Why is IRS taking so long to approve my 2024tax return? Filed six weeks ago

[lizlovell-arnp]

Tax return has been accepted by IRS but not yet approved. Filed 3/23/2025

[CatinaT1]

Once your return is filed, TurboTax has no control over the processing of your return or the release of your refund.

Here are a couple FAQs to track your refund:
When will I get my federal tax refund?
How do I track my state refund?
Why does Where's My Refund say "approved" but TurboTax still says "accepted"?

Why do some refunds take longer than others?

What if my IRS refund is taking longer than 21 days?

You will need to contact the IRS for information. It might be easiest to set up an account with them.

IRS Individual Online Account  

• Taxpayers with a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number can create or access their IRS Individual Online Account to get information they need to file their return.
• With an IRS Individual Online Account, people can:
• View balance owed, payment history and schedule payments.
• Cancel scheduled payments.
• Get transcripts.
• View or create payment plans.
• See digital copies of some IRS notices.
• View key data from their most recently filed tax return, including adjusted gross income.
• Validate bank accounts and save multiple accounts, eliminating the need to re-enter bank account information every time they make a payment.
• View, approve and electronically sign power of attorney and tax information authorizations from their tax professional. 

[xmasbaby0]

TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer.  “21 days”  is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS. 

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: 

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

Once your federal return has been accepted by the IRS, only the IRS has any control.  TurboTax does not receive any updates from the IRS. Your ONLY source of information about your refund now is the IRS.

You need your filing status, your Social Security number and the exact amount  (line 35a of your 2024 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

To track your state refund:    

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/track-state-refund/L3jgO8PGs_...

If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/refunds-take-longer-others/L1...

.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-refund/irs-refund-taking-longer-21-d...

[buchanan_brent]

I'm having the same issue, have yours been approved yet? I filed on April 9th and it was accepted day of but it hasn't been approved yet... starting to stress.. Im not getting a refund, I owe. But I get uneasy with things are in limbo with the irs...

[xmasbaby0]

@buchanan_brent Where are you looking for "approval" if you owe tax due?  Did you pay your tax?   You were supposed to pay by the April 15 deadline.   Nothing is going to show up on the IRS refund site if you are not getting a refund.  That site does not show "approval" if you owe tax due.  What does it show on your online account with the IRS?

https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

If you owe tax due, you have to pay it yourself by the filing deadline on April 15, 2025.

 If you have federal tax due you can pay by mailing your payment with the 1040V voucher, (which has the address printed on it, having the payment taken out of a designated bank account, or you can pay directly on the IRS website. 

https://www.irs.gov/payments

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-can-i-pay-my-federal-taxes/00/26212

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-payments/help/how-do-i-pay-my-irs-tax-due-with-a-check-or-mone... 

To apply for a payment plan with the IRS

Apply Online for a Payment Plan

You must pay your state tax due using the state’s preferred method of receiving payment.  For most states that will be by making a payment to the state’s own tax website, or by mailing a check or money order.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/state-taxes/contact-state-department-rev...

WHAT IF I CANNOT PAY MY TAX DUE?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-payments/pay-taxes/L8aQBCpPO_US_en_U...