There is a difference between Accepted for processing and being approved for the refund after the return is processed ...
OK ... here is the scoop ... NOT one tax company sends anything to the IRS. Once you submit your return it is put into a holding "pool" on a server that the IRS has complete control over them. When the IRS chooses to "drain" the pooled returns they do at their own discretion ... last week they pulled a few returns from each pool to test their system. These test returns may have been accepted for PROCESSING however the actual processing of the returns will not start before the 29th and if the return has EIC or ACTC on it those will not start processing until 2/15.
The only status you can have on WMR? is that is was accepted for processing and nothing more. Filing early will not get the return processed any sooner.
There is a difference between Accepted for processing and being approved for the refund after the return is processed ...
OK ... here is the scoop ... NOT one tax company sends anything to the IRS. Once you submit your return it is put into a holding "pool" on a server that the IRS has complete control over them. When the IRS chooses to "drain" the pooled returns they do at their own discretion ... last week they pulled a few returns from each pool to test their system. These test returns may have been accepted for PROCESSING however the actual processing of the returns will not start before the 29th and if the return has EIC or ACTC on it those will not start processing until 2/15.
The only status you can have on WMR? is that is was accepted for processing and nothing more. Filing early will not get the return processed any sooner.
It sounds like yours was pulled early for testing.
The vast majority of returns will not start processing with the IRS until January 29. Each year they pull a few returns to process early to test their systems, so it sounds like you were one of those.
The IRS says 9 out of 10 filers who efile and choose direct deposit will get their refunds within 21 days. Exactly when your 21 days starts, I'm not sure, but I suspect it may not actually start processing until January 29.
In any case, you can monitor the status of your Federal refund with this tool at the IRS website:
http://www.irs.gov/Refunds
Also, if you have EIC (earned income credit, aka EITC) or ACTC (additional child tax credit), the IRS will start processing them on Jan. 29, but will not start releasing those refunds until February 15. That means people with those types of credits may not start receiving their refunds until around February 27.
I just approved today for ddd 1-22 and I filed 1-30