I filed my taxes with you and am waiting for my refund. How will I know when it will be deposited or sent?

If your return is filed electronically, you can check the status of your refund with the IRS Refund Tracker. Please make sure to have your tax return information with you when you check. If you filed a paper return, it will take approximately four weeks for it to be tracked.

Why hasn’t my return been filed yet?

There a few reasons your return might not have been filed:

• Your return is finished, but not paid for. We only send tax returns that have been paid for. If you paid with a check, the return is filed as soon as the check clears, which may take up to three business days.

• We are waiting on information from you to be able to send a complete tax return. Please check your email, voicemail, or call our office.

• If you filed a paper return, it will take the IRS approximately four weeks to process it and consider it filed. This wait time could be longer due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic limiting the staff capacity.

How long should I keep my financial records?

The IRS gives a number of different guidelines for keeping financial information, and this information varies depending on whether you are an individual or a businesses

General rules for individuals

• Keep bank statements for 1 year

• Keep loan documents, credit card statements, and other contacts until fulfilled

• Keep annual investment statements until sold

• Keep tax records for 7 years from filing date

• Keep receipts for large purchases, real estate deeds, vehicle titles for as long as you own the property

• You can general discard expired warranties, pay stubs, and cancelled checks

  General rules for small businesses and entrepreneurs

  • The rule of thumb is to keep all items for at least 3 years

  • If you have not yet paid taxes on income that you should report, keep documents for 6 years

  • If you claim a credit or refund after you file a return, keep records for 3 years from the date you filed the return

  • If you file a claim for securities or bad debt deduction, keep records for 7 years

  • Keep all employment records for 4 years from the date that the tax is paid

What do I do if I can’t pay the taxes that I owe?

If you can’t pay the full amount due, you should still file your return and pay what you can by your deadline to avoid interest and penalties. Then you should contact the IRS to discuss payment options. In some cases, the IRS can offer a short-term extension to pay, an payment installation agreement, or waive your penalties.