Don’t stress! You won’t miss this flight.
Have you ever walked into an airport and realized you and everyone around you seem to be in a rush? Well, tax filers tend to mimic the same anxious energy, especially those trying to figure out their tax refund status.
We understand that like the airport checking luggage-security-shoes-off whirlwind, tax filing is also something you don’t do every day and can be pretty stressful. Actually, filing your taxes is the hardest part though so give yourself a pat on the back, sit back and await your refund.
What status updates should I look out for?
Whether you are a RapidTax customer or not, you’ll probably use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool. Before checking your refund status, you’ll want to recognize and know the meaning of the following status updates:
- Return Received or Accepted
- Refund Approved
- Refund Sent
- Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available.
What does Return ‘Received’ or ‘Accepted’ mean?
The IRS updates you with “We have accepted your tax return and it is being processed”. This is solely to update you that your return was successfully received by the IRS. This status update does not mean your return was approved. It simply means the IRS has it and it is in line to be reviewed and processed.
- The Return Received status may remain longer than you were expecting. You may have friends who had this status displayed on their page for only a few days and yours has remained much longer. Don’t panic, it happens.
What does ‘Refund Approved’ mean?
The IRS updates you with ” Your refund has been approved”. This means that your return was processed successfully and the estimated refund amount was approved by the IRS. You’re one step closer to getting that refund!
- This refund status is the second stage of the IRS refund updates and means you have nothing to worry about.
What does ‘Refund Sent’ mean?
Once the IRS updates you that your refund has been sent, the deal is sealed. You should be receiving your refund via check or direct deposit. In most cases, you’ll even be issued an approximate date to expect your money to arrive.
- If you had your tax refund direct deposited, it may take your bank or financial institution 1-5 business days to deposit the tax refund money into your account. If instead, you opted to have your tax refund sent to you in the mail, by check, you should expect to wait much longer.
What does ‘Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available ‘ mean?
Although it may drive you crazy waiting for your refund, this status could just mean that the IRS hasn’t approved your refund as yet and it reviewing your return.
- Most refunds are issued in less than 21 days. Additional review may be the case if you claim credits such as the Additional Child Tax Credit, or Earned Income Credit. This ensures that you’re receiving the correct refund. This process may take longer, but it will change eventually.
What does Tax Topic 152 mean?
If you are using the Where’s My Refund tool and see a generic message accompanied by “Tax Topic 152“, consider this IRS tax jargon. In short, your return is still in the processing stage. Tax Topic 152 is simply a lengthy internet document listing the ways you are able to receive your refund. Although applicable, chances are that by this stage of the game, you’ve already chosen whether or not you’d like a check or direct deposit.
If you notice your tax refund status is not appearing on the IRS tool, be sure you are entering the correct information. If it still doesn’t work, contact your tax preparer.
I filed thru turbo tax on 1/18/15 the IRS accepted on 1/20/15 no approved no date still at the one bar it been like that since the 20th way should I do
Hi Dee,
As stated in the article, you should have received your refund (direct deposit) around February 5th. However, please keep in mind that these dates are only approximate based on prior year trends.
My taxes is showing still being process date will be available when given my refund was recievend on the 21 on Friday the 30 it gave me this message I have it going direct deposit throu the company I filed with so could I get a date in the couple more days since its being direct deposit or could it already been deposit and I need to contact who I filed through
Hi Toya,
I suggest contacting your tax preparer directly for an update.
What does a date will be provided when available? I filed 1/20/2015 and Jan 31st my staus changed to a refund date will be provided when available can this still mean i will get approved by the irs?
Hi Bri,
This means that they will provide you with an estimated date when you can expect to receive your refund.
MINE SAYS THE SAME… BUT THE QUESTION IS WHY IS IT SAYING THIS AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET A DATE?
Hi Christi,
The IRS has announced that it is experiencing high traffic on Where’s My Refund as more tax returns come in. The heavy volume of refund inquiries means that the IRS anticipates both the “Where’s My Refund?” tool and the refund feature on the IRS2go phone app will have limited availability during busier periods.
Due to the large number of inquiries and to avoid service disruptions, the IRS strongly urges taxpayers to only check on their refunds once a day. IRS systems are only updated once a day, usually overnight, and the same information is available whether on the internet, IRS2go smartphone app or on IRS toll-free lines. While “Where’s My Refund” is updated nightly, your account will not change that frequently.
Hi I filed my taxes jan 21 the irs confirmed that they got it n its complete
My thing is they gave me a date on which it should be sent to my bank but still nothing…everyone else
Got theres im still waiting n we went to the same ppl
Hi Rodnesha,
Please keep in mind that the refund dates given by the IRS are always approximate.
Hi. I efiled a week ago Thursday, It was accepted within hours that same day. I did have an orange bar up saying it was recieved. Now my bar has gone away (as of two or three days ago) and I just get “your tax return is still being processed; A refund date will be provided when available”. So what does THAT mean? My bf did his three or four days after I did mine, and he kept his status bar and just saw today his has been “approved”. WHY has his already been approved and mine is still “being processed”? Yes I have claimed my son on mine and he has nobody on his. ???? HELP!!!??? answer please!!! I need my money!!!
Hi Sharon,
I suggest taking a look at another article on our blog regarding the 2015 refund cycle dates. This article should answer any of the questions that you have. Also, keep in mind that any dates given are estimated.