Where’s My Refund: More Tax Tips for Seniors
This time of year, we always take a few breaks from focusing on Medicare Supplement Insurance , the future of Medigap , and a range of other healthcare returns to focus on the thing that’s on a lot of people’s minds: taxes.
If you’ve already filed your taxes (as many have), you may have reached the “Where’s my refund?” phase in the exercise . While filing online can get you your refund faster than you would by mailing in, you can still find yourself waiting for that money to arrive in the mail or for that direct deposit to show up in your account. Well, the IRS and some of the tax filing software programs provide you the opportunity to track your tax refund.
Visit the IRS’s Where’s My Refund
page, and you can find out the projected date of your refund pretty quickly. You can start checking 72 hours after you e-file. If you filed your tax returns via mail, you need to wait at least four weeks before checking Where’s My Refund. Also, the IRS points out that:
“The projected refund date "Where's My Refund?" provides may change as your tax return moves through processing. Keep in mind that IRS telephone assistors will not be able to provide additional information. Please DO NOT CALL our toll-free number unless ‘Where's My Refund?’ specifically indicates that you should.”
That “projected date” is generally 10 to 21 days after you e-file, and considerably longer for those filing by mail.
The IRS isn’t the only site ready to answer the Where’s My Refund question. TurboTax can walk you through a quick Where’s My Refund process, as can eFile . Both of these sites help you manage the IRS’s Where’s My Refund page. TurboTax highlights some frequently asked questions, and specifically addresses one of the major concerns people run into when they check their refund status on the IRS site:
“Even if you wait the full 72 hours after acceptance, don't be alarmed if the IRS "Where's my Refund" site displays no results for your refund. This doesn't mean you're being audited or that you have to re-do your tax return. Please try again later (except Mondays, between midnight and 3:00 a.m. Eastern time, when the system is offline for maintenance).”
Tax Filing Software for Fast RefundsIf you’re one of the people out there (like me) who still haven’t filed your taxes, you have plenty of time, and you can still secure a relatively fast refund. Tax filing software programs and online outlets can speed up the filing process and garner you that 10 to 21 day refund. You can find filing options that are generally affordable and that give you a number of filing options.
Remember that 10 to 21 day return isn’t always the case. Sometimes, it can take a little longer. But if you visit the Where’s My Refund site, you should be able to keep track of how close you are to receiving the money you’re owed.
CBoomer is a Medicare supplement professional dedicated to helping people on Medicare access quality healthcare. Also, part of Medicare Supplement Services which offer free Medicare Supplement Comparisons of Medicare supplement insurance. Her belief is that all seniors and those with disabilities should have complete access to our healthcare system without restriction and without insurance companies standing between them and their doctors.