IRS Acceptance of Returns

[GGBJr]

On March 21 I e-filed  three Federal returns.  Two relatively straight forward returns were accepted by the IRS within two days.  The third return (about 100 pages) has to date still not received an acknowledgment from the IRS.  Because of its complexity, I can possibly understand the delay.  However, in the past ten years or so returns of equal complexity were still acknowledged by the IRS within two days at the most.  How long should I give the IRS before acting, if they do not acknowledge the return, and what is the procedure?  This return did receive the preliminary email notice that it had been sent (by TurboTax?).

Thanks for your thoughts!

[xmasbaby0 · Accepted solution]

The IRS does not use the verbiage "accepted" on the refund site.  The IRS will say that it was received or that the return is being processed.  Once you file the return and it has been accepted for processing, TurboTax receives no information.   Your only source of information is the IRS.

TurboTax gives you an estimated date for receiving your refund based on a 21 day average from your date of acceptance, but it can take longer.  “21 days”  is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS. 

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

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 2023 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

To track your state refund:    

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2580357-who-provides-the-refund-processing-service

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

[GGBJr]

Thanks for the very rapid responses.  I'm afraid that I may have confused the issue.  When the two smaller returns were e-filed out of TurboTax, I received an email for each from TurboTax saying, "TurboTax Update: Federal Return Accepted."  As to the more complex and larger return, I have received no such notice at all..

[xmasbaby0]

When you check the e-file status---what does it say?   Does it say "pending" --- or something else?

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

[GGBJr]

My apologies!  The error is all mine.  I just returned from a 10-day business trip.  I had prepared the large return prior to my leaving, but evidently I did not e-file the return.  My mistake for causing this commotion.

Related to this is the handling of already-filed returns that get hit with "corrected" Form 1099s.  If I recall correctly from past incidences of this nature, the process is to wait until a return has been processed by the IRS, then to file an amended return.  I suppose that if the adjustments are relatively minor (under $50), an amended return still needs to be filed.  But, if all five of the e-files have been used, I presume that the amended return must be mailed in.  Is this correct?