Why is my return still pending?

[Nserafano]

I filed on 2/2 and both my returns are still pending!!!! I need answers 

[Nita95]

So I’m gonna go with the IRS hasn’t received anything for us atp smh TT half of us are paying and we can’t even get answers! We are trusting y’all to safely send our returns over and they are not being sent like wtw! No one is giving us information Shame on you all I’m not filling with TT again !! 

[Moore256]

I filled February 8th. But yet the irs still has no recollection of my return being sent when I was supposed to be at the front of the line. Like myself there has been people who filled in January and the irs says the same thing no return found for social. Yet people after us who filed after us when the irs opened is getting approved with refunds sent or rejected with reasons but we are still pending. It’s not the irs because if it was the returns that did get a response wouldn’t have since the early filers are still pending everyone still would be pending if it was the irs think about it. It’s turbo tax and they faulty system. Point blank. And all were asking is they attempt to fix their wrong but nope they going continue to tell people it’s the irs because it’s easier. And like I said before there are going to be some filers who are in the state we are in after the file date there is many reasons they might play a factor in why they are pending. But a lot of us were early filers and suppose to be at the front of the line seem to be at the back especially when it’s been confirmed that people have been filled and some even received there money so far. 

[Nita95]

@Moore256 Yes your on point with this one like we want our money to and we would like to know what’s going on smh 

[Nita95]

That’s a good question!! @Teek21 

[Coreyscott88]

My fed was accepted on 2-11 my state which is Pa was accepted 2 days later but my refund still hasn’t been approved? I know someone that did theirs after me and got theirs already but the IRS2GO app still says theirs was accepted but the Approved tab is still gray like it wasn’t approved yet 🤷🏼‍♂️

[mesquitebean]

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@Coreyscott88 wrote:

My fed was accepted on 2-11 my state which is Pa was accepted 2 days later but my refund still hasn’t been approved? I know someone that did theirs after me and got theirs already but the IRS2GO app still says theirs was accepted but the Approved tab is still gray like it wasn’t approved yet 🤷🏼‍♂️

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I'll tell you in general how it works.

Processing time at the IRS varies and cannot be compared to someone else's experience--there are too many variables.  Once it's through processing, then hopefully it will be approved.

The IRS says 9 out of 10 filers who efile and choose direct deposit will get their Federal refunds within 21 days after being accepted. Some returns are processed fairly quickly, while others require additional processing due to specific items in the return. Some are pulled at random for more thorough investigation. 

You said your returns were accepted, so you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool at the IRS website below (or the IRS2GO app) to monitor the status of your Federal refund. 
https://www.irs.gov/Refunds

NOTE: When using that tool,  be sure to enter the correct SSN and filing status.   For the refund amount, use only the Federal refund amount, and not any total refund amount that includes a state refund.
The amount to use is on your Federal Form 1040, Line 35a.

As for tracking your Pennsylvania state return, the FAQ below tells how.  The FAQ below also tells you how long it takes in Pennsylvania for the state return to be processed and how long for a payment to be made.

FAQ:  How do I track my Pennsylvania state tax refund?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refund-status/help/how-do-i-track-my-pennsylvania-tax-refund/00/26...

[dfg5133]

@Nita95 I filed on 1/24 claiming EITC and both recovery rebate credits. My refund issue date is 2/24. My information didn’t start showing on the WMR tracker until 2/16

[Critter-3]

FYI ... the IRS WMR?  tool is often incorrect or behind in being updated   and it may never be updated from ACCEPTED ... a couple of my clients have reported getting the refunds and the IRS still doesn't reflect that situation.  So don't hang your hat on info from that source.  

[Cowboysfan21]

I submitted both Federal and State taxes back on February 1, 2021 at 4PM. 

I keep checking emails (spam as well) to see if I need to make any changes to my taxes. 

As of this morning, I still don't see any email (stating either way accepted or denied). I am not sure if the 48 hour window applies to my situation?

If the 48 hour window does apply. Which date do I use for the start of the 48 hour window? I called Turbo Tax and looking my screen IRS has received my taxes at 12:03 AM on 2/16/21.

I keep checking the IRS tool and the app they have. As of this morning IRS states they still have no record of my taxes being received. So, still pretty confused on what may have occurred. 

Does my 48 hour window start from 2/16/21 or when does it start? 

[krsbozo]

@Cowboysfan21 

Hi, I've been watching this and other threads on the TT support site for days. This is how I understand how things stand. The initial 24 to 48 hours where you were to hear a status change from TT starts from when you first submit, for most people. But this year, the IRS didn't start processing returns until 2/12. You would think your return would be processed ahead of others, but apparently not in this case. 

On Wednesday @GabiU said TT would send an email update to all of us stuck in Pending mode within 48 hours. That was confusing. When did that 48 hours begin? GabiU came back on and said that we should receive information by Friday, 2/19, at 9:00 pm. 

GabiU said additionally that if you are in this state, to update this thread saying so. That's where we are AFAICT. Back waiting and wondering what's going on. And hoping that someone is working to figure out what is up and resolve the problem.

Without any real information, I suspect that there is something in our returns that has caused a failure, and perhaps TT has so many returns in this state, that the company is overwhelmed trying to figure out what all the problems are and how to fix them. Their communication strategy is not great, and it certainly doesn't work for something as fraught as tax returns and money, both things that mean a lot to people, and things that are anxiety-inducing to begin with. 

[krsbozo]

Additionally, I have seen how we might be "rescued" from Pending Purgatory: TT eventually figures out that there is an error in the return that TT is generating that is keeping the returns from being accepted by the IRS or state taxing systems. They fix the problem, mark our returns as Rejected. We submit our returns again, and this time the process works as expected.

As I understand it, our returns are likely sitting on some TT server somewhere. 

Once the return has a Pending status, there is nothing you can do to fix it. The return status has to be set to Rejected by someone or some system at TT. At that point, you can "fix" it. For a bunch of folks who were stuck at Pending in CA, they eventually had their status set to Rejected. Then, these users simply stepped through the submission process, and this solved their problem. So, their status magically went from Pending to Rejected, and they received notification in email and in TT when this happened. They re-submitted their returns, and their status went to Pending, and within hours or a few days, the status went to Accepted as you would expect. 

If a return hasn't been Accepted, then it's not yet at the IRS, and the IRS tools will simply show that it has never been received. Same with the state systems. 

Hope this helps.

[Midpack]

I filed on 2/12, status is still pending. I patiently waited 7 days and finally called on 2/19. The TT rep told me "We noticed something in your tax return that could have caused it to be rejected. We are doing an extra review to assess the reason it was flagged, resolve it for you, or identify what you need to do to ensure everything is accurate and your return is accepted. Pending means that we have your tax return but it has not yet been filed and accepted.  While we are doing this extra review, your return will show as pending. You should receive an email from us within 48 hours confirming that your return has been filed, or with instructions for any additional steps that need to be taken."

It's 2/21, 48 hours later, status is still pending and I still haven't received any information re: why TT is holding my return. I am not finding any information online and I can't get through to a rep. Every day my return is in limbo is a day a scammer might file a fraudulent return - what am I supposed to do now?

[Midpack]

I filed on 2/12, status still pending after 7 days. I finally called TT rep on 2/19 and she told me "We noticed something in your tax return that could have caused it to be rejected. We are doing an extra review to assess the reason it was flagged, resolve it for you, or identify what you need to do to ensure everything is accurate and your return is accepted. Pending means that we have your tax return but it has not yet been filed and accepted.  While we are doing this extra review, your return will show as pending. You should receive an email from us within 48 hours confirming that your return has been filed, or with instructions for any additional steps that need to be taken."

It's now 2/21, 48 hours later, total of 9 days - and still no word whatsoever. Every day I wait is another day for a scammer to enter a fraudulent return. Seems more than a little unfair that my return, with no TT errors, is stuck after 9 days and no one can answer. No info online, and I can't get through the TT phone tree this morning to ask anyone.

[Teek21]

@krsbozo 

How do we get TT to do that tho and set our return to rejected ? They continue to tell me that there is nothing wrong with my return and I am simply waiting on the IRS to approve or reject. I can’t get help on either side it seems since the IRS says they do not have my return.