HELP! How soon do you think I'll get our refund check?

[DayDreamer]

(I am guessing this is the right place to ask this, since it deals with money)

I am wondering if anyone has any experience with how long it takes to get your e-filed tax return check by using direct deposit.

I filed the first day you could legally file, the 11th. I received an email the other day saying my return was accepted. There was a link to the IRS refund cycle chart and it said if it was accepted between the 11th and 17th the money would be direct deposited on the 25th.

Now I just checked the status and it says I will receive my money by the 12th of Feb. That's a month after I filed, and it said if you use direct deposit you will get your money in 8-15 days.

I am anxious to get the money because once I get it I am packing up and joining my DH halfway across the country. (We're moving, he's already there working) I don't have the funds to do this until I get the money and I am planning on going as soon as I get it.

Any experience with this? Normally, I'm not in a big hurry for our refund check.

(Please, don't suggest we alter our w4's or whatever so that we don't give the government an interest free loan. I've suggested it, DH won't have it. This is the only way for us to save money right now. Thanks!)

[phathui5]

We've always done e-file with direct deposit and it's taken anywhere from a week to a month to get the money in.

[DayDreamer]

Originally Posted by phathui5

We've always done e-file with direct deposit and it's taken anywhere from a week to a month to get the money in.

Have you noticed if you've ever received your check before the actual date they give you, or does it the date they tell you pretty accurate?

[SmilinGal]

The IRS's system isn't going to be ready until Feb 11, so a date of the 12th is not bad. They are accepting returns that don't have several specific forms, but they're not actually processing returns until a "projected" date of Feb 11th. Everyone is pretty much taking that projection as set in stone, though.

ETA: I always efile and the date they give me is 1)spot on, and 2)within 2 weeks max. I file in Jan, though. The later you file, the longer your payments take.

[DayDreamer]

Originally Posted by SmilinGal

The IRS's system isn't going to be ready until Feb 11, so a date of the 12th is not bad. They are accepting returns that don't have several specific forms, but they're not actually processing returns until a "projected" date of Feb 11th. Everyone is pretty much taking that projection as set in stone, though.

ETA: I always efile and the date they give me is 1)spot on, and 2)within 2 weeks max. I file in Jan, though. The later you file, the longer your payments take.

If the IRS system isn't going to be ready until Feb. why would their "cycle chart" show returns deposited starting Jan 25? I have no idea what a cycle chart is though.

ETA: I did read that the IRS will not be accepting AMT returns (??) until Feb. 11. I did not have any of those deductions - and they are not even accepting those until the 11. So I'm good, mine has been accepted.

[SmilinGal]

Is it a current cycle chart? That's odd. The announcement they sent out said they were planning to begin processing on Feb. 11th. Perhaps it was a typo, and they just meant they wouldn't be processing certain claims until them. They aren't exactly known for clear and explanatory rhetoric, you know. lol

Has anyone received a date earlier than the 11th? I'm waiting on one last bit of paperwork in the mail before I file, so I don't have a date yet.

[Jadzia]

Wow, I am amazed you already got your taxes done, I haven't even received most of my tax statements yet.

[crunchy_mama]

In the past it has taken 2 weeks or less- however I am not sure how it will be this year with the delays with the IRS- I honestly don't know about what all that applies to-

[polyhymnia]

Originally Posted by Jadzia

Wow, I am amazed you already got your taxes done, I haven't even received most of my tax statements yet.

Yeah me too. I just got a notice that my payroll company didn't even mail out our W2s until Tuesday - and they're based across the country :P I won't be getting *my* taxes done any time soon I can guarantee it. Super bummer.

[DayDreamer]

Here is the link to the 2008 cycle chart. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p2043.pdf

Yeah, we always file early. My husband usually always gets his W2s the first few weeks in January. He works (worked) for a small company and they are on the ball! LOL

We also don't have anything else that we need to file. We have no stocks, retirement, savings (or anything with interest), no mortgage (always rented), etc etc.

My husband has a bunch of receipts for his work expenses and he usually goes through them and has everything in order so we file right away. Normally, we just file and then don't worry about it until money shows up in our account. This year like I said, I'm just anxious because I want to move and go be with my husband! LOL

[Red]

Man, I can't WAIT to file! Our stuff never comes a day early. We pay extra so we'll have our property tax money on time.

Our return usually comes exactly when they say, or earlier.

[MamaPam]

We usually get our refund within a couple of weeks of filing even though the date to be deposited by is much later. Hope you get your refund soon.

[serenetabbie]

but they're not actually processing returns until a "projected" date of Feb 11th.

This means that is the date they start to process the paper forms or if they need to hold your efile for review. If you efile (which pretty much is processing it yourself), you can file as soon as you get your paperwork.

Generally, if you paper file it is 4 to 6 weeks to get a refund by mail and if you efile it is 10 to 14 days.

[Dragonfly]

Originally Posted by SmilinGal

The IRS's system isn't going to be ready until Feb 11, so a date of the 12th is not bad. They are accepting returns that don't have several specific forms, but they're not actually processing returns until a "projected" date of Feb 11th. Everyone is pretty much taking that projection as set in stone, though.

That's only true for a relatively small number of filers (13.5 million - only 3-4 million of whom have historically filed before February 11). The filers affected are those using claiming 5 specific credits.

Here's the press release:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...176605,00.html

Everyone else is able to file now and their returns are being processed. Those who are using one or more of the 5 forms listed who try to e-file before Feb. 11 will have their returns rejected. Paper returns also will not be processed before Feb. 11 (so there is no advantage to filing on paper earlier - especially given that paper refunds take longer to receive).

E-file direct deposit refunds are usually transmitted within 10-14 days. I would imagine the dates can vary, though, depending upon what is going on with FMS (that's the entity that actually sends the money). The date you're getting may just be a "safe" date. Not sure, though.

[serenetabbie]

Oh yeah, "AMT' = Alternative Minimum Tax

[Dragonfly]

Originally Posted by serenetabbie

This means that is the date they start to process the paper forms or if they need to hold your efile for review. If you efile (which pretty much is processing it yourself), you can file as soon as you get your paperwork.

That's actually not the case. As the press release says, certain e-file returns will be rejected if submitted prior to Feb. 11th and some paper returns will not be processed before then either. The bulk of both paper and e-file returns that are submitted prior to Feb. 11th will be accepted and processed.

[ollineeba]

We always e-file and the date they show is usually dead-on. It usually takes 2 weeks, max.
I'm jealous you were able to file already! We never get DH's work paperwork until the very end of the month.

[normajean]

We usually get ours when they say it will be there.

[katheek77]

In my experience, federal was usually 10-14 days from acceptance, and state was MUCH longer (1-1.5 mos).

[shelbean91]

The fed does direct deposit only on fridays- so if you file on a sat, it usually takes 13 days (not the first friday after you file, but the 2nd). If you were to file on a thurs, it would be the 2nd friday after, which would be 8 days. I've always found it to be pretty accurate and found the state takes a few weeks longer to do dd.