My Turbo Tax says my return has been accepted, but the IRS website says it hasn't been? Is this normal?

[Critter-3]

Have you checked your status here: TurboTax and IRS ?

Although the IRS has processed and issued most refunds from e-filed returns around 21 days, because of the pileup caused by Covid, CARES Act, stimulus and the American Rescue Plan Act, some of the returns will require more time to review. 

Several items can  delay the processing of the 2020 return ... some of which are :   

> unemployment

> repayment of the PTC

> stimulus credit  on line 30 of the 2020 form 1040

> if you used the 2019 earned income for the 2020 EIC &/or  CTC/ACTC

> if you have prior year balance dues or unfiled returns

> the info on the W-2 doesn't match what the employer sent in and/or the employer's W-2 is not yet on file

> a variety of other items that require humans to look at

Due to understaffing and over tasking at the IRS again this year many returns will be delayed for as much as months.  The aging computer system is being over taxed trying to process millions of  2019 returns and 2020 returns (some of which will need extra processing this year due to the late tax law changes)  AND putting out the third stimulus payments.  If you want to vent to someone then contact your  local congress person and demand they fund the IRS sufficiently so that they can hire enough people and update their computer systems to handle all of the demands made upon this agency.  The IRS  can only do so much with the continued reductions to their budget. 

See these  recent news articles for a good laugh:

Where is my damn IRS tax refund? New answers emerge as delays frustrate millions (msn.com)

https://money.yahoo.com/taxpayers-waiting-to-get-last-years-tax-refund-190333088.html

https://money.yahoo.com/irs-employees-say-out-of-ink-printers-are-delaying-tax-returns-171522801.htm...

Called the IRS lately? Agency struggles to hire customer service reps despite pandemic unemployment ...

[celenegarnica]

I am on the same exact situation. Please let me know if you get any further. I will do the same when and if I do. Thanks ! 

[InspectorGene]

Help

[xmasbaby0]

@InspectorGene This is not live chat.   If you want help please ask a clear and complete question.

[Critter-3]

@InspectorGene 

Your post was already answered : 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/4494841

[EWR]

My Federal Tax refund is stating "Pending", for four months and guess what, no one to call?

[DoninGA]

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@EWR wrote:

My Federal Tax refund is stating "Pending", for four months and guess what, no one to call?

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An e-filed federal tax return that was Accepted by the IRS would not indicate Pending.  It would be indicating Processing.

After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.

The IRS is seriously behind in processing 2020 tax returns.  This is due to many factors, such as the pandemic, completing processing of millions of 2019 tax returns, stimulus payments, unemployment compensation exclusion tax refunds., changes in the tax code by Congress in the middle of the 2020 tax season and the like.

Millions of taxpayers have not yet received there federal tax refunds.

Go to this IRS website for operational status - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of July 17, 2021, we had 15.6 million unprocessed individual returns. Unprocessed individual returns include tax year 2020 returns such as those requiring correction to the Recovery Rebate Credit amount or validation of 2019 income used to figure the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). This work does not require us to correspond with taxpayers but does require special handling by an IRS employee so, in these instances, it is taking the IRS more than 21 days to issue any related refund and in some cases this work could take 90 to 120 days. If, as a result, a correction is made to any RRC, EITC or ACTC claimed on the return, the IRS will send taxpayers an explanation. Taxpayers are encouraged to continue to check Where’s My Refund? for their personalized refund status and can review Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions.

What you should do: In most instances, no further action is needed but you may check Where’s my refund or you can view your account. If you filed electronically and received an acknowledgement, you do not need to take any further action other than promptly responding to any requests for information. If you filed on paper, check Where’s my refund? If it tells you we have received your return or are processing or reviewing it, we are processing your return, but it may be under review. We’re working hard to get through the backlog. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return.

[Jiao]

Thanks~ Super helpful!!! 

[Sheriiamore13]

It’s been over 3 months since I filed my return and this morning I decided to check the turbo tax app and it seems that both my federal and state tax return has gone up. Confusing as I’ve already received my state. I tried tracking my refund on the irs website and it’s saying no information available so I called the number and it’s saying I need to wait 24 hours after I file to check my status, but I’ve filed since April. I also followed the instructions you provided while on the phone and it had me on hold for about a minute before telling me that my call cannot be answered 

[Critter-3]

If you filed before the mid march tax law changes and  you had unemployment and/or PTC repayment on the return then when you reopened the return the program updated your return to reflect those changes which may have also changed the state.  If so then for the feds you have nothing more to do but wait for the difference to be released since they are making the corrections automatically.   However if you now have a credit that was not on the original return then you must amend the return to get it ... the mid season changes that congress made is making a mess of the filing season.   Compare  the original return against  the new one and see what the differences are then talk to someone in TT support directly for more assistance in which direction you may need to take ... 

See this TurboTax support FAQ for a contact link and hours of operation -https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number
They are available M-F  from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time.

[Renee856]

This is why I'm trying to get answers

[DoninGA]

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@Renee856 wrote:

This is why I'm trying to get answers

---

This message thread has over 175 posts so we have no idea which answers you are trying to get.

What is your question?

[alyssarenae3]

I faxed back A form needed to process my refund form for A deceased refund so how will I know the status on my refund after o have faxed over the form

[Dev_Diaz]

Hey @ChrisVonHoep  I filed in turbo tax on March 2 2021. TurboTax says the federal and state has been excepted. But when I check “where my refund” on the IRS website they say “we cannot provide any information about your refund.” It’s been 7 months since I filed and I’m unable to speak to someone on the phone from the IRS. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. 

[DoninGA]

@Dev_Diaz You are asking a question from someone who posted many many months ago so do not expect to receive an answer from them.

If you received a confirmation email from TurboTax that both the federal and state tax returns have been Accepted then you need to check the status of those returns from each tax authority.

If accepted by the IRS use the federal tax refund website to check the refund status - https://www.irs.gov/refunds
If accepted by the state use this TurboTax support FAQ to check the state tax refund status - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

For the status of a federal tax refund you Must enter the exact same information as reported on the federal return.  The Social Security number, Filing Status and the federal tax refund as shown on the federal refund that was filed.

To access your prior year online tax returns sign onto the TurboTax website with the User ID you used to create the account - https://myturbotax.intuit.com/

Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and on the section Your tax returns & documents click on Show.  Click on the Year and Click on Download/print return (PDF)

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

If the status is not available then contact the IRS and speak with an agent.

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 4 for all other inquiries
It should then transfer you to an agent.