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.
Question: My friend filed his taxes and accepted 04/01/15. It still states being processed, but when I did a transcript request nothing is showing for 2014. If he was to receive a letter for audit would it state this on the website. The address for him has since changed, so we don’t know if letter went to old house or if they just have not go to it. He works out town and gets frustrated and not know how to speak on issues to IRS like this. Any help as to they prob just have not go to it or should we be looking for a letter?
Hi Christi,
Any IRS government documents are mailed to the address provided to the IRS. Your friend may need to update his address in order to receive the requested transcript. That being said, please refer to this IRS website page to see when your friend can request a transcript. It will depend on whether the return was e-filed or paper-filed. It will also depend on if he owed a balance to the IRS or not.
I filed on Jan 13 2015 and I got letter 5071c. I had to verify in February and they told me 4 to 6 week and then 6 to 8 weeks and now 45 days. I called on April 18 and they told me my refund was still in review. I then called on May 18th. When I look at irs2go app it shows $0.00. When I go online it shows topic 152 and my amount with code 9001. What does this mean? Ever since January I had code 9001. Even when I verified in February, just the app changed in May.
Hi Elliott,
I can understand your frustration.
I want to address code 9001 first. This simply means that there was an attempt to access your return or refund status using an incorrect social security number, an incorrect TIN, or a social security number that does not belong to the primary taxpayer on the return. This may be causing your app to show the incorrect information. I suggest giving the IRS a call again. I understand that you’ve done this already and haven’t received a straight answer, however the IRS insists that you contact them if it has been over 21 days since you have submitted your tax return to be filed. If you are unable to get a hold of someone at the main IRS phone number, try calling your local IRS office. They will typically be able to provide you with the same information.
Hey I did an amended and it said received on April 14 and just checked the status this morning and now it says received April 29 but the bar has not moved its still on the processing and it also still says processing 8-12 weeks What do this mean
Hi Anna,
Since you submitted an amended return to the IRS, the dates displayed for your return status may not be exact. After 21 days from the original submission date and the Where’s My Refund application is not working for you, the IRS suggests giving them a call for a status.
Filed my taxes before deadline. I did it myself so their maybe mistakes. Just read the info on where’s my refund and it states that my refund amount has been lowered to $0.00 because of me not filling out lines 75, 76, and 78. Its says they werent computed correctly. So… what can I do? I need that money. Plus I worked last year… that money is owed to me…. what can I do? Should I ammend?
Hi Naika,
Typically, returns are not recommended to be amended due to math errors since the IRS will correct this automatically. However, if these amounts were reported incorrectly altogether, then it would be smart to amend the return. You have three years to amend a return from the original submission date OR two years from the date you paid the tax. The later date is the one that applies.
Hello, i have a question. I got a 5071C Letter and called the IRS to verify my identity. My WMR has just changed about a week later to “We have received your tax return and it is being processed.” does anyone know what that means and what time frame should i be looking at for more information?
Hi Daren,
Although the Where’s My Refund app can reflect a bit of a time delay, it is a positive sign that you’re receiving updates. That being said, the updated status that you are seeing simply means that your recently received return is being put through the usual process and you should check back daily for another update that will provide you with an estimated refund date (if you are owed one this year). This process should be moving pretty steadily since the tax season has come to a close. If 21 days have passed since your submit date without a status update, the IRS advises that you give them a call for your refund status.