Need Your Tax Refund Fast? These Simple Mistakes Can Cause Month Long Delays This Year

The 2026 tax season is shaping up to be a tale of two emotions.

If you’re the type to file an electronic return and opt for direct deposit, you’ll probably wind up with no hassles. But if your return hits any snags or you need to speak to someone at the IRS, things can get complicated.

Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate Service from the Taxpayer Advocate Service, warned Congress in her annual report that the 2026 filing period could present “significant challenges” for filers experiencing problems.

Collins notes that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is navigating a “significantly different” environment than last year.

That’s due to a 27% reduction in staff and leadership at the agency, as well as broad and complex changes to the tax laws made under the Trump administration.

The good news: You can take steps right now to avoid becoming one of those problems.

What has changed this year

Last year’s filing season was, by most accounts, going well. The IRS processed more than 165 million returns by the largest employers it had seen in years, and many filers received their returns on time.

This year, things are different. Customer service representatives will decline by 22% by 2025, according to a report by the National Taxpayer Advocate.

There are also tax law changes from President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which could mean big refunds for many filers in 2026.

Since the IRS did not update the withholding tables after the mid-year change, many taxpayers may see an impact when they file their 2025 returns. Complex returns and less experienced staff can mean longer wait times.

A ‘seamless’ way to file

Collins notes in the report that the filing season should be “seamless” for taxpayers who file electronic returns, with no errors and direct deposit preferred for refunds.

Paper returns take a very long time to process under normal circumstances. As Collins writes in the annual report:

“The National Taxpayer Advocate has repeatedly warned that ‘paperwork is the IRS’s kryptonite’ and that the agency remains ‘buried in it.’ Paper returns require line and line of data entered manually by an IRS employee. This process is time-consuming, flawed and unsustainable.”

With reduced staffing, delays may extend to weeks, months or even longer.

Choosing to make a direct deposit means you get your refund faster than a paper check in the mail, and it eliminates the risk of the check being lost or stolen.

And you want to double check for errors on your return, which could send it to the review pile where it can sit for months until overworked IRS employees can access it.

Make sure all names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth match exactly what is on file with the Social Security Administration. Be sure to report all income on every W-2 and 1099 you receive. If you ask for alimony, make sure you have the right to do so and no one else is surprising you.

Apply early

Getting your refund early means you are ahead of schedule and more likely to get your refund before the agency gets caught.

If you’re waiting for some tax documents, gather everything else you need in the meantime. The second you have all your forms in hand, you are ready to go.

Know when professional help makes sense

If your tax situation is straightforward, options like IRS Free File can handle your return for free.

But if you have a complicated return that involves business income, multiple state filings or recent life changes like marriage, a tax professional may be worth the investment this year.

Set up accounts and track your refund

Think ahead this year and use all the legal tools at your disposal. You can set up an online IRS account now, and access payment history, tax information and notices in one place.

Once installed, use the Where’s My Recovery? tool and the IRS2Go mobile app. You’ll need your Social Security number, filing status and exact refund amount to access your information.

Refund tracking is usually updated once a day, usually at night.

What to do when problems arise

If you need help, the Taxpayer Advocate Service helps filers who are facing difficulties or problems that have not been resolved through normal channels. It’s a resource you should know about, even if you hope you never use it.