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. “21 days” is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS. Many refunds are taking longer during the pandemic. The IRS is backlogged —-they are still trying to process millions of 2019 returns; they received millions of e-filed on the day they opened for 2020 returns, and now they are burdened with sending out another round of stimulus checks.
Some delays are resulting from incorrect amounts that folks entered for stimulus checks they received. Many people have been confused by the recovery rebate credit and completed it incorrectly. The IRS may delay your refund while they cross-check to see what you received. Some refunds are delayed because of the tax law changes that went into effect recently. If your return has unemployment or the premium tax credit on it, that may be delaying it.
First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted:
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/
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 34of your 2020 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:
To track your state refund:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund
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
Although the IRS has processed and issued most refunds from e-filed returns around 21 days, due to COVID, CARES Act, stimulus, American Rescue Plan Act and a huge amount of early tax returns being filed this year, some of the returns will require more time to review.
See this IRS newsroom release: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue
They are so delayed that they postponed the filing date from April 15 to May 17.
@philip35813
Just be aware that some folks have been waiting since mid-February. Also see:
The IRS is sending out Stimulus #3 payments in batches, and will take a few weeks to complete them all. This one comes to you separately (and automatically), not as part of your 2020 tax refund. You can check the status here: