Skip to main content
Level 1
June 3, 2019
Question

I recieved my state refund but not federal still says processing..... is there something wrong? If federal is wrong I wouldn’t have gotten state true?

  • June 3, 2019
  • 16 replies
  • 3 views
No text available

16 replies

Level 6
June 3, 2019

The IRS processes federal tax returns, while your state government processes the state tax returns. These are two different administrations that work independently of each other. So, it is common for you to receive your state tax refund before you receive your federal refund. You can get an estimated timeframe by tracking your federal tax return on the IRS website. 

After TurboTax prepares your federal tax return and you chose to e-file it, the tax return is submitted electronically to the federal government. The IRS can either accept the tax return or reject it. If it is accepted, this means that the IRS has received it, and will now review it for errors or other issues. At this point, the government has all control over the tax return. There is no way of knowing exactly when IRS will finish processing your return, but you can track your refund on the IRS website. You will not see your refund expected date on the IRS website until after IRS approves the refund. For most taxpayers,(9 out of 10), the refund process takes approximately 21 days. 

For mailed tax returns, the refund processing time is 6 to 8 weeks from the date the IRS receives your tax return. You should begin checking the status of your tax refund 4 weeks after you mail a paper tax return.

To track your e-filed tax refund:

  1. First, check your e-file status to see if your refund was accepted by the IRS. You can start checking the status 24-48 hours after submission. To check your e-file status, visit this link:https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/
  2. If it has been accepted, then you would wait for the approval from the IRS. The refund process can take approximately 21 days. You can track your refund at:https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp

To track your mailed tax refund:

  1. Wait 4 weeks 
  2. Track your federal refund at:https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp

Please see these TurboTax FAQs: 

Level 2
July 13, 2020

I filed in March and my federal was accepted on March 28th. I still have not received my refund, and the IRS tool to check my status still shows that it's being reviewed. I have received my State refund. What can I do? 

CatinaT1
Level 15
July 13, 2020

The online link is your best option to track your refund.  I have attached a link with more answers from the IRS as to why your refund may be taking longer to process.

Federal refund questions

 

There is a delay in processing the returns at the IRS due to Covid-19 and social distancing policies in effect.  

IRS operations

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
April 24, 2020

Filled March 18, still waiting for my Federal Tax Return which was accepted

 

I feel like having a panic attack and can't control my anger impulse

Level 15
April 24, 2020

@Moonreaper666

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer.

Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control. TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.

You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 20 of your Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

To track your state refund:    

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

On the IRS site you are also offered the use of an app called IRS2Go

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2724106-my-return-is-accepted-but-still-not-approved-is-there-a-problem-should-i-be-worried

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
SusanY1
Level 15
April 24, 2020

I am so sorry that your return is still in processing, although at 5 weeks it's not terribly out of line with what we're seeing for a lot of returns.  

 

Have you tried yet looking to see if there any additional clues about the status on your IRS transcript found here: IRS Transcripts.

 

While there won't be anything that you can do about it right now, sometimes just having a little bit more information about the status can help.

 

@Moonreaper666

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
April 17, 2023

I filed my taxes February 6, 2022. 

I recieved my state refund within the month. However, I still haven't seen my federal. I did the url link to track it and it says it has only been recieved.

DoninGA
Level 15
Level 15
April 17, 2023

@Newtotaxes1 wrote:

I filed my taxes February 6, 2022. 

I recieved my state refund within the month. However, I still haven't seen my federal. I did the url link to track it and it says it has only been recieved.


After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

IRS - When to Call Us

Call us about your refund status only if Where's My Refund directs you to contact us.

IRS phone numbers and tax help options

Level 2
May 2, 2020

I filed in February still have recieved  my federal taxes

Level 2
May 5, 2020
Today is May 5th; have you received it yet? I'm in the same boat
Employee Tax Expert
May 5, 2020

The IRS operations are limited during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Attached is a link with more information as to what departments are available to contact at the moment.

IRS operations

 

Try using the following link to track your refund.

IRS processing time and refund status 

 

The online link is your best option to track your refund.  I have attached a link with more answers from the IRS as to why your refund may be taking longer to process.

Federal refund questions

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
May 15, 2020

Today is May 15 2020 and my federal Refund was accepted on Feb. 7 2020. Refund is still being processed and an issue date will be given when available. I got my state refund in June. Ive double and triple checked all my info and its all correct. 

Employee Tax Expert
May 15, 2020

As mentioned in my earlier post, it is just taking a bit longer for the IRS to process many refunds.  They have a reduced staff as well as needing to issue stimulus payments.

 

There may not be anything wrong with your return. 

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
June 5, 2020

I filed back in March and they requested additional documents in regards to purchasing medical insurance. Does this mean the timer is reset and I should expect anywhere from 6 - 8 weeks and then an additional 21 days thereafter?

Level 2
July 16, 2020

I feel ya 

Level 2
July 16, 2020

I got the same situation I filed mine last April 15 got accepted by irs April 16 then got my state refund a week but never accepted my federal refund. I also filed electronic filling and set it to direct deposit but I never got it to my account I received check 

Level 2
March 14, 2021

I got my state refund back but I still didn't get my federal refund

Level 13
March 14, 2021

TurboTax does not receive updates from the IRS once they have accepted your return. With the IRS filing delay and backlog this tax season due to COVID closing the offices and leaving the IRS with very few employees working for the past year, the IRS has not stated how long it will take to deposit tax refunds. Your tax refund may be deposited in your bank account before the IRS has a chance to update your information on the Where's My Refund website

 

Please click IRS Operations During COVID-19: Mission-critical functions continue to learn more.  

 

If you e-filed, make sure the return was e-filed successfully and accepted:

  • Re-check your e-file status 

    Make sure to enter the federal refund amount without the state refund, less any TurboTax fees if you chose to pay any fees out of the refund.

  • If you are married filing jointly try using the Social Security Number for the name that appears first on the return. 

If you have already tried the above on the IRS WMR website, you can check the status of your refund by calling the IRS Refund Hotline at 800-829-1954. 

 

Please check Why is there no record of my return at Where's My Refund (WMR)? to learn more. 

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
March 18, 2021
  • I filed Feb 12th, 2021 received my state around Feb 28th still nothing on my Federal. Called IRS and after using the steps to talk to a live person, was informed my tax return is not in the errors department. IRS guy said he doesn't see any actual reason for it to be in the errors department but that it could take up to 10 weeks to get sorted out. Never used an online filing service until this year, and never had a problem until this year. Great...