IRS tax refunds 2022: What is tax topic 152? Will I still get my refund on time?
Taxpayers after filing will be looking forward to receiving their tax refund might be wondering what Topic No. 152 is when they check “Where’s My Refund?”
The Internal Revenue Service began accepting 2021 tax returns 24 January, and most taxpayers have until 18 April 2022 to get their paperwork submitted. Depending on the method your 2021 tax return is sent, you’ll be able to check its status either 24 hours or four weeks after the fact online with the agency’s “Where's My Refund?” tool.
According to the IRS over 90 percent of refunds are issued within 21 days, the agency’s normal timeframe. There is always the possibility that some tax returns will require additional review delaying your tax refund, especially in light of changes made to several credits for the 2021 fiscal year. So what does it mean if you see Topic No. 152 when checking on your refund status?
Also see:
The IRS advises that tax refunds in 2022 are taking longer
This tax season, like the last one, will be challenging as the IRS deals with a historic backlog of around 24 million individual and business 2020 tax returns that still need to be processed that were filed last year. Most taxpayers that filed early and electronically this year could expect to receive their tax refund by 1 March, some could see their refund even earlier.
Filers who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) can expect their refund by 1 March, if their 2021 tax return was filed accurately. The agency cannot begin to send refunds on filings that claim either one of the credits until mid-February. This is due to a federal law which requires the IRS to verify information of taxpayers who claim them to avoid fraud.
When can I check on my tax refund?
Those who file electronically can go to the IRS “Where's My Refund?” online tool 24 hours after they have submitted their 2021 tax return. If you send your paperwork via the post, you can check the online tool four weeks after mailing your 2021 tax return to the agency.
When you check the online tool, the agency will inform you if you need to contact them about your tax return or refund. The IRS will never call, nor use email or social media to get in touch with you.
You will need to give the IRS at least 21 days to process your filing after submitting it electronically before inquiring about your refund. Those who sent a paper return will need to give the agency at least six weeks from the time you mailed your paperwork before an IRS representative can investigate.
The IRS cautions that it is taking the agency longer than normal to issue refunds, in some cases up to 120 days, for those that claimed the Recovery Rebate Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit. The IRS advises not to file a second tax return and to wait until you receive your refund before filing an amended tax return using Form 1040-X.
What is Tax Topic No. 152?
When you check the “Where's My Refund?” IRS online tool and you see Tax Topic 152, it’s just a generic reference code. Your return is still being processed and has yet to be approved or rejected. Unlike other codes, you do not need to take any additional action and does not mean that you made a mistake or did anything improper on your filing. But your return may require further review and could take longer than the normal processing time.