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.
It has already been almost 5 months!Hiw much longer should it take? And would it be I was flagged because of the filing status? The IRS to my understanding fixes any/all corrections when reviewing I had thought?So wouldn’t they juat xhange the status and make any adjustments from the proof I had sent them?Thise document were Daughters school records shkwing me in the household and listing me as step father(they calles it a summary report, and jt was a typed paper/print out and NOT a hand written paper, also a copy of DHS printout ahowing wifes name with chilren listing my wife as the kids mom, a copy of last year’s tax return showing she ismy wife where we did fike married joint, and a form 8839 I believe it was where my wife gave perpermission for me to claim them waiving her dependant right, as she dis not wirk and had no income at all, and if it matters or not, although I have no legal documents to show it, but we were separated nwarly 7 months laat year, still are, but her kids rwmaines in my home the entire year, because our separation had began when her sister fell terminally ill in May in a coma and she stayed at the hospital wveey night ans say for 6 weeka while her sister was in a coma then came to for a couple of weeks before passing away in July, at that time the toll of her hospital atay with hwr sister took its toll on our marriage and she moved into her sisters home to care for her sisters grand child, and her children remained in my home by their chiice if not wanting to leave their home qith our mutual agreement to let the kids xhoose what they wanted and reside where they wantes to until February of this year when they did then go live with their mother, so all of that was of course was a party written statement added to the proof for IRS to understand the situation as to why her kida remained under my support, we knew that would hold no “proof”under the IRS accepted document’s, however gave explanation of the situation amd how we became separated. I added this so you all could have more understanding to our situation regarding the reason behind my question in hopes someone could give me any answers or poasible similar experiences ao I may have light on what ro expect. Again thank you for any help you have to offer in answering our questions.
Hi, my wheres my amended refund said received on March 12th and now says “take action immediately” and a letter saying a decision should be made by August5th, I dont understand, a decision on whether or not I will receive a refund? And if decision is yes, will I receive it on August 5th, or will I receive another letter giving me an expected date? Has anyone ever experienced this situation? I fust want to know if (I know I am entitled to it) it means my refund will be here on that day, or if I receive a decision notice first, then have to wait another 4-6 wweks for it to be mailed??Ive never experienced this before, nejther has anyone I know, and I cant find any information explaining the process? Thank u ALL so much for any help/advice on what to expect.The initial reason I assume is I had to send in proof of residency and relationships to my wifes children.But also I had filed single and not married, h o wever my preparer said it wouldn’t be a problem and not to worry about filing status…he was an independent licensed preparer with his own office and is now closed for the season so I ahve no way of him helping me resolve situation or to ask him questions.
Hi Tasha,
I suggest contacting the IRS about the letter you received since you are not given a clear idea from the”Where’s My Refund” tool as to where your refund is. This is clearly a special circumstance and may need to be further explained.
I had my wv taxes filed electronically on March the 6th. Well it is June 16th and I still have not seen them. When they had took taxes out they had taken too much.
Hi Selena,
I would suggest contacting the state’s taxation department to learn the status of your refund.
We requested direct deposit; however, the voice on the IRS “Where’s my Refund” recording states that our refund has been mailed as of the 16th of May. We have not received our refund via direct deposit. Should we be concerned that a mistake has been made (refund mailed rather than direct deposit)? We are out of the country and it will be a difficult problem if the refund was mailed.
Hi Nancy,
I would suggest contacting the IRS directly to clear the air on your situation.
What ended up happening Nancy? Did you end up receiving it via mail or Direct Deposit?
Thanks in advance!
Krystal
I mailed my paper return in April 2, 2014 and I been checking wheres my refund tool after the four weeks it’s been 6 weeks and nothing shows up at all ???
Hi Katsi,
Mailing a paper return usually takes much longer than electronically filing. In some cases, it can take up to 8 weeks for a mailed return to be processed. I would suggest calling the IRS directly and request a status update on your refund.
Best of luck!
I too have been waiting over four weeks for an update on my mailed in tax return. when I check the wmr site, it acts like I never sent it in. my sister mailed hers in after me, and she already has the bars saying it’s processing. why was hers received and not mine?
Hi Sara,
Some tax refunds take longer to process than others- there’s no exact logic behind it. However, if you still have not received your refund, I suggest contacting the IRS directly.