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Level 1
posted Jul 2, 2020 5:58:58 PM

Why is my federal return still pending ?

I e filed my federal return 3 months ago why is it still pending?

0 71 18222
1 Best answer
Expert Alumni
Jul 2, 2020 6:37:22 PM

If the status says 'pending' it just means that your return has not been accepted or rejected by the IRS.  

 

Try checking the status of your Federal refund through the IRS Where's My Refund tool:  IRS -- Where's My Refund?

 

Also, see the following TurboTax article:  Where's My Tax Refund:  How to check your refund status

 

 

​​​​​​​@mrc1956

 

 

24 Replies
Level 1
Jul 2, 2020 6:15:22 PM

Same here, I e-filed and was accepted on January 29th. Still nothing from the IRS and TurboTax is no help. They were happy to take my money though

Expert Alumni
Jul 2, 2020 6:37:22 PM

If the status says 'pending' it just means that your return has not been accepted or rejected by the IRS.  

 

Try checking the status of your Federal refund through the IRS Where's My Refund tool:  IRS -- Where's My Refund?

 

Also, see the following TurboTax article:  Where's My Tax Refund:  How to check your refund status

 

 

​​​​​​​@mrc1956

 

 

Level 1
Jul 16, 2020 9:24:06 PM

i paid the irs the money i owe them they have taken out of my acct

Level 1
Jan 14, 2021 4:23:30 PM

my federal returns have been pending since January 7th 2021, and when I went to wheres my refund it couldn't find any record of my e-file being placed

Level 15
Jan 14, 2021 4:24:19 PM


@MamanChris wrote:

my federal returns have been pending since January 7th 2021, and when I went to wheres my refund it couldn't find any record of my e-file being placed


The tax return will remain as Pending until the IRS starts accepting or rejecting 2020 tax returns on February 12, 2021.

 

After completing the File section and e-filing your tax return you will receive two emails from TurboTax. The first email when your tax return was transmitted and the second email when the tax return has either been accepted or rejected.

 

After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

Level 1
Feb 5, 2021 3:40:06 PM

Why my tax refund still pending

Level 15
Feb 5, 2021 3:40:56 PM


@walla1965 wrote:

Why my tax refund still pending


You will have to wait for the IRS to start accepting or rejecting 2020 tax returns on February 12, 2021

Level 3
Feb 16, 2021 1:34:22 PM

is yours still pending? 2/12 is long since past.  Mine still says pending as well 

Level 1
Feb 16, 2021 1:37:07 PM

Mine is still pending as well. Mine was e-filed on 2/12/21

Level 2
Feb 16, 2021 1:45:22 PM

Mine is still pending as well and i efiled in January. 

New Member
Feb 17, 2021 7:02:56 AM

2021 return filed with TurboTax on 2/3/21. On 2/17/21, it still says e-file PENDING. My ex filed hers on 2/12 with TurboTax and it went right through and she got the IRS email that it was accepted. From this thread I'm clearly not the only one held up in TurboTax queue limbo. Can someone provide an update? I understand it was a Federal Holiday on 2/15, but 3 business days have gone by since the IRS started accepting returns.

Level 3
Feb 17, 2021 7:14:21 AM

I’ve tried calling turbo tax on multiple occasions.  Never getting to talk to a live person.  All I get is “your return is pending ,once accepted visit the IRS website!  There is no way to recall a pending return.  I have no idea where to turn to either.  There is obviously a batch stuck somewhere as I had also done another return on 2/15 and got immediate acceptance! 

New Member
Feb 17, 2021 9:06:43 AM

I filed jan 20th and mine is still pending as well I finally got a hold of someone at turbo tax after being on hold for a hour and they said to call back in a couple day’s if it hasn’t been accepted. Not helpful at all. Everyone around me filed after me and has already been accepted.

Level 3
Feb 17, 2021 9:38:18 AM

Same thing I’m finding.  I have never gotten to speak to a live person.  The stupid recording just keeps telling me to check my status online.....duh!

Level 3
Feb 17, 2021 10:19:49 AM

Likewise, I filed on January 21st and while the IRS didn't start taking returns until Feb 12th it should not still be sitting in pending status on February 17th when others who are currently filing are getting theirs accepted.  I have called Turbo Tax and the IRS on numerous occasions since the 12th and all I keep being told is to wait and per the IRS there is nothing they can do until 21 DAYS has elapsed from the 12th.  It should not take 21 DAYS to transmit a return to the IRS as that is all an acceptance means is that the IRS server grabbed the data from the tax software preparer server, that the server received all of the data and in the format it expects to receive it.  That should not take 21 DAYS....processing the return yes receiving it from a server to server NO!  So frustrating and no one seems to think its a problem.

Level 3
Feb 17, 2021 10:33:29 AM

Right, calling the IRS will do nothing as they do not even have the return yet.  This is on Turbo Tax and there is no way to get them to act on it,since they keep saying check your status online, duh. .  I believe it to be a turbo tax issue!  I hope they occasionally read these posts.  Yours must be stuck in the same batch as mine!  

New Member
Feb 17, 2021 10:34:41 AM

UPDATE: I received a response, and IRS rejection. This was a 1099-NEC issue (small business income) and because there was a problem between IRS/Turbo Tax software, it had been fixed in a later update. I had to go in, review the figures, and then resubmit. Hopefully I will have an acceptance in 24-48 hours. I hope everyone else gets their returns filed. Definitely seems like a Turbo Tax queue issue.

Level 2
Feb 17, 2021 1:03:31 PM

I’m in the ‘pending’ hell as well. I completed my returns in mid Jan and they were transmitted on 2/12 just like everyone else’s. As of today, 2/17, they STILL show pending. I’ve spoken with TurboTax -3- separate times and they’ve blamed the IRS each time; obviously not knowing its their issue or not admitting its their issue. This is a critical tax year for me due to an expected refund, disputed dependent, and an AGI within a few dollars of me losing some benefits. And I won’t know anything until I know the IRS has or has not taken the return. It’s infuriating.  If its not fixed in a couple of days I’ll just write one of my senators. It might sound like something to laugh at but my senators have been able to fix he said she said problems between giant companies for me before, I’ll make them earn their salary here too.

Level 2
Feb 17, 2021 1:12:12 PM

mine is too but my brothers says accepted but i file before him i dont't understand that but i thought i was the only one i do think its the irs because if i go to view efile details it show's  received by irs on 02/10/21 @ 3:08 pm est but switch back to pending by the irs on 02/10/21 @ 3:08 pm est why is that                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

View efile details

Federal Return

Received by TurboTax:
Wednesday, Jan 20, 6:10 AM EST
Received by IRS:
Wednesday, Feb 10, 3:08 PM EST
Filing status changed to: Pending
Wednesday, Feb 10, 3:08 PM EST

Level 3
Feb 17, 2021 2:15:41 PM

I just received a “rejected”. Apparently my return was filed with turbo tax before an IRS update that affected my filing.  Once I updated the software and re-transmitted it was accepted within 20 minutes.  Turbo Tax actually should not allow you to file until the day the IRS begins processing returns.  This would alleviate any issues caused before all IRS updates are within TurboTax. 

Level 2
Feb 17, 2021 2:23:09 PM

when did you file? and what update 

Level 2
Feb 17, 2021 2:42:53 PM

I just spoke with a turbo tax customer service rep and he assumed me that they had the green light submission for my refund and that my federal refund will be switched to accepted tomorrow. So try to wait it out guys yours may be the same and i e-filed January 22nd . 

Level 3
Feb 17, 2021 3:11:30 PM

1/15.  It had todo with employee stock sales, so investment income. 

Level 2
Feb 17, 2021 4:17:50 PM

AND just like that, my federal return is accepted. (After I already wrote my congressman).