a Schedule A.

Bees Knees reasoning above, as preposterous as it sounds, might actually be very close to the truth...

[JG EA]

I do also think they are looking at the return. Last year a return was "processing" and did eventually go through. This same taxpayer received a CP notice on this year's return. He had 1099C's both years and Forms 982 with both - the client was truly broke with a family, no home, and cancelled credit cards. This year the IRS asked for assets and liabilities. We'll see where this goes.

Same with one of my other notices. They said on the phone that I should ask my client about the previous year - like the client had someting dark and lurking. They couldn't tell me what they meant because a year had gone by and 3rd party designee wouldn't work. But I knew already, the previous year the IRS incorrectly changed the return and did the same thing this year.

And on this second one I mention - relating to above mention of why wouldn't something go through with efile - the IRS last year said that not all of the return showed up on their screens and I needed to amend to change the return back to the way we actually filed it.

[joanmcq]

The changes did involve the Sch A; they had to change it back to the 2009 type form from the 2010 that had been set up.

Just sayin'

[S T]

Sched A

Yes change I think - wasn't it the property tax and also the new car tax that was availabe in 2009 and could either go on Sched A or on form 1040 - at least our software I had to enter on those forms.

Not sure of other changes on Sched A from 2009 to 2010

Due to the delays in filing and programming, I just felt they should have given us an extra 2 weeks to file returns as well Not likely!

Sandy

[Gary2]

Yes change I think - wasn't it the property tax and also the new car tax that was availabe in 2009 and could either go on Sched A or on form 1040 - at least our software I had to enter on those forms.

It wasn't the property tax nor specifically the new car sales tax, it was the general sales tax deduction that was renewed in Dec. 2010.

The term "processing delays" is just a vague euphemism for "your return has been selected for special processing which may or may not affect the amount of your refund, and we won't tell you why unless it actually does change it"

[S T]

Good to know why

Thanks Gary2,
Good to know why on Sched A
My software just totally gave me grief on carryover's from 2009 to 2010, and there was never an explanation - I had recall and detail sheets that were totally wrong in 2010 from carryover programming.

Sandy