I don't understand it. It's been over two months. I did the same things (correctly); I even made sure that I signed my returns this time. So what's the delay? Every time I call, I get the run-around and bureaucratic bullcrap. No one seems to have any idea what anyone else is doing over at the IRS. Add to the fact that I'm currently unemployed (the details of which I will tell you later), I have to admit, I'm screwed...big time.
Back on April 14, I mailed my 2008 income tax return (I know, cutting it close) because I was not going to pay 20 dollars to file electronically. So, I waited, and waited. But it was not until Mother's day (a month later) that I realized that something was not quite right. I went to the IRS website to check my refund status. Nothing. No expected date of return, not even a confirmation that anyone received my refund. I called a day later to check, and that's when I was told that while they did receive my refund (On May 4--almost 3 weeks after I had mailed it), there was a "procedural error". I pressed for information, but the CS rep was quite tight-lipped. She said that it can take up to eight weeks for the refund to be received, and just to be patient, and to keep an eye out on the 15 June, in case that it comes sooner that that. Eight weeks would put the expected date to 29 June. That's a week from today.
Well, June 15 came and went. I called again, and again, I had a rather unproductive call from the IRS. However, the rep this time put in a referral for the higher-ups to look at. The problem is that it can take up to 30 days before anyone will even look at the referral and get back in contact with me. I may have to wait until 14 July to get any kind of response.
I called last week Wednesday. The CS rep imformed me that the procedural error had hot cleared and that my referral is in abeyance (my word, not his), and still no answers about my tax status. But this phone call was different in that he asked me if I had ever received anything from the IRS in the mail. That never happened. So, in addition to failing to receive my return there's a letter from the IRS that I failed to receive. Great. My tax dollars at work.
I called a fourth time with the IRS, but this called came across as a little different in that the CS rep actually sounded like she gave a damn. She put in a form with the Taxpayers Advocacy Services, due to my unemployment (now there's an oxymoron) and even gave me the number for their line. Unlike the referral from last week, they should get back in contact with me by the end of the week (Monday at the absolute latest). And yes, the referral is still in place. After my phone call with the CS representative, I called the number that she gave me, and finally got the answer that I was looking for. The information was accurate and everything, but they had to send it back to another department, and in his words, "got dropped from their list". Unbelievable. And on top of that, I may have to send my 2008 returns a second time. I made it clear. Find my tax return, because, it's not right that I have to re-send it.
Guys, if there are any tax attorneys or anyone who has been in this situation before, what course of action can I take? I considered calling my senators' offices (I live in NJ), but it may take a while before I hear from them, by which time, it'll be a moot point. Any information that you can offer will be greatly appreciated.