Are 2020 tax refunds taking longer?
Michael King
Updated on March 05, 2026
COVID-19 Processing Delays
It's taking us longer than normal to process mailed correspondence and more than 21 days to issue refunds for certain mailed and e-filed 2020 tax returns that require review.Are there delays with 2020 tax refunds?
The IRS said it's taking longer to process tax returns for the 2020 tax year, and up to a month longer to process amended returns. "It's taking us more than 20 weeks (instead of up to 16 weeks) to process amended returns," the agency said on its site. "Do not file a second tax return or call the IRS," the agency said.Why is the IRS taking so long with refunds this year?
Things that can delay a refund:The return has a claim filed for an earned income tax credit, additional child tax credit, or includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse AllocationPDF. The time it takes a taxpayer's bank or credit union to post the refund to the taxpayer's account.
Is IRS behind on refunds?
The report expresses concern about continuing delays in the processing of paper-filed tax returns and the consequent impact on taxpayer refunds. At the end of May, the agency had a backlog of 21.3 million unprocessed paper tax returns, an increase of 1.3 million over the same time last year.Why is my refund still processing after 3 months?
Reasons Your Tax Refund Can Be DelayedMissing information. A need for additional review. Possible identity theft or tax fraud. A claim for an earned income tax credit or an additional child tax credit.