IRS taxes: what to do if my refund check was lost or stolen? Can I get it back?
If your refund has been stolen, you do have a few options. Here is the guidance from the IRS.
After taxes have been filed, the IRS takes up to 21 days to issue a refund if the return was filed electronically and direct deposit information was provided. If you submitted a paper return and are expecting a refund in a paper check via the mail, the time frame may be extended to six to twelve weeks.
If the deadline set by the IRS passes and you have not received your tax refund, you can track the payment through the Check My Refund tool.
Once you’ve requested to track your check and confirm that it never arrived at your mailing address, you can contact the IRS by telephone at 800-829-1040 and request a replacement check.
If the paper check hasn’t been cashed, the IRS will cancel the original check and issue a replacement check, which you should receive within six to eight weeks.
If the paper check has already been cashed, the Bureau of Fiscal Service (BFS) will provide you with a claim packet with specific instructions for completing the claim.
If the deposit never reached your bank account, the BFS will send a letter to your financial institution within six weeks of the claim, and then they will verify where the deposit went.
In any case, the investigation process can take up to 278 days.
Can I request a filing extension?
If you cannot complete the process before the deadline, 15 April, the IRS does allow taxpayers to file a six-month filing extension. However, you must request the extension before the April deadline. The extension does not apply to paying any taxes you owe, just the filling period.