What does "Your tax return is still being processed. A refund date will be provided when available." Exactly mean?

[Cebbie71]

I’m just worried I done something wrong. It was much higher then expected. 

[Blackjacobin4]

If you have not received your refund and it is severely affecting you financially. You can call the IRS and request an Expedited refund.  The IRS will most likely ask you to explain your hardship situation and provide documentation to support your hardship.  Additionally if you have received documentation that your refund is held up due to a temporary backlog in processing, you can request an Expedited refund as a result of the financial hardship caused by the backlog.  Some examples of hardships are not being able to buy medicine, facing eviction or not make your mortgage payments, utility cutoff notices etc. 

[goffrey123]

I have been waiting since April 5th when it was excepted by irs. There's still no data saying it's still being processed what do I do I need my **bleep** money

[xmasbaby0]

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.  “21 days”  is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS.   Many refunds are taking longer during the pandemic.  The IRS is backlogged —-they are still trying to process millions of 2019 returns; they received millions of e-filed on the day they opened for 2020 returns, and now they are burdened with sending out another round of stimulus checks.   

Some delays are resulting from incorrect amounts that folks entered for stimulus checks they received.   Many people have been confused by the recovery rebate credit and completed it incorrectly.  The IRS may delay your refund while they cross-check to see what you received.  Some refunds are delayed because of the tax law changes that went into effect recently.   If your return has unemployment or the premium tax credit on it, that may be delaying it.

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: 

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

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 34of your 2020 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

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2724106-my-return-is-accepted-but-still-not-approved-is-there-a-pr...

From this IRS website - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of May 15, 2021, we had 300,000 individual tax returns received prior to 2021 in the processing pipeline. Including current year returns, as of May 15, 2021, we had 16.4 million unprocessed individual returns in the pipeline. Unprocessed returns include 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. 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.

[Rsimpson2182]

Filed Feb. 22, 2021

It finally updated today, I should be deposited this coming week... Took 107 days from file day..that's pretty crazy!

[Rchast10]

When did you finally get yours?

[BenMary1991]

Filed in Feb. Just got a notice yesterday that it will deposit Jun 9th.  

[oldskule56]

People r saying waiting for days.  How bout 4 months.  AND I was told 10 weeks as well.  Haven't seen jack didly.

[gardengyrl]

So it seems that people are still having the same issue with tax refunds in 2021 that people were having in 2020. ours is a very simple return. we received our state refund back in march. totally agree with another person on here who said don't treat us like we're all uninformed. Yes I've checked the status of refund on IRS web page, numerous times!! Automated system is just a fake customer service and it's bad for everyones mental health!

[JaneGPeterson]

Well, I guess that kinda gives me hope. Mine was accepted March 23rd and is still in the "being processed" stack per the IRS. Glad to hear you're on the way to finally getting yours! 

[BenMary1991]

Yes!  It took months but finally deposited today (June 9). I filed in Feb. 

[Abiem]

Still haven't resolved it

[Dpatterson1171]

I don't understand, as a tax preparer I have a few clients still waiting (in process) for their refund as of 6/9/21.  Why does the government push all the special programs ($10,200 UCE, child tax credit, etc) before processing returns sent in for processing in March.   These clients have been extended too long for their refund. This particular client is losing his job in 3 months.  They should be taking care of the clients who filed first, then the special rule changes should be taken care of after.   I understand the cuts in the workforce but process in the correct order.

[VolvoGirl]

You are posting in the wrong place.  You need to ask and complain to the IRS and your congressman.

[xmasbaby0]

@Dpatterson1171 Not sure what you are seeing that makes you think the IRS is only working on the returns with unemployment or CTC.  They are working on millions of returns that are in the pipeline, some of which are from 2019.    Or why as a paid preparer you are posting in the TurboTax user forum, since paid preparers are not allowed to use TurboTax.   

From this IRS website - https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations-during-covid-19-mission-critical-functions-continue

As of May 15, 2021, we had 300,000 individual tax returns received prior to 2021 in the processing pipeline. Including current year returns, as of May 15, 2021, we had 16.4 million unprocessed individual returns in the pipeline. Unprocessed returns include 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. 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.