My returns have been ‘pending’ for days now and turbo tax told me there is nothing they can do. IRS has no record of them. What do I do?

[SForrestLO]

Please know that is the IRS that has to approve your return, not Turbo Tax. It varies, but normally it takes 24-48 hours. Also, the identity-protection safeguards implemented by the IRS in recent years may account for longer wait times. Eventually, you will receive an email letting you know whether or not your return has been accepted or rejected. TurboTax FAQ "What does Pending mean? "states, "Pending simply means that your e-filed return is on its way and that the government hasn't accepted or rejected it yet.

If you contact the government or try to look up your refund status while your return is still pending, don't be surprised if they tell you "no record found." This is normal; until the government starts reviewing and processing your return, they won't have any record of it."

What does "Pending" mean?

[jennifercloss]

Are the longer than 48 hrs normal now? I have never had a return take this long to be accepted. If it’s not accepted after a week or so, can I cancel it and refile? Could there be a glitch? 

[MichelleLO]

Sometimes it takes a bit longer for tax returns to get transmitted and accepted. Please see the following TurboTax Help Article for more information. 

Why is my return still pending?

[Kendra684]

I'm not understanding how I filed on the 29th and still pending but I sat next to someone who also filed through turbo tax this morning and her return has been accepted.

These automatic responses aren't helpful. 

[AkinaLO]

Each tax scenario is different, and there's no way for us to know which tax return will be accepted by the IRS more quickly than another. Pending can take anywhere from 3 days to a few weeks. The best way to keep up to date is to check Where's My Refund?  

Please view the page below for more helpful information.

Why is my return still pending?

[Kendra684]

If it was a TurboTax security issue and you guys haven't even sent it through yet because of that, why can't anyone help me figure out what to do? It's been over 48 hours and I've gotten no follow up email. 

[EbonyA]

Please provide more details regarding what you are referring to as being a "Turbo Tax security issue" @Kendra684. Please keep in mind that pending does not mean that Turbo Tax "has not sent it through yet" it just means that the IRS has not yet accepted or rejected it yet. The FAQ's previously provided in the thread outline some of the common reasons for tax returns still showing as pending. If you have more details to add please feel free to do so and we will assist accordingly.

[Kendra684]

Here is what I got on Saturday evening. I called the number and told them it is me on both accounts. The email here says even if I didn't respond to the message it would be sent forward in 48 hours. Just trying to figure out if there was something else I should be doing to move this forward. 

[EbonyA]

Thanks for providing more details. The 48 hour timeframe is just the allotted time for you to alert us if in fact you were not the one on the additional filing. As such, there would be nothing further required of you. The IRS could still be conducting further review which would result in your tax return being in a pending status. So just to be clear, you attempted to file using a different Turbo Tax account? was this after starting your return in another? @Kendra684.

[Kendra684]

I didn't start this year's return in another but last year I did it under a different email address. My employer does their payroll through intuit and the W2s, so I was logged into my employer email when I filed not realizing it. But because I have done multiple returns under my personal email I'm guessing that's what triggered it. Thank you for clarifying. 

[SForrestLO]

You're welcome.

@Kendra684

[EbonyA]

Ok, got it....You're most welcome @Kendra684.

[goldbabes]

My return has been in pending for 3 days. I realized when Turbo prompted me for a new PIN I entered PIN that was different from my last  year's PIN and I don't know if this was the reason the it is still in pending.  Also I am using a new email that has never been used with TurboTax before. The status given by TurboTax makes me think they received it but has not transmitted to the IRS. It says this. I am worried that my return will be late for April 18 if the IRS has not received by then.

Federal Return

Received by TurboTax:

Tuesday, Apr 12, 1:15 PM EDT

Received by IRS:

Pending

Filing status changed to: Pending

Tuesday, Apr 12, 1:15 PM EDT

[Ebony A]

Please review this FAQ for details on why a return may still be in pending status @goldbabes.