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.
Maybe you can help me as I am beyond frustrated. I filed for taxes in March. And now it’s September and I STILL don’t have my refund. All it says when I check my refund is. “We have received your tax return and it is being processed.” That’s it. Nothing else. I really need this money and I am just wondering what the holdup is?
Hi Tim,
After 21 days of not receiving your refund, the IRS will do further investigating. You can contact your local IRS office HERE. I suggest calling your local office as opposed to the national phone line so that you are able to speak with a representative. They should be able to give you an ETA on when you will receive your refund or an explanation as to why you haven’t gotten it yet.
Hello,
My tax person submitted my taxes eletronically on Feb.20 and its been 5 days and IRS has not received it yet. How long does it take for irs to accept?
Thank you
The IRS generally provides and acknowledgment for your e-filed return within 24-48 hours. If your status did not update within 5 days, it would be in your best interest to contact the tax preparer that e-filed your return.
Tim have u gotten your refund yet
I married in 2013 and filed in 2013 and 2014 as Single, I have done 2 amendment returns with the 1040X as Married filing jointly. My husband only has a ITIN which was just issued in 2016 as we filed married filing jointly for 2015 filing year with his ITIN and was granted our refund.
My question is since I amended my 2013 & 2014 as married filing jointly using his ITIN , will an additional refund be issued even with my husband receiving his ITIN just this year 2016??
Hi Beth,
Based on what you have stated in your comment above, your husband’s ITIN that he received in 2016 would only be eligible for tax returns from this year moving forward. Unfortunately, you cannot amend a prior year tax return with information from a future tax year.
Hi I have a real concerning question..I got call in by the irs 2 months and a half going to 3 months almost for identifying me..I spoke with an agent and she was real nice and polite and told me I should be receiving my refund within 9 weeks but. It’s been close to 12 weeks I check for refund status and almost for the last close to 3 months and the only thing it says “refund is still being processed”
Is it possible that my check was already sent to my tax preparer please let me know what I can do thank you..
Hi Jesus,
Your refund check is mailed to the address listed on your tax return. This should not have been the address of your tax preparer. I strongly suggest giving your tax preparer a call to see if they did happen to receive it in the mail. If not, you may want to contact the IRS directly to see if your refund has been mailed yet. The Where’s My Refund tool is not always correct and up to date so I would not worry before speaking with someone directly.
What does it mean when it says: Your return has been processed successfully, and your refund was approved on April 28, 2016.
Please allow one week for receipt—–What does the one week receipt part mean?
Hi Renee,
Your refund should be sent one week from April 28th.
I filed on the 29 feb and my return was accepted. I checked the WMR on the same week it says the return received. I waited for on week and checked again my orange bars were gone. I waited for 21 days and checked again, and still says return processing. I didn’t call to check i thought it was normal maybe its very busy, and then after march passed and two weeks of april, I called on the 25th of april. I talked to an agent and asking about the status of my return, and asked the agent if there is something wrong or do i need to do a verification of my identity of do i need to submit any papers caused i filed electronically. So when the agent put me on hold to look for my return he came back telling me that there’s nothing wrong and i dont need to submit or verify anything, and that my return in schedule on the 16th of May, and if by the 16th of May and still dont get it than I should call back again. I NEED HELP HERE! Does this mean its a go or no? any help.
Hi Lona,
I can understand why this is frustrating. It sounds to me that the IRS representative checked within the database for the most recent status update. Based on experience, the IRS makes no promises. However, if they were able to provide you with a date, then you are leaps and bounds ahead of other taxpayers.