The IRS is facing serious operational challenges that are slowing down tax processing and customer service.
Here is why returns and refunds take longer than they used to, and what you can do to avoid delays.
Key Takeaways
- The IRS has far fewer staff than a decade ago for a similar number of returns.
- March and April bring the longest delays.
- E-filed returns take 2–3 weeks; paper returns can take 3–6 months.
- File early, e-file and use direct deposit for the fastest refund.
2–3 weeks
typical refund for early e-filers
3–6 months
typical refund for paper filers
16–20 weeks
or longer for amended returns
Fewer Staff, Same Workload
The IRS has significantly fewer employees than it did a decade ago, yet it processes a similar number of returns every year. That means fewer people to:
- Process paper and electronic returns
- Answer taxpayer phone calls
- Respond to mailed correspondence
- Review and resolve account issues
- Handle amended returns and adjustments
A Backlog That Builds Every Season
Each filing season starts with work carried over from the year before. Add the new season’s returns and the bottleneck grows as the deadline approaches.
March and April see the longest delays, because that is when the IRS receives the most returns.
Extra Security Checks
To fight identity theft and fraudulent refund claims, the IRS reviews some returns more closely. These checks protect you, but they add time, especially for returns with:
- Large refunds
- Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) claims
- First-time filers
- Big changes from prior years
Paper Versus Electronic Filing
Electronic returns are processed much faster because they need little manual handling.
Paper returns must be opened, sorted, entered by hand and checked.
E-Filed Return
- Little manual handling
- Processed in about 2–3 weeks
Paper Return
- Opened, sorted, entered by hand and checked
- Can take 3–6 months
Typical Wait Times
| What you’re waiting on | Typical wait |
|---|---|
| Refund, early e-filers | 2–3 weeks |
| Refund, late e-filers | 4–8 weeks or more |
| Refund, paper filers | 3–6 months |
| Answer to mailed correspondence | 3–6 months |
| Phone call hold time | Often 30–60+ minutes |
| Amended returns | 16–20 weeks or longer, usually with manual review |
| Account issues | Several months; notices may arrive later than expected |
Online tools are usually the fastest way to get answers.
What This Means For Your Refund
File in January
Likely refund by early February
File in February
Likely refund by early March
File in March
Refund may not arrive until May
File in April
Refund may not arrive until June or later
File on paper
Refund may take 3–6 months or longer
How To Protect Yourself From Delays
- File early. Filing in January or February gets your return processed before the peak-season backlog.
- E-file. Wheeler & Bi CPA e-files all returns for the fastest processing.
- Use direct deposit. Direct deposit refunds arrive 1–2 weeks faster than paper checks.
- Make sure your return is accurate. Errors or missing information trigger manual review and can add weeks or months.
- Track your refund online. Use the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool instead of calling.
This article is for general information only and isn’t tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax rules change, and every situation is different, please talk with a qualified professional before acting. Reading this article doesn’t create a client relationship with Wheeler & Bi CPA.
