Why does it take so long for the government to release your funds when they get accepted

[SweetieJean]

Accepted is not the same as Approved, which is a later step.

[CassandraLO]

Even though the IRS issues 9 out of 10 tax refunds within 21 days, it's possible your return may require additional review and take longer to process.

For some taxpayers, PATH Act requirements and other identity-protection safeguards implemented by the IRS may account for longer wait times. (Earned Income Tax Credit (EIC) and/or Additional Child Tax Credit)

Other things that can delay your refund include but are not limited to:

• Liens, back taxes, or refund offsets;
• Errors, inconsistencies, or missing information;
• Identity fraud;
• Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, which can take 11-14 weeks to process.

Also, if you chose direct deposit, your financial institution may need another day or two to post the refund to your account, so keep that in mind.

If your return was accepted less than 21 days ago, hang in there. It can take anywhere from a few days to 3 weeks to go from acceptance to approval. 

Related Information:

• What if my IRS refund is taking longer than 21 days?
• When will I get my IRS tax refund?
• Some 2018 federal refunds will be delayed due to the PATH Act