How to Check Your Form 1045 Refund Status
Understand the distinct IRS procedures for a Form 1045 tentative refund, a process managed separately from standard income tax return inquiries.
Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund, is a request for a quick refund based on specific circumstances like the carryback of a net operating loss (NOL), an unused general business credit, or a claim of right adjustment. It allows taxpayers to receive funds more quickly than by filing an amended return. The process for tracking a refund from Form 1045 is different from the standard method used for a typical Form 1040 income tax return.
IRS Processing Timeline for Form 1045
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a 90-day period to process a Form 1045 application. This timeline begins on the date the complete application is filed or the last day of the month that includes the due date for filing the income tax return for the year the loss or credit arose, whichever is later. You cannot file Form 1045 until after you have filed the tax return for the loss year.
The refund issued based on this application is considered a “tentative refund.” This means the IRS performs a limited, preliminary review to check for mathematical accuracy and completeness before issuing the payment. It is not a final determination of your tax situation. The IRS reserves the right to conduct a more thorough examination of the claim at a later date, which could result in adjustments.
How to Check Your Refund Status
You cannot use the standard “Where’s My Refund?” or “Where’s My Amended Return?” online tools to track the status of a Form 1045 refund. These automated systems are designed for regular income tax returns and do not contain information about tentative refund applications. The primary method for checking the status of your Form 1045 is to contact the IRS directly by phone.
Before calling the IRS, have a copy of your filed Form 1045, your Social Security Number or other Taxpayer Identification Number, the specific tax years involved, and the exact amount of the refund you claimed. The main IRS phone number for individuals is 800-829-1040. When you call, explain that your inquiry is about a Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund, to help the agent access the correct internal systems.
Understanding IRS Actions and Next Steps
After the 90-day review period, there are a few possible outcomes. If the IRS approves the application, it will process and issue the tentative refund. The IRS might also identify errors or omissions during its initial 90-day review. In this situation, the agency could deny the application or adjust the refund amount. If this happens, the IRS will send a notice explaining the changes or the reason for the denial.
This does not eliminate your right to the refund; it simply means you cannot use the expedited tentative refund process. If the 90-day period expires and you have not received a refund or any communication from the IRS, your application is considered to have been denied.
Your next step is to file a formal claim for the refund. For individuals, this is done by filing Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. For corporations, the equivalent is Form 1120-X. This converts your request from a tentative application to a formal claim, which is then subject to the standard review process for amended returns.