After January, e-filed returns generally sit in Pending status for 24–48 hours or sometimes longer before coming back as either Accepted or Rejected.
Once your return shows "Accepted" you can then start tracking your return on the IRS Where's My Refund? site.
Keep in mind:
- E-filing status is what stage of the process your return is in. e-file status
- Refund status is when you can expect you refund. If that’s what you’re interested in, go to Where's My Refund?
Note: Taxpayers who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) may experience a refund hold. The IRS usually begins issuing tax refunds on returns with the EIC or Additional Child Tax Credit in late February.
Some 2019 federal refunds are delayed due to the PATH Act