My federal tax returns have not been accepted yet but I got my state back.

[mesquitebean]

"Accepted" is an efile term.   I presume you mean the IRS has received your return, but has not yet "approved" your refund.

The IRS says that most people who efile and choose direct deposit will receive their refund within 21 days.  But sometimes it takes longer.  A significant number of returns require more processing for various reasons, some chosen at random.   Here are some things you can check before phoning the IRS:

First, if you efiled, be sure your efiled return was accepted for processing by the IRS.   If using Online TurboTax, you can check at the Tax Home page.   Does it show as accepted, rejected, printed, started, ready to mail, or something else?

If that showed your return was accepted for processing, you can track your Federal refund at the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool.   Is there any message there?

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

NOTE:  If you filed by mail, it can take 4 weeks just to show up in that tool.

The IRS refund tracker tool normally uses 3 stages:

• Return received and is being processed.
• Refund approved.
• Refund sent and an expected deposit date.

If that tool shows your refund is still being processed, and if it's been significantly longer than the usual 21 days, you can phone the IRS, if you wish, to see if they can tell you anything about the delay.

IRS: 800-829-1040 (7AM-7 PM local time) Monday-Friday

[Mike9241]

did you e-file your state return, file by mail, or use the state website to file your return? The general rule is that you won't get your e-filed state refund until the federal e-filed return is accepted.  

[VolvoGirl]

Did you efile the state return?   You can’t efile state until the federal return was also Accepted.   So if your state return was Accepted and you got the state refund THEN your federal was Accepted.  

Federal and State refunds come from different places at different times.  No way to know which will come first.  You have to ask the IRS.