If I get a new email from turbo tax saying congratulations your refund has processed and is on its way ...is this a generated email or is it really on way

Check the IRS refund site.

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

If you received an email from TurboTax that your return was processed and your refund it on its way, you can be confident that this is correct as of the time of the generating of the email.

There are other factors outside the control of TurboTax that could affect when you receive your refund, depending on whether you are receiving a check in the mail or a direct deposit. 

The easiest way to check a refund's status is by using Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go app.

Many factors can affect refund timing after the IRS receives a tax return. Although the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, the IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take longer.

Under the federal Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) refunds before mid-February. Where's My Refund? should show an updated status by February 22 for most early EITC/ACTC filers. 

The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by March 3 if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return.

@christinavescuso 

I received the same email today the date it said my refund will come is March 3rd which is the first time my refund has ever took this long I usually get my refund February 14th to February 21st the last 2 years it came on the 21st and the 22nd so this year I'm just surprised it's all the way in March I do have two dependents I claim and this is the first time I actually had more than 15,000 for my personal business maybe they need to do some more verifying but I guess it's a step showing that our refunds are being reviewed in a timely fashion but **bleep** March 3rd that's crazy to me

Mine said congratulations, your done and refund is on the way. I thought that meant they recieved it

Everyone has a cycle date on their transcripts. It generally stays the same every year. Depending on what the ending number is on your cycle code will tell you when the info gets updated. Whether thats daily or weekly. That is the MOST accurate info of your return despite what WMR says or Turbo Tax. You have to go by your account transcripts on IRS website. 846 is the code your looking for that will tell you your actual deposit date. If u dont see that then it hasnt been approved yet. Mine always come on Thursdays for example. Any info on how to read the scripts can use google. Must have an ID.ME account as well. Hope that helps

Holy crap a lot of people clearly don’t budget or save well lmao. It’s an email just updating you that it’s being processed. They don’t know an exact date only the IRS does lol. If y’all so pressed about the email maybe start budgeting better instead of going crazy over an email for your tax return that will take 21 days max if you have no issues come up. If you got the email about it being accepted already then just set your mind on 21 business days and forget about it. 

I got this email yesterday morning & everything is still the same. I talked to a turbo rep this morning and he said “it could’ve been sent out of error but it very well could be your refund is on the way” so idk but I haven’t been able to get off my phone since. I need it real bad. I paid for 5 days sooner so just hoping they’re taking their share and I’ll have it today 

If the status on the IRS link has not updated, the refund has not officially been issued.  The "your refund has processed" just means that the IRS has accepted and processed the return.  The IRS requests up to 21 days to issue the refund once the return is processed but you can receive your refund quicker than that.  Hang in there, hopefully it will be to you soon!

@Bre11_2  

It means that you’ll be popping champagne bottle really soon! 

No. I just asked this same question to turbo tax and it was like talking to 5 year old. Don’t believe anything they tell you, including emails. I got the same email you’re referring to though the IRS hasn’t even touched my return yet. All turbo tax will do is hide behind their “you have to ask the IRS, it’s out of our control” disclaimer. That is their answer for 90% of any question you ask them, and I’ve asked a lot. Even if you paid extra for the “expert help,” turbo tax is worthless and they have been year after year. I’m stuck with them for now but can’t wait to try someone new.