CP63: Your refund is on hold until you file a missing return

A CP63 means the IRS is holding your refund because it shows you haven’t filed one or more other tax returns, and it believes you’ll owe tax for those years. The refund stays on hold until you file the missing returns or show you didn’t need to.

Where it falls

Refund held for a missing return

Deadline

None printed. Your refund stays on hold until you respond.

Is it real?

Check it in your IRS Online Account, or see how to spot a fake.

Reviewed by [REVIEWER NAME], Enrolled Agent · Last reviewed [DATE]

What the IRS is telling you

You filed a return that shows a refund, but the IRS has no record of one or more other returns. It’s holding the refund because it believes you’ll owe tax for those missing years.

What to do

File the missing returns right away, or contact the IRS to explain that you weren’t required to file or already did.
If you disagree, call the toll-free number on the notice with your records ready, or write to the address on it.
If you’ll owe money on the missing returns, you may be able to set up a payment plan once they’re filed.

What happens if you don’t respond

The refund stays on hold. If the IRS later assesses tax for the missing years, it can apply the refund to that balance.

How ScrubJay can help

We pull your IRS records, identify the missing years and file them, so the IRS can release or apply the refund. See catch-up filing.

Common questions

Will I get my refund back?

The IRS holds the refund until it receives the past-due returns or an explanation that you didn’t have to file. If those returns show you owe tax, the IRS may apply the held refund to that balance.

I filed the missing return recently. What now?

The IRS says you don’t have to do anything if you filed within the last eight weeks.