Just Sayin': This is the most taxing time we've ever faced
The Internal Revenue Service building in Washington. Credit: AP/Patrick Semansky
In more than 30 years of filing our income taxes, we’ve never experienced what has happened so far this year.
Our accountant of 10 years, as usual, filed our 2023 joint federal and New York State income tax returns electronically in early February so we’d get our usual early refund.
We received our state refund within two weeks. My husband and I eagerly awaited our large federal refund from the Internal Revenue Service because we wanted to replace some windows in our house. But no refund, so I decided to play detective.
On the IRS website, it says, “Where’s my refund?” So on Feb. 14, I clicked on it and inserted my Social Security number. It said a letter would arrive two weeks later seeking “additional information.” Why? They had everything. My husband, Robert, and I said, “What the heck?! Where’s our money?” The IRS letter, dated Feb. 20, arrived on Feb. 24.
The letter requested tax forms that had already been directly filed, such as for Social Security, 1099-R for our IRA distributions and even a form for gambling winnings although we’re both retired and had no gambling winnings.
I called the IRS, and a woman said to disregard the form requesting gambling winnings. She also said we’d have to wait two to three weeks for a status report on our joint return. On that very day, Feb. 24, we faxed the requested documents and so did our accountant.
On March 26, I revisited “Where’s my refund?” It said we each needed to verify our identification online before they could process our documents. Why? They know who we are. The website approved of me with just my Facebook link.
Robert had a more challenging time. The IRS site redirected him to the website ID.me to verify himself.
It was invasive. First, he had to upload photos of his passport and driver’s license. Then he had to wait about 15 minutes to do facial recognition, putting up various points around his face.
They then concluded the call, and a “Verified!” screen popped up. But another screen appeared, and Robert was advised he’d have to wait another two to three weeks for the code in the mail to use at ID.me so the IRS could process our return.
On March 29, I again returned to “Where’s my refund?” and it indicated Robert would receive a new code in the mail and need to go back online to ID.me — again — to finish the verifying process that he had been told was done.
Our accountant told us many clients had found the IRS stalling on large refunds this year.
It’s already April, and no new letter or code. We’re still waiting.
This is outrageous.
— Lynn Breinlinger, Brookhaven
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