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.
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 35a of your 2025 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:
To track your state refund:
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
.
If you are getting earned income credit on line 27 or additional child tax credit on line 28 You are subject to the delay required by the PATH act. Do not expect your refund before early March
Note: “Accepted” is not the same as “approved”. TurboTax tells you the e-file was accepted if the IRS deems that there is enough information on the return for them to take it in for processing. Only the IRS can approve of the refund, which is a later stage of processing. If the IRS approves your refund they will provide a date for the refund to be issued.
FROM THE IRS WHERE’S MY REFUND SITE:
https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund
How it works
Where's My Refund shows your refund status:
If you had a credit on your tax return like the Earned Income Credit, as XmasBaby0 mentions above, or the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit, the processing time is a little longer.
The delay is due to the PATH Act or Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes, and it requires the IRS to hold refunds for returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until at least February 15.
If you used the pay with refund service, your refund will go to that bank first to process and then it will go to your bank for processing the deposit, which will add some time for your refund to appear.
You can use this IRS tool Where's My Refund? to check on the status of your refund. It provides updates regarding the processing of your tax return.
You can also call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday. Make sure to have a copy of your tax return available.
The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail if it needs more information to process their return.
Click here for "Why Is My Tax Refund Delayed? 7 Common Reasons"
Click here for "How to Track an Income Tax Refund"
Click here for Why it may take longer than 21 days for some taxpayers to receive their federal refund
Please return To Community if you have any additional information or questions and we would be happy to help.