Some of you may be wondering, why are things taking so long with the IRS?  Why am I receiving notices 6 months late?  When I call the IRS, why is my call dropped due to high call volume?  As you probably would have guessed, the operations of the IRS during COVID-19 closures have caused significant delays in:

• Live phone support
• Processing tax returns filed on paper
• Answering mail from taxpayers
• Reviewing tax returns, even for returns filed electronically

In addition to delays, there have been mistakes in notices sent out to taxpayers.  Such as the latest issue where the IRS sent out over 109,000 notices stating erroneous information about their Economic Impact Relief Payment as discussed here: Taxpayer Advocate Service CP21C Letter

Or a notice dated February 8, 2021, stating the extension for their 2019 Form 5500, Retirement Plan Return extension was approved.  This extension would have been filed before July 31, 2020 (over 7 months ago) for a return due date that has already come and gone, October 15, 2020.

We completely understand your frustrations, and we are experiencing the same issues with services usually geared to assist practitioners, which are non-existent or extremely limited.

The following FAQ web page includes basic questions about IRS processing times and explains the IRS backlog. IRS Mission Critical FAQs  Throughout these FAQs, you will see the IRS acknowledges the extreme backlog of unopened and unprocessed mail, fax, and e-filed items and is working to catch up.

Please know we continue to advocate for our clients as best we can; however, our hands are tied as there is genuinely no support from the IRS to resolve these issues.  If you wonder, where is my refund, where is my amended return processing, why haven’t I heard back about the notice or payment I sent in, please know you are not alone.  This website may give you some updated information on your particular situation IRS Mission Critical FAQs.

I am sure the IRS appreciates your patience, but please know, we are doing everything we can with the available services.