I lost my refund check. How do I get a new one?
Q) I lost my refund check. How do I get a new one?
A) According to the IRS: If you have lost your refund check, there are several options available to initiate a refund trace on your behalf.
- You can use the “Where’s My Refund?” system available through the IRS website.
- You can call the IRS toll-free number at 800-829-1954 and either use the automated system or speak with an agent.
- If you filed a married filing jointly return, you cannot initiate a trace using the automated systems. The IRS will issue you a Form 3911 (PDF), Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund, to get the replacement process started.
Once your claim for a missing refund has been processed and your refund check has been cashed, the Bureau of Fiscal Service (BFS) can provide you with a claim package that includes a copy of the check. BFS will review your claim and the signature on the cancelled check before determining whether an additional refund can be issued to you. The BFS review can take up to six weeks to complete.
Because the IRS processes the first return it receives, if another person claims your dependent first, the IRS will reject your return. The IRS won’t tell you who claimed your dependent. But if you don’t suspect anyone who could have claimed the dependent, your dependent may be a victim of tax identity theft. You’ll need to take some steps to protect your right to claim the dependent and your refund if you don’t think that the other person was eligible to claim your dependent. First, double check that you meet all of the requirements to claim the dependent.
The IRS may delay your refund while the IRS looks into the issue, but you should still receive your refund. File a paper return. Note that when you file a paper return, it can take six to eight weeks for the IRS to process. This includes things like birth certificates and proof of identity, but also documents that show that your dependent lived with you at the same address for more than half of the year. This doesn’t mean that you can’t correct the situation. Don’t panic. The most important thing to remember is to prove with proper documentation that you are entitled to claim the dependent. Document your case as the IRS rules for claiming a dependent can get complicated.