You are able to track your return once it has been accepted. E-filed returns are typically accepted within 48 hours, but sometimes the IRS can take longer. Once you've confirmed your return has been accepted, you can begin to track your refund. The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, although some require additional time. Please see below for more information on tracking your federal refund: https://www.irs.gov/refunds  

Here is the general timeline of e-filed returns:

Transmission > Acceptance > Processing > Approval > Refund.

After acceptance, but before processing the status may not be available. If you contact the government or try look up your refund status while your return is still pending, don't be surprised if they tell you "no record found." This is normal; until the government starts reviewing and processing your return, they won't have any record of it.   

The dates for receiving a tax refund after it has been accepted by the IRS are only estimates based on the IRS target of issuing a tax refund after 21 days from the date it was accepted by the IRS.  This is a target only and not a guarantee.

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.