I had an account with an approved return a few years ago I went to jail and just recently got out is there a way to see what happened to that return

[Bsch4477]

Apply to see a transcript here. 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

[xmasbaby0]

You have not been specific about what year you are referring to---you only say "a few years ago."   TurboTax never knows if a refund has been approved.  TurboTax only tells you if a return has been accepted for processing by the IRS when you e-file the return.  Only the IRS can "approve" of the refund.

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

The IRS refund site is now showing information for refunds for tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023.   If you are asking about a refund from an earlier year, you can call the IRS or check your online account with the IRS.

In order to use the IRS refund site, you need your Social Security number,  your filing status (married, single, etc),   and the amount of the refund.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday
When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.
Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
Then press 3 "for all other questions."
Then press 2 "for all other questions."
- When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything.
- After it asks twice, you will get another menu.

Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
Then press 3 for all other inquiries
It should then transfer you to an agent.

https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

If you need to trace a payment that the IRS says has been issued to you, mail or fax a completed IRS Form 3911, Taxpayer Statement Regarding Refund.

  You have to access your own account and/or  print it for yourself using exactly the same account and user ID that you used when you prepared the return.

Start a 2023 return online and enter some personal information  so that the menu on the left opens up and lets you access your past year returns.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/prior-year-return/help/how-do-i-access-my-prior-year-return/01/270...

Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them.  Log out of the account you are in now.

Account Recovery

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901535-forgot-your-turbotax-online-user-id-or-password

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901486-how-many-turbotax-accounts-do-i-have

Or did you use the desktop version of TurboTax?  If so, the files are on your own hard drive or any backup device you used like a flash drive.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901659-find-your-tax-data-file-in-mac

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-return/find-last-year-tax-data-file-...

You can get a free transcript from the IRS or for a fee of $30, an actual copy of your tax return.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506.pdf

SAVE YOUR TAX RETURN !

EVERY year before mid-October you should save a copy of your tax return as a pdf and print a copy of it for your records.  That way you will not be searching online frantically when you need it for a lender, FAFSA forms, your next tax return, etc. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900937-why-should-i-save-a-pdf-copy-of-my-return

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899779-what-s-the-difference-between-the-tax-data-file-and-the-pd...

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1912466-how-do-i-save-my-return-as-a-pdf-in-the-turbotax-software-... •

NOTE:  TurboTax and the IRS save returns for seven years.  Returns older than seven years are purged.

[Opus 17]

I would start with a transcript.  If a refund was paid, but you don't know where it went, you can try asking the IRS to trace the payment.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/refund-inquiries/refund-inquiries-0

One thing you need to know is that if the IRS followed the instructions on the tax return, they are done and won't do anything else to help you get a missing refund.  For example, if your return asked for a direct deposit to a friend's bank account, and the IRS followed the instructions and paid it, you have to ask your friend for the money, the IRS won't help you.  (Or a joint bank account with a partner or spouse, or the accountant's bank account.  Same thing.  If the money was deposited in the account according to the return, the IRS involvement is over.)