I prepared a return on ProConnect, but had to mail it. It has been 15 weeks and it still does not appear on IRS Where's My Refund app. What can I do?

[George4Tacks · Accepted solution]

Continue to wait. There is no way to speed any of the  IRS processes along.

[paultakenaka]

Thanks, George.  ProConnect seems to think I should call.  I just don't relish the 2-hour wait time.

[sjrcpa]

IRS hasn't even finished processing 2020 paper returns that were mailed in 2021.

[paultakenaka]

This past week, the IRS announced that they had caught up with all mailed 2021 returns as well as their backlog of 2020 returns.  Whatever the case, I hope you're right.  I will continue to wait.

[sjrcpa]

According to The National Taxpayer Advocate the IRS left out a lot of details.

I think the "caught up with all mailed 2021 returns" was only for individual returns that did not need correction/further processing.

[George4Tacks]

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-taxpayer-advocate-issues-midyear-report-to-congress-expresses-...

Figure 1: Status of Unprocessed Paper Tax Returns Comparing Weeks Ending May 22, 2021, and May 27, 2022

Paper Returns Awaiting Processing – 2021	Individual	Business	Not Specified	Total
Original Returns	6,100,000	5,600,000	5,100,000	16,800,000
Amended Returns	2,700,000	500,000	—	3,200,000
Total Paper Returns Awaiting Processing	8,800,000	6,100,000	5,100,000	20,000,000

Paper Returns Awaiting Processing – 2022	Individual	Business	Not Specified	Total
Original Returns	8,200,000	6,500,000	3,400,000	18,200,000
Amended Returns	2,300,000	900,000	—	3,200,000
Total Paper Returns Awaiting Processing	10,500,000	7,400,000	3,400,000	21,300,000