Where Is My ERC Refund? ERC Refund Processing Time

If you’re wondering where your Employee Retention Credit (ERC) refund is, you’re not alone. The IRS is struggling to process thousands of ERC refunds, along with the mountains of personal income tax returns they’re processing. Even though they’ve hired thousands of new employees in the past 18 months, the IRS is still backed up on ERC refunds.

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Checking the Status of Your Refund

As difficult as it is to talk with anyone at the IRS, you can call to check on your refund. The phone number for ERC-related questions is (877) 777-4778. Expect long wait times, and try to avoid calling on a Monday or any day after 8 am, when wait times are the lengthiest.

When calling the IRS, there’s a distinct possibility that you will never be connected to a live human being, let alone a robot from its automated system. It’s estimated that less than 5% of callers ever get to speak with anyone at the IRS office.

If you do get to talk with an IRS representative when you call, be prepared to go through the IRS’ standard identity verification protocol. Have this information ready:

Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Your full name, business name, and your relationship with the company
Business postal address
Year of business formation
Type of company tax return filed (1120, 1120-S, 1065, etc.)

Another means of checking your refund status is by visiting the IRS’ “Where’s My Refund?” page. When using this tool, you’ll need the following information:

Your social security numbers
Your filing status
Your exact refund amount

The IRS needs this information to determine your ERC refund status.

The IRS notes on their site that you can use “Where’s My Refund” 24 hours after the IRS receives your Form 941-X.

If you filed an amended return, you’ll need to visit “Where’s My Amended Return?” The information you’ll need to complete the online form is the same as required for checking on your original return.

The IRS also has an official app to check refund status, get free tax help, and make tax payments. It’s called IRS2Go, and the only thing you can’t do is submit your employee tax returns or amendments.

What is a Reasonable Waiting Period for Your ERC Refund?

The length of time it takes to get your ERC refund was initially 4-6 weeks, but due to a massive backlog of claims, the wait time has lengthened.

The estimated wait times range from 6 to 8 weeks or longer to receive your ERC refund IF everything you filed is complete. Your waiting period could be extended by weeks if your Form 941-X contains errors and needs to be corrected and resubmitted. This could put you at the back of the line and restart your waiting period.

The best way to prevent an ERC refund delay is to let the professionals at Bottom Line Concepts help. We’ll make sure your paperwork is complete and processed within the normal wait time, not sent back to you because of errors. If you’re unsure if your business is eligible for the ERC, schedule your no-cost 15-minute consultation call today with one of our experienced ERC specialists.