Why is my return still pending?

[Butlers215]

I cannot get my filing to post.  It shows me a screen that asks for payment for Turbo Tax.  I made my purchase at COSTCO and paid for it outright.  Paul C. Butler.  [email address removed]

[mesquitebean]

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@Butlers215 wrote:

I cannot get my filing to post.  It shows me a screen that asks for payment for Turbo Tax.  I made my purchase at COSTCO and paid for it outright. 

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This is a public user community forum.  For your privacy and security, please do not post personal info in this public Internet forum.   It looks like the forum privacy filter protected you by removing your email address.  TurboTax Support will not email you from the forum.

More details are needed.   It's hard to comment specifically without knowing the exact product you purchased and what it is now trying to charge you for.   So I'll ask for the following information:

What exactly did you purchase at Costco?  Costco sells two widely different TurboTax platforms.   It sells desktop software that is installed on one's computer and a new special Live version that uses Online TurboTax (in a browser) with access to a CPA/EA tax expert.  

So did you buy the desktop software; i.e., a CD or download of regular Deluxe, Premier, or Home and Business?

Or did you purchase  TurboTax LIVE, which is the version that uses Online TurboTax with the help of a CPA/EA tax expert?   That's a new product sold for the first time this year at Costco.   It would be called Live Deluxe, Live Premier, or Live Self-Employed.

If you purchased the regular desktop software (a CD or download of regular Deluxe, Premier, or Home and Business), after you installed the program, did you happen to use Online TurboTax by mistake instead of the installed software?    If so, Online TurboTax would not recognize your purchase of the desktop software so it would charge you.   If that's what happened to you, we can tell you what to do to finish your return in your desktop software.

Only the LIVE products use Online TurboTax.  Regular desktop software does not use Online TurboTax.  

If you are using desktop software (CD/download), and if you are preparing both a Federal return and a state return, there is a $20 fee to efile each state return.   There is no state efile fee for New York state and no fee to print and mail a state return.

That's an overview.  Once you report exactly what you purchased and what it's trying to charge you for, then we should be able to tell you more about what you are experiencing.

[mallory4420]

Mine at least has been accepted. Fed and IL state accepted 2/11...no deposits for either 

[linch]

@GabiU Hi, I filed my federal and NY state return on 2/19. My federal return was accepted on the same day. But my NY return has been pending since then, even the "Received by New York" is pending.. Does it mean TT hasn't transmitted my return to NY? I have not yet received any emails from TT. Please let me know what I can do .. Thank you!

[Rudylantaya1]

My taxes was accepted  but still pending is that a delay

[mesquitebean]

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@ Rudylantaya1 wrote:

My taxes was accepted  but still pending is that a delay

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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.

This IRS FAQ gives some situations where it might take longer than 21 days:
https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

It's not clear what you mean by your statement above and aren't sure how you are using the term "pending."  When you log into Online TurboTax, what is shown for the efile status of your Federal and state returns--does it say they are pending, accepted, rejected, printed, or what?

If your Tax Home shows the Federal return was accepted, what is showing at this IRS  "Where's My Refund" site?   If the WMR site says it's being processed, that is normal.

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.
• If you chose to pay TurboTax fees out of your Federal refund, then be sure to use the Federal refund amount before any fees were taken out.
• The amount to use is on your Federal Form 1040, Line 35a.

FAQ:  How do I track my state refund?  (after it's accepted)

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/refund-status/help/how-do-i-track-my-state-refund/00/25571

[mslatinlady]

EVERYONE:  Those of us who have had problems with TurboTax e-filing, and then decided to use a different tax software, who did you use?  Did you use H&R Block?  Or a different one?

I've used Turbotax for 10 years now and never had a problem until this year.  I thank God that I was able to "fix" my state return and then re-file it a 2nd time and it actually DID get accepted by California.  But I'll sure be cautious next year so that's why I'm asking you all, which other tax software did you use and did you have problems that that one as well?

Thanks and blessings to us all..

[Karina molans]

Mine to

[Teek21]

@mslatinlady 
I was fed up with waiting on TurboTax so I refiled with FreeTaxUSA on 2/22. Both my federal and state were accepted quickly and my federal refund is already scheduled for direct deposit. I will never use TurboTax again. It was definitely a one and done experience for me. 

[mslatinlady]

To  Teek21--

Where do you find Free Tax USA ?

[Teek21]

@mslatinlady 

https://www.freetaxusa.com

It was one of the tax filing services recommended on the IRS website.

Filing my federal return was free. Filing my state cost $12.95. I also paid an addition $6.99 for tax support and audit assistance etc. It cost $19.99 total in comparison to the $130 that TurboTax wanted ANd my refund was significantly better. 

[mslatinlady]

Teek21

On the FreeTaxUSA website, can you do BOTH the Federal and the State returns?  Or is FreeTaxUSA just for Federal ?

[Teek21]

@mslatinlady 

You can do both federal and state filings but only the federal is free. It’s still a ton cheaper than Turbo Tax and they have great ratings as a company and come recommended just the same by the IRS. 

[mslatinlady]

OK, great to know !  Thank  you !  Have a blessed day....  I'm going for a walk now, it's a beautiful day.

[mslatinlady]

Teek 21

The story gets even crazier !

The IRS accepted my return on Feb 11.  And I got my refund deposited into my bank on Feb 16.

Well, for the heck of it, right now I went to the IRS website to see my status and it says "We've received your tax return and it's being processed." 

Well, I HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED MY REFUND !

At the top of that page there's a notice that says:  "Updates to Where's My Refund Status Delayed for Some." And then it goes on to say "The Where's My Refund App may show "Return Received" even if we've already issued your refund.  Your refund will not be delayed.  There's no need to call the IRS."

Even the IRS's website is having issues ! Crazy !!