Should I e-file now?

[Deleted]

I filed a paper return in early March. I've beat myself up enough over it so please don't add to it!  This year, for the first time in years, I'm owed a substantial refund and I now discovered on another thread that the IRS is not processing paper returns till they open up their physical offices again.   When I try to check the status of my refund it's "Not Found", which isn't surprising.


What would happen if I got back into TurboTax and e-filed?  

[TheOtherMe]

You are not going to like the answer.  There is a thread on the Intuit website that says the same thing.  Someone opened an old thread with this question and the answer is that you have already filed and you, sadly, have to wait.  

No, you should not e-file since you already paper filed.


www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox/expect-long-delays-getting-refunds-if-you-file-paper-tax-return



"But the recent IRS actions created a problem for those who are now caught in refund and recovery rebate limbo. If they’ve already filed a paper return, the IRS tells them not to resubmit it electronically. And they can’t even contact the IRS for information about the status of their return. The IRS explicitly warns taxpayers not to write or call."


I'm sorry.  Hopefully, there will be further guidance from the IRS.  According to the article I found, mail isn't even being opened right now.  

[Deleted]

Thanks- that's pretty much what I already knew. I can see why the IRS doesn't want people filing a second time via e-file because it adds to the chaos- but what are the chances I'd get my money earlier?

[TheOtherMe]

ttlc.intuit.com/community/e-file/help/how-do-i-change-from-mail-to-e-file-in-turbotax-online/01/26985


If you printed your taxes to mail them in and went all the way through the File section, when you sign in to TurboTax Online, the Way to go! You filed your 2019 taxes you won't see a way to change to e-filing. As long as you haven't already mailed your 2019 paper return, you can switch to the e-filing method (through October 15, 2020).


I don't know the answer to your question.  I only know that you are not supposed to do it since you have already mailed your return.   Given that you filed in March, your return may be somewhere in the process and it will cause even more problems.

IMO, I think you have to wait and, again, I'm sorry.

[billisonboard]

I say go for it! How bad can being on the IRS's permanent annual audit list be anyway. 

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2020 17:24:17 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I say go for it! How bad can being on the IRS's permanent annual audit list be anyway. 

I doubt they'd bother me- every dime I take in gets reported to them (SS, pension, investment income) and the only deductions not well-documented are food bank donations and the occasional $20 I throw into a collection basket in a church I'm visiting. I have register receipts with the items that went to the food bank marked but of course no concrete proof that I didn't put the stuff in my own pantry. Even if they disallowed it all the tax impact wouldn't amount to much.

But I'll try and be patient. Patience is not one of my virtues.