What is tax topic 152?

IRS Tax Topic 152 - Refund Information

Overview of Tax Topic 152

Tax Topic 152 refers to the guidelines provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding tax refunds. It outlines the general expectations taxpayers should have when waiting for their tax refund and provides information on different factors that can affect the timing of refund delivery.

Key Points in Tax Topic 152

1. Refund Timing: The IRS typically issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days. However, certain circumstances can cause delays.

2. Common Causes for Delay:

  - Mailed paper returns.

  - Amended returns.

  - Injured spouse claims.

  - Returns with an ITIN application attached.

  - Refunds from Form 1042-S filed with Form 1040-NR.

3. Specific Delays for Certain Credits: Refunds related to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) may be available in taxpayer accounts by a specific date, provided there are no other issues with the tax return.

4. Direct Deposit: Taxpayers are encouraged to use direct deposit to receive their refunds faster. The IRS limits the number of direct deposits into a single account or prepaid debit card to three refunds per year to combat fraud and identity theft.

5. Other Refund Options:

  - TreasuryDirect® accounts for purchasing savings bonds.

  - Direct deposit into Traditional, Roth, or SEP-IRAs.

  - Purchase of U.S. Series I Savings Bonds using Form 8888.

  - Paper checks mailed to the taxpayer's address.

6. Splitting Refunds: Taxpayers can split their refund into as many as three separate accounts using Form 8888.

Additional Resources for Taxpayers

- Taxpayers can check the status of their refund using the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS website or the IRS2Go mobile app.

- For a checklist of common errors and additional items that may delay processing, refer to [Topic no. 303]).

- For information on how to amend a return, taxpayers can consult the IRS guidance on amending returns.

Conclusion

Tax Topic 152 provides taxpayers with essential information on what to expect when waiting for a tax refund, including possible reasons for delays and various options for receiving the refund. Taxpayers are encouraged to use electronic filing and direct deposit to expedite the refund process.

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Sources:

Topic no. 152, Refund information - Internal Revenue Service 2024-08-03

Held or Stopped Refunds - Taxpayer Advocate Service 2024-08-03

Notification that your tax return is being examined or audited- TAS 2024-08-03

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions for Registered Domestic Partners ... 2024-08-03

2023 Publication 17 - Internal Revenue Service 2024-07-31

Tax Information Security Guidelines - Internal Revenue Service 2024-08-03

Notice CP05 - TAS - Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) 2024-08-02

Newsroom | Internal Revenue Service 2024-08-02

LB&I Concept Unit Knowledge Base - International - Internal Revenue Service 2024-08-02

Why do I owe a penalty and interest and what can I do about it? 2024-08-03