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Level 2
posted Feb 13, 2021 11:25:17 AM

Status still Pending

Why is my return still pending? I filed a few days ago and there isn’t any update. A friend filed today and their efile was accepted right away? I knew the IRS would open on the 12th but how does it make sense that someone who filed after me gets accepted right away?

0 427 20992
24 Replies
Level 15
Feb 13, 2021 11:59:17 AM

It is not "first in  first out".

 

 

MY RETURN IS IN PENDING—what does that mean?

 

Did you e-file?  Did you click that big orange button that said “Transmit my returns now?”  If so, your return is now in “pending” on a server.  Do not try to change anything while your return is in pending. If your return is rejected you will be able to make corrections before re-filing.

 

The IRS will not be accepting/rejecting 2020 returns until Friday, February 12, 2021.  You need to watch your emails for the acceptance/rejection notice that may take until mid-February or later to arrive.   And watch your spam folder too.   There are a LOT of e-files on servers so it may be several days after the IRS opens before you get an email.

 

When you e-file your federal return you will receive two emails from TurboTax.  The first one will say that your return was submitted.  The second email will tell you if your federal return was accepted or rejected.  If you e-filed a state return, there will be a third email to tell you if the state accepted or rejected your state return.

 

A state return cannot be accepted until the federal return has been accepted.

 

 

 

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-tax-filing-season-begins-feb-12-irs-outlines-steps-to-speed-refunds-during-pandemic

Level 1
Feb 13, 2021 12:05:22 PM

I'm in the same position. I don't know why my returns are still pending. I don't know it there's a problem with my return or if its taking longer because I have dependents. And I can't talk to anyone to help me figure it out!!

Level 1
Feb 13, 2021 12:35:21 PM

Yup! Same here. I submitted mine on 2/4 and as of today it still says pending. There is no indication that Turbotax transmitted my return to the IRS yet. Turbotax was quick to take my money but slow to push the paperwork over to the IRS on 2/12 when they opened.

Level 1
Feb 13, 2021 6:11:24 PM

I filed on 1/31 and it's still pending.  Not sure if its just taking longer because I claimed my son or something is wrong.  

Level 2
Feb 14, 2021 4:24:01 AM

Mine still pending n I did mine once I had my paper work since the 1st

Level 1
Feb 15, 2021 9:31:43 AM

Yeah mine is still pending too and I did mine 1/28. I claimed my daughter so that's probably why it's taking so long.

Level 2
Feb 15, 2021 3:06:53 PM

Mines still pending did anyone update to approved yet?

Level 3
Feb 15, 2021 4:23:14 PM

My business tax returns are still in "Pending" status after more than 72 hours.  Last year it took all of 90 minutes before they were accepted, Federal and State. Because you are still waiting, I assume it is not just me. I think you could make the same assumption. 

Level 5
Feb 15, 2021 4:41:11 PM

Don’t be so quick to blame Turbotax as I just received my 2019 refund from the IRS on February 5th of this year. The IRS is probably still not ready for tax returns. All I can say is just be patient and glad you filed early because this tax season is going to be pretty messy. I bet they shut the Where’s My Refund tool down for “updates” smh

Level 2
Feb 15, 2021 10:02:05 PM

I filed mine on 1/10,both on turbotax says pending, but when i go to the websites fto see my wheres my refund, it says that they have no record of my returns. 

Level 15
Feb 15, 2021 10:08:32 PM

You have to wait for your returns to be accepted before they show up.  Watch your emails.

 

For the Online version check your efile status here     

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

 

Then after the IRS accepts your return they pay most refunds within 21 days.

 

When you efile you get back 2 emails.  The first email only confirms the transmission.  The second email says if the IRS (or state) Accepted or Rejected your efile.

Level 4
Feb 15, 2021 10:36:16 PM

I didn’t receive the email from TurboTax or the IRS stating my efile return had been received or transmitted but it does show that it was transmitted on 2/12. My “received by the IRS” date keeps changing. First it was received 2/12, then 2/13, and now 2/16. Each change of received date still shows pending. Has this happened before where people don’t get the emails they are told to expect? And why would my received date continue to change ?

New Member
Feb 16, 2021 12:48:28 AM

I applied yesterday and I was accepted within 40 mins I was surprised

Level 4
Feb 16, 2021 1:54:32 AM

Did you have earned income credit or child tax credit ? I’ve heard that holds it up a bit but I can’t figured out why the dates keep changing. 
My daughter filed a simple return and her’s was accepted the same day. I didn’t have that same luck. 

Level 3
Feb 16, 2021 6:55:54 AM

Filed on Feb 10. Still pending on Feb 16. No child, earned income credit.

Level 4
Feb 16, 2021 8:02:38 AM

My federal return was accepted by the IRS on 2/11/2021.  Mine still shows return received on the IRS track my refund.  

Level 15
Feb 16, 2021 8:08:01 AM

How long ago was your e-file accepted?  

 

You may need to be more patient with a system that is overwhelmed,

 

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

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2584108-why-is-there-no-record-of-my-return-at-where-s-my-refund-wmr?jump_to=answer_4242575

Sometimes people get confused by the “summary” given by TurboTax and use the wrong amount for the federal refund.  Make sure you are only using the federal refund amount, and not an amount that combined your federal and state refunds.  

 

Your federal refund amount is on line 34 of your Form 1040

 

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

Level 3
Feb 16, 2021 10:00:23 AM

Same here. Since neither my Fed or State have been accepted (no email from Turbotax I am highly suspicious  that there is not something on Turbotax end since my friend's (2) were already accepted by Utah and they file the same day I did with Turbotax (2/3)

Level 4
Feb 16, 2021 10:10:34 AM

Ya I didnt have any issues and got the email from Turbotax saying all my stuff was accepted on 2/11

Level 2
Feb 16, 2021 10:32:42 AM

Same.  I filed first of February and still says pending.  My son filed after me and it is accepted.  Everyone I know who filed after me but before 2/12 has been accepted.  Lost?  I have a very simple return, so it isn’t that...  Exasperated that all TurboTax says is wait...  it’s been more than 48 hrs...

Level 2
Feb 16, 2021 10:35:57 AM

So, when TurboTax sent me an email that said “Welcome to the front of the line” when I submitted my return early, that was a complete lie...  2/16 and still “pending”

Level 4
Feb 16, 2021 10:39:36 AM

Mine just said this on 2/11

 

TurboTax Update: Federal Return Accepted

Level 3
Feb 16, 2021 11:26:53 AM

I filed on January 21st and mine is still pending.  I have always had mine accepted within a few  hours or if filing before they begin processing the day processing begins.  I have called Turbo Tax twice and they say it has been submitted.  I can't reach anyone at the IRS and the Where's My Refund tool has no record of anything being filed.  They should at least put a press release out or something to let people know what the issue is. 

Level 3
Feb 16, 2021 12:01:19 PM

Intuit support hasn't been helpful. They just say continue to keep waiting and make up excuses about CV19 and tax form changes causing delays. I open a ticket, and they are very quick to close it. They can't seem to indicate whether they received my tax returns and whether they were sent to the IRS and state. If there's no IRS refund expected, then what will you find regarding status on the IRS refund site? For all of the other tax years, approvals were same day. I suspect Intuit may have missed submitting certain returns, but not others, or that the federal holidays caused some confusion, or that invalid data was sent somewhere. Pretty concerning that some returns were still approved this year and I'm still waiting after 6 days after submitting on Feb 10. Intuit says call back in 14 days (after saying status updates/decisions arrive in 24-48 hours) - yeah, thanks for leaving me hanging!