Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Here are my annual words of caution since some are so eager to file the returns early….remember patience is a virtue and don't plan on your refund being in your account on a certain date then you won't be disappointed or overdrawn.  It is very possible that you  get a DD date then it gets put on hold while the IRS reviews the account which can delay it for months. Do not be in a rush to transmit the return … once you press that button you cannot stop the filing or make any changes until the IRS accepts or rejects the return.

Last year the IRS started verifying W-2 forms before issuing a refund which means filing your return before the W-2 is issued will not work since your return will be held up until the employer has filed the W-2 with the IRS. And if you have Earned Income Credit or the Additional Child Tax credit the returns cannot be processed at all until 2/15 so those refunds will not hit until late February at the earliest … see this page : 

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2018-tax-filing-season-begins-jan-29-tax-returns-due-april-17-help-avai...


The IRS no longer processes returns in first in first out batches. They are processed individually so returns sent in at the same time will not necessarily process together. Even if you are one of the few accepted early during the testing phase doesn’t mean your return will be processed before the 29th.  In fact, in the past when there were major tax law changes the early programming had glitches, those that were taken early were actually stuck in processing for months…. I would never want to be a test subject for the IRS computers.

The IRS states that 9 of 10 returns will process in 21 days or less. However considering that the IRS processes more than 140 million returns that means 14 million will be delayed for more than 21 days. 

Think of the IRS process as a long pipe line. Some returns will be rejected before being allowed into the pipe and the rest will be accepted. Then once accepted into the pipeline many will process directly through without any delays and some will not.  Some returns will be siphoned off for further review of some kind. The basis of what triggers these reviews is a well guarded secret but some are just picked randomly every year.

Some reviews are automated and some will require human attention. The processing times will vary and due to the continued understaffing situation   they are likely to take much longer this year than last.


First -- verify that your returns have been filed and accepted --  then check the fed & state web sites to see where you are in the process-

Check Your E-File Status on this Secure TurboTax website
https://turbotax.intuit.com/efile/efile_status_lookup.jsp
- It will show the date you transmitted your return and if it was accepted or rejected.  
- Both your Federal and State will be listed separately if you filed both.
- It will tell you when you E-filed
- The electronic filing date

See the following TurboTax support article on checking your e-file status - 
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908859-how-do-i-look-up-the-status-of-my-e-filed-return

For the Feds:
http://www.irs.gov/Refunds/Where's-My-Refund-It's-Quick,-Easy,-and-Secure.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/irs-answers-common-early-tax-season-refund-questions-and-addresses-...

https://www.irs.gov/uac/newsroom/2016-tax-changes
https://www.irs.gov/Refunds/Tax-Season-Refund-Frequently-Asked-Questions



For the states:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901670-how-do-i-contact-my-state-department-of-revenue