# IRS says: "Additional Processing on your tax return."  WTF?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-says-additional-processing-on-your-tax-return-wtf/238910>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 8, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-says-additional-processing-on-your-tax-return-wtf/238910 "2004-04-08T06:08:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-says-additional-processing-on-your-tax-return-wtf/238910/1 "2004-04-08T06:08:17Z")

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The entire text is:

> [@](#):
>
> WE HAD TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL PROCESSING ON YOUR TAX RETURN. THEREFORE, WE WEREN’T ABLE TO HONOR YOUR REQUEST FOR DIRECT DEPOSIT OF YOUR TAX REFUND AND ARE SENDING YOU A CHECK INSTEAD.

Can anyone tell me what this really means? Was my refund so large that finking out on the direct deposit saves them 3 weeks of interest?

And why do they have to shout? Don’t they have computers that will handle lower-case letters???

End of rant. Thank you for any factual information that you might be able to supply.

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**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-says-additional-processing-on-your-tax-return-wtf/238910/2 "2004-04-08T12:35:53Z")

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Just a WAG, but that statement would indicate that there was something wrong with the direct deposit information you provided. Maybe the bank routing number was wrong, or the account number was wrong. It could be that your bank has been bought by another bank, so the routing number you copied from your old checks doesn’t match the current routing number of the bank.

It may also be that the name on the bank account didn’t precisely match the name on your tax return (your checking account may say “NoCoolName,” but your tax return may say “NoCoolUserName”).

In short, the machine tried to use the direct deposit, but something didn’t match up, so it spit it out.

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**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-says-additional-processing-on-your-tax-return-wtf/238910/3 "2004-04-08T13:04:16Z")

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The IRS has an FAQ worth checking [here](http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq-kw56.html)

For example

> [@](#):
>
> 1.3 IRS Procedures: Amended Returns & Form 1040X  
> Can you have an amended return refund deposited into a bank account?
> 
> No, if you are due a refund from your amended return, you will receive a paper check

or

> [@](#):
>
> How long does it take to get a refund back by direct deposit?
> 
> If you e-file with direct deposit and have not received your refund within three weeks after filing your return (five weeks if you filed paper with direct deposit), you can check your refund status by logging onto [www.irs.gov](http://www.irs.gov). Click on “Where’s My Refund” then go to “Get My Refund Status.” Or, you can call the Refund Hotline at (800) 829-1954. Be sure to have available a copy of your current tax return because you will need to know your social security number shown on your return, the filing status and the exact whole dollar amount of our refund.