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.
Hello , I filed mines on January 22nd and on January 23rd my taxes got accepted what does this mean “Your tax return is still being processed.A refund date will be provided when available. and the code TAX 152.
Thank You
Hi LaChristian,
This status update is nothing to worry about. It simply means that the IRS has received your refund successfully but has yet to review it and issue your refund. Once your return has been approved, you will receive your approximate refund date. The IRS updates the Where’s My Refund tool daily. Tax Code 152 is simply an IRS disclaimer regarding the multiple ways you can choose to receive your tax refund.
So my friend filed on January 22nd and they first rejected it and then accepted the same day around 4 pm and she has her refund today (February 5th) and we filed on the same day but I filed later mine later around 6 pm and got accepted. Why do I not have my refund yet? Is anybody experiencing the same thing ( Your tax return is still being processed.A refund date will be provided when available.)?
Hi LaChristian,
This does not necessary mean that something is wrong with your tax return. Although tax returns are e-filed in the order they are received, there are several different factors that could be causing your return to take longer to process (ie: filing status, income amount threshold, method of receiving your refund, etc). It is difficult to compare your situation to your friend’s since each tax return is unique. If you do not receive an update within 21 days after filing your tax return, you can contact the IRS and they can research your tax return for a status update.
I received the same message me and my friend not sure what going on
they filed theirs on feb 6th and still same
I did my on the 15th and still the same I didn’t have this issue last year
Hi Barbara,
It’s difficult to compare your taxes to someone else’s, at least the time frame that they are processed in. It may seem that your returns are similar but each tax situation is unique and are typically treated as such. It could be that there is an overload of returns being submitted to the IRS. It may also be that you and your friend submitted your returns with different tax preparers. Whatever the situation, the IRS will notify you if they require additional information to e-file your return. In most situations, the Where’s My Refund tool will let you know if further action is required or not. Most refunds are received within 21 days. After 21 days, you can contact the IRS and they will do further research on the progress of your return.
Hello,
I filed jointly with my husband for the first time. We submitted our electronic tax return on January 21. The next day it shows a message that we received your tax return and you will receive your tax refund within 21 days. And it shows the orange bar when I use both of our SSN to check. Today, whrn I used my social security number it is still the same but when I used my husband’s social security number it says your tax is still being processed and the tax refund date will be provided when available. With no bars and no irs152.
Please till me what’s going on.
Hi Sue,
When filing a joint tax return, there is a primary SSN and a secondary SSN. When you use the Where’s My Refund tool, you should only be checking the status with the primary SSN that you reported on your return. Using the secondary SSN could provide an inaccurate status update.
I got a text message the day after I filled my taxes saying that my taxes have been approved and my tax return would be delivered on the 23rd. I still have yet to get my money on my card and I really need it. My daughter’s 2nd birthday is in two days.
Hi Cortney,
Happy Birthday to your daughter!
Unfortunately, the IRS can only provide approximate dates for when you will receive your tax refund. When you e-file and choose your refund to be direct deposited into your bank account, it can take approximately 21 days. After 21 days (6 weeks after paper filing), the IRS advises that you contact them directly so that they can do a bit of research to see the ETA of your tax refund. You can find all IRS contact information HERE.
I got a tax code 152 on the 19th and it’s still not moved is this a issue I do not understand I filed it all correct.
Hi Kayla,
Not to worry! Tax Topic 152 is simply a disclaimer from the IRS letting you know how you can have your refund distributed to you. It doesn’t mean that your return has been processed or delayed. It means very little, in fact, in relation to your individual refund. Now, in regards to your actual refund, if you do not receive it within 21 days or e-filing (6 weeks of paper-filing), you should contact the IRS directly. At that point, one of their customer service representatives should be able to give you an update.
I checked my refund status and it says not processed but I filed about 3 weeks ago and my preparer told me the exact amount I would be receiving…what does this mean
Hi S.B.,
This status update is not too much to worry about. However, the IRS directly states that if it has been more than 21 days since you e-filed your return (6 weeks if you paper filed), then you can give them a call and speak to one of their representatives about the whereabouts of your refund.