According to TurboTax, my federal return was accepted 4/30/20. IRS site says "Your 2019 Tax Return Is Not Processed"

[DoninGA]

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 over 21 days since being Accepted by the IRS and the tax refund is still Processing you can call the IRS and speak with an IRS agent concerning your tax refund.
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.

[plonghei]

Phone lines seem to be jammed. Yesterday I waited in the queue for 35 minutes and was "politely" disconnected. Today, I followed the above instructions and, at least got immediately rejected. Is this an anomaly or simply due to all of the other complexities with the IRS having to handle stimulus payment disbursements etc?

[xmasbaby0]

Waiting is frustrating—refunds are taking longer in many cases.  These are not normal times.  It is not possible for TurboTax to speed up the IRS for you.   The IRS is short staffed; and they are processing millions of tax returns at the same time that they have been burdened with the task of processing millions of stimulus checks. 

To check on regular tax refund status via automated phone, call 800-829-1954. (This line has no information on Economic Impact Payments.)

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

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.  Many refunds are taking longer during the pandemic. 

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 20 of your Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

To track your state refund:    

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

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.

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

To call the IRS:IRS:  800-829-1040  hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Mon-Fri

Listen to each menu before making the selection.

First choose your language. Press 1 for English.

Then do NOT choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.

Instead, press 2 for "personal income tax".

Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  

Then press 3 "for all other questions."

Then press 2 "for all other questions."  It should then transfer you to an agent.

[pbrophy]

Thanks for the info on how to reach an actual person.

I called shortly after 7:30am & got through to a person  in about 20 minutes. That person researched my return & told me that my return was selected for identity verification. A letter was to be sent to me with a control number and a URL where I could submit the control number, verifying that I indeed filed the return electronically.

Except I never got any such letter.

I was further informed that since the return was not validated, it was archived. I was then transferred to another department to handle identity validation.

After another 30 minutes on hold, I was told that my return was NOT archived, but it also wasn't being processed.  After verifying basic information, I was asked to provide information from my 2018 and 2019 returns (including information from W2s, so get those handy as well). Once I provided the requested information, I was told my return would be released to be processed which may take up to 9 weeks to complete.

Oh and the letter I was supposed to get? The representative said that IRS records show that it was never sent due to "Covid-19 shutdown issues".  So I guess it would have sat in limbo until I made the effort to provide enough information to satisfy the id validation requirements.

Whew!  Now I just have to wait to see if/when it actually gets processed. At least the IRS representatives were courteous and sympathetic about it ... I wouldn't want that job right about now. 🙂

[sk2020]

I am having the same issue. Called the IRS today and spoke with someone live and they said it has already been processed and they had no idea why it says on the IRS online account. Maybe it needs time to get updated. Will wait for couple more weeks and then call again :(. BTW @pbrophy did you get your status sorted out on your account or is it still the same? i.e. "your 2019 tax return is not processed"

[pbrophy]

@sk2020  Mine still says Not Processed.

I'm not going to worry about it unless it messes up the 2020 return. I did get my 2nd stimulus check, so at least they know I'm still alive.