With the recent talk of raising the first-time homebuyer credit, one important question is still open: why are the current checks taking so long to go through? No one expects the tax credit to be instantaneous, and of course the IRS will need to validate each claim. But reports of delayed tax credits are pouring in — and when the tax credit is a key part of financing a new home, this has people nervous.
- One online commenter complained of a 12-week wait for the check, which hadn’t arrived yet.
- Other commenters are asking when the check will arrive — the answers indicate that it takes ten to twelve weeks, but there’s lots of confusion nonetheless.
- Other estimates for how long the credit takes imply a wait of 12-16 weeks.
- Some people are even less lucky. One of them had to wait fourteen weeks — to find out that he needed to send the IRS more information.
Some people are in no mood to wait for the check. Several states have found a way around this: HUD is starting to lend people money backed by the tax credits, for certain mortgages. And several states have taken matters into their own hands: here is a list of states that lend new homeowners money to tide them over until the tax credit arrives. For many new home buyers, this can be a good way to stay afloat, but in most cases, it’s best not to rely on that tax credit as the only way to close a new home purchase.
Here’s an interesting twist…..My husband filed in February 2010 and qualified for the 8k refund. In May he received his refund check via mail. Great!!! Well, not so much. In August, he received a letter from the IRS saying he owed them 8k because he didn’t qualify for the credit. He filed an appeal, they sent the letter asking for more info. He sent the info and 30 days later receive another letter saying he still owes them 8k and they need additional information. He sends them more info and received a letter saying it would be decided in 30 days. October comes and another letter apologizing for the wait and it would be 30 more days for a decision. Almost middle of December and receive a letter today telling him again that he does not qualify and to repay the 8k. What loophole are we missing here? The paperwork clearly shows his taxes completed by a reputable professional and easily qualifying for the credit. So the IRS gives it to him then says nope we want it back. This is crazy and they are getting a fight on this one. Good luck to you all and Merry Christmas
….submitted my comment accidentally before completing. I was just saying that they did nothing with my return for four months and on the day that they had the return a full sixteen weeks, they submitted it for review. I have not received any correspondence whatsoever from them. This disgusts me. I have counted on this money as well…no the holidays are approaching and I’m still trying to hang on.
Hey Patrick,
The number you call ends in 1040 (its on the irs website under where’s my refund) and wait til the end of the automated baloney, it will give you the option of pressing zero to speak to someone.
An update on mine….I called back on November 12 and learned that on November 2 (the day after I called them and they argued it had not been 16 weeks) my return was sent for review due to something “questionable” on my amended return. It would make too much sense for the person to have noted what was questionable. I was told that someone would “review” the return to determine if it needed “reviewed” (these people would be fired anywhere else for incompetency). I pulled out my copies of what I sent them and it is so straightforward, I just don’t get what they’re talking about. What’s really interesting is that it took the FULL 16 weeks for them to do ANYTHING with it! I have received NOTHING
What number are all of you calling where you even get to talk to someone? I get nothing but automated messages and that just always gives me the runaround. I sent ours in in April 2010. In June I get it back in the mail with one section of a page highlighted that I “forgot to sign”. I wouldn’t put it past them to just slap a brand new page on there and highlight it and say I made a mistake. I am capable of making mistakes of course, but everyone is having such bad luck with this and being lied to…….So I quickly signed it and sent it back in the very same day. Now here we are on November 12th, and still nothing. I hang on the mail every day waiting for it. I try not to, but I can’t help it. In my case that’s a lot of money. If anyone could PLEASE share with me the number that you used to talk to a real human being I would so much appreciate that. Thanks, and good luck to everyone else.
I realize that I have not been waiting nearly as long as some of you, but it is just so depressing. I initially didn’t think that I would make the (then) deadline of purchasing a home by June 30. I worked hard to make this happen and actually closed on June 30. I mailed all of the required documents on July 1. The mail must have went by pony express because the irs states they received my info on July 12. Considering that I was told repeatedly by folks that the refund would take 6-8 weeks, when the six weeks passed and I was told 12-16 weeks, I was not happy. At that time I was told my return was being processed. I called again at 16 weeks (I can count) and they argued with me that it had not been 16 weeks-they apparently just randomly go by months (June 12-Nov12). So, they won’t even listen to me until the 16 week time frame that they come up with passes. I have not received any correspondence requesting additional info, etc. The last person I spoke with said that if I haven’t received notification of anything, then that’s a good sign. They’re so full of crap. The biggest issue I have with this is that they simply won’t be honest with us. Just tell me why its taking so long and when I might actually be able to expect it. It is free money, I think most of us would be happy to get it whenever they say…but when you are forced to just sit and wonder for months on end, it really gives insight to how our government feels about us. I also have alot of confusion over whether amended returns are direct deposited and why it seems like some people have been able to access info from the where’s my refund website. I’ve read that these returns can’t be direct deposited and that 1040x return info isn’t available online. Any answers to these questions? Good luck to you all.