Why Is My 2024 Tax Return Taking So Long? Top Delays & Solutions

Picture this: you filed your tax return early, triple-checked every number, and even used the fancy tax software that your cousin swore by. So why are you still refreshing the IRS refund tracker like it’s concert tickets about to drop? If your 2024 tax return’s crawling along at a snail’s pace, you're far from alone, and the list of possible reasons is longer than your grocery receipts this year.

What's Slowing Down Your 2024 Tax Return?

If it feels like the IRS is moving at dial-up speed with your refund this year, you’re not imagining things. The IRS itself admitted early this season that millions of returns were facing unexpected delays. In fact, according to their official update in April 2024, nearly 19 million returns were still processing—almost double the usual number for that point in the year.

The pandemic may be technically ‘over’ by declaration, but its scars on workforce and workflow are still there. The IRS lost thousands of experienced employees from 2021 through 2023, and while they’ve been hiring, you can’t just pull a seasoned tax examiner out of thin air. It takes months to train new staff, especially for complicated returns. On top of that, the IRS kept toggling between remote and in-office setups through early 2024, slowing down paperwork further. Throw in new tax credits and expanded relief programs for 2023 and 2024, and suddenly even a run-of-the-mill return might get funneled into a slower manual review queue.

Another culprit: paper. Mailed returns and those with physical documents are still processed by actual humans. A whopping 15% of tax filers mailed their documents this year, according to the IRS. If your return was printed and dropped in the mailbox, or you had to attach forms like a power of attorney, look out—these get processed after e-filed returns, sometimes adding six weeks or longer. And if you made just one error, like a wrong Social Security number or mismatched account detail, that’s enough to shift your file into the “to be eyeballed by a human” pile.

Of course, identity theft has IRS alarm bells ringing every year, but it’s especially loud now. They paused and checked millions of refunds for possible fraud or data breaches in 2024. Any flag—unusual bank account, address, or even claiming credits you never did before—kicks off extra scrutiny. Some people had to verify their identity online or by phone before the IRS would budge. If you got a 5071C or 4883C letter, your return stopped cold until you clear it up.

This year, Congress handed the IRS a bunch of rule tweaks: energy credits, clean vehicle rebates, and expanded Child Tax Credit rules all landed with precious little time to reprogram software. If your return hit any of those newly changed areas, chances are it’s tangled in extra checks or even waiting on backend system updates. Last but not least, lots of filers did last-minute amendments—tweaking old returns to lock in pandemic-era benefits—and the IRS is still slogging through those older cases while trying to keep up with fresh 2024 submissions.

For those eager to see where they stand, the IRS offers the “Where’s My Refund?” tool, but don’t get your hopes up: it sometimes lags behind the real status. You can try calling, but in 2024, IRS agents only answered 16% of phone calls, and average call waits were over 20 minutes. The tips: electronic filing is king, paper is last, and double-checking your info before submitting beats fixing issues days later every time.

Common Stumbling Blocks: What’s Triggering the Holdup?

Sometimes the snag is right there in your paperwork. Even a small typo can bounce your return into limbo. The most common troublemakers in 2024? Banking info mismatches were a biggie—if your routing or account number is typed wrong, your refund can’t go through direct deposit. Name mismatches also spiked this year, especially for folks who got married, divorced, or had names altered legally. The IRS database still has to match your social and name combo, and if it doesn’t, you’re facing a manual review that can stretch out for weeks.

The expanded tax return 2024 credits brought on brand new headaches. You’d think more credits would equal more refunds, right? Sure, but every time Congress adds or modifies a credit—like the EV tax credit or the new Home Energy Credit—the IRS needs new software updates and new training for staff. That means more returns set aside to be checked line by line. The IRS flagged hundreds of thousands of returns asking for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) for extra screening, especially if someone hadn’t claimed them before. Anything remotely “new” on your return gets extra eyeballs right now.

If you had to file an amended tax return (Form 1040-X), grab a snack and get cozy. Amended returns can take up to 20 weeks these days, and the IRS is still mopping up 2021-2023 backlogs alongside this year’s filings. Add in this fun fact: nearly 2.8 million amended returns from previous years were still being processed when April 2024 hit, meaning your paperwork may be in a huge waiting line.

Another lesser-known issue: the growing rate of tax-related identity theft. Over 1.3 million “potential” identity theft cases sidetracked returns in 2024. Whether you got a suspicious IRS letter, or found your refund status saying “under review,” chances are your info got dinged by a system flag. To fix this, the IRS might want to see copies of your photo ID, Social Security card, and answer personal questions—sometimes all online, sometimes by phone. If your return needs this, the clock stops until you clear the identity check, and even then, it might be another month before you see a penny.

Even honest mistakes can slow things down. Math errors or rounding-up numbers might send your return back for clarification. Or, if your withholdings don’t match up with what your employer filed on their side (it happens if companies send in late or corrected W-2s), your return gets yanked for a review. Got any gig economy earnings from platforms like DoorDash, Uber, or Etsy? If the IRS gets a 1099 misc or 1099-K with different numbers than you reported, that spurs an automatic manual check. These mismatches are more common now that digital work is everywhere, but the IRS software isn’t always quick to link forms and returns.

The IRS has also been updating its system to catch made-up dependents and fake business losses. If you took a leap on any gray-area deduction or filed for credits you didn’t previously claim, don’t be shocked if you spot the word “review” in your refund status. Some returns just have the bad luck to get “randomly” selected for a closer look, especially if your tax situation changed dramatically from last year.

What You Can (and Should) Do While You Wait

First things first: if you e-filed and got an IRS confirmation, that’s half the battle won. Check the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov regularly, but don’t panic if it doesn’t update for a few days (or even a week). Sometimes your refund is in transit while the tracker is stuck on “received.”

If your return’s stuck for more than 21 days (e-filed) or six weeks (mailed), start by double-checking your filing for typos. Pull up your email confirmation or tax software to make sure your Social Security number, name, and bank account details match exactly what the IRS has on file. Even one character off can slow your refund down significantly. If you find a real error, you may need to amend your return—though keep in mind, amendments mean even more waiting.

Been flagged for identity verification? Only respond using the methods the official IRS letter gives you. The IRS will never email or text you for this, so don’t fall for scams. Use the IRS online identity tool or call the number on your letter. Once you verify, give it a couple more weeks for processing. Meanwhile, keep any correspondence—these letters can be handy if you need to call and talk to a real human later.

Papers got mailed? Sorry, but your only way to speed things up is by double-checking the address you used and making sure the IRS received your documents; you can use certified mail for peace of mind next time. In 2024, the IRS said over 1.9 million mailed returns were still unopened by May. Lesson for next year: e-filing is way faster, unless you have no choice.

Direct deposit is the express lane. The IRS actually recommends split deposit between accounts (up to three) for added security, and it’s available for most folks unless your return’s flagged for manual review. Be wary of refund anticipation loans—lots of tax prep chains offer them, but interest and fees can eat your money before the IRS even finishes processing your real return.

If you’re truly in a pinch—for example, your refund is the difference between paying rent or not—you can call the IRS, but set aside plenty of time and patience. Best hours? Right when the phone lines open, around 7:00 AM Eastern, or mid-week when call volume dips. Have your tax return, W-2, and any IRS letters handy to get through ID validation quickly.

If the refund status page says your return is “under review,” or “additional information needed,” don’t guess. Wait for any notice, then respond right away. Sending more unsolicited documents can actually slow things down, as your supplemental info is then matched up manually to your file.

• Use “Where’s My Refund?”—but limit checking to once a day to avoid stress.
• If your direct deposit bounces, the IRS will mail you a paper check—up to another four weeks, so watch your mailbox.
• Set up an IRS online account for access to transcripts and to see if your return’s really moving.
• Consider pre-validating your ID for next year using IRS ID.me—saves time if you’ve ever dealt with ID theft before.
• Don’t file your returns at the last minute next year—processing backlogs slow way down after mid-April.

And here’s something many people forget: if you’re due a refund and file late, there’s no penalty. But if you owe taxes and miss the mid-April deadline, late penalties stack up fast. Always file something—even if you can’t pay yet—to avoid the worst fees.

Tax refund slowdowns are a headache, no doubt about it, but knowing the reasons behind the wait can take the sting out of the process. Next year, your best bet is clear: e-file, triple-check your numbers, and submit early. If that’s not feasible, at least now you know what’s really going on behind the IRS curtain and what you can do about it. Until then, hang tight—your refund will land, even if the wait feels like forever in 2024.