After you file

mesquitebean · ‎July 13, 2021

@Michelle Fedl wrote:
T.tax sent after preparing no errors, irs cant locate my return in system????

While frustrating, that's not uncommon. The IRS has been inundated and backlogged due to staff shortages and all sorts of other duties in addition to processing tax returns, stimulus payments, late tax law changes, etc.

I don't know with certainty what "TurboTax sent" means?? I'll assume that means you efiled, since TurboTax does not mail any paper returns for you. Did you efile, or did you print and mail a paper return? A mailed return can take several weeks to show up in the IRS system, and can take several weeks to manually process. The IRS is currently 16 million returns behind in processing any returns that require manual processing.

If you efiled, you should double-check to be sure the return was efiled successfully and accepted.
If you used Online TurboTax, you can sign into your Online Account and check the efile status at the Tax Home.

If that showed your efiled return was accepted (or if you printed and mailed the return longer than 4 weeks ago), you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool at the IRS website below to monitor the status of your Federal refund.
https://www.irs.gov/Refunds

TIPS when using the IRS WMR tool:

Be sure you have waited at least 24 hours after acceptance before using the IRS WMR tool. Or if you filed a paper return in postal mail, wait at least 4 weeks before using it.
Be sure you enter the correct SSN and filing status.
Be sure you are using only the Federal refund amount. Do not include any state refund or any total refund or net refund (Fed and State) that TurboTax may have provided on a screen.
Also be sure you are using the Federal amount before any TurboTax fees are taken out (if you chose that option.)
Look at your actual Federal return to get the Federal refund amount, i.e., your Form 1040, Line 35a.
You can also try phoning the IRS refund hotline. I've seen it work for some users when the WMR tool didn't. 800-829-1954