Why is my return still pending? (updated 3-16-21)

[cdjmj1583]

MY RETURN HAS BEEN PENDING SINCE FEB. 11, 2021.  IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY RETURN.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE IRS.

[mesquitebean]

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@cdjmj1583 wrote:

MY RETURN HAS BEEN PENDING SINCE FEB. 11, 2021.  IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY RETURN.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE IRS.

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It depends on what you mean by the word "pending" and how you're using it.

Are you seeing the exact word "pending"  somewhere?  If so, where are you seeing that term?    Are you seeing the exact word "pending" at the Tax Home of your Online account?  Or are you referring to something you saw at the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool?

First check your online TurboTax account.  What is showing for your efile status when you log into Online TurboTax and go to the Tax Home?  What is showing there for the status of the Federal return (and state, if applicable)?     Does it show as pending, accepted, rejected, printed, or what?     If the efile status at your Tax Home has been showing "pending" since 2/11, i.e., if the IRS has never accepted/rejected your initial efile, then you need to phone TurboTax Support.  We can tell you how to reach them.

Or by "pending" are you referring to something you saw at the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool? 

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

NOTE:   If you efiled, you can only use this tool if the Tax Home in your TurboTax account shows your return has been "accepted."

[cdjmj1583]

MY RETURN WAS ACCEPTED BY THE IRS.  AFTER 23 DAYS IT SAYS BEING PROCESSED.

[mesquitebean]

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@cdjmj1583 wrote:

MY RETURN WAS ACCEPTED BY THE IRS.  AFTER 23 DAYS IT SAYS BEING PROCESSED.

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I'll tell you how to speak to the IRS below if you wish to inquire about your delay.

The IRS says on its website:

"Some tax returns take longer to process than others for many reasons, including when a return:

• Includes errors
• Is incomplete
• Is affected by identity theft or fraud
• Includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit.
• Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, which could take up to 14 weeks to process
• Needs further review in general
• We will contact you by mail when we need more information to process your return."

Since your return has been processing longer than 21 days, you can phone the IRS, if you wish, to see if they can tell you why.  Here is the normal method to reach a live IRS agent when they are operating smoothly.  Expect a long hold time.

IRS:  800-829-1040 (7AM-7 PM local time) Monday-Friday

When calling the IRS do not choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.

• First choose your language.  Then listen to each menu before making the selection.
• Then press 2 for "personal income tax".
• Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  
• Then press 3 "for all other questions."
• Then press 2 "for all other questions." 
• It may then ask for your SSN, but do not enter it.  Just wait.    If it asks for SSN a second time, still do not enter it.
• Then it will get "tired", and you'll get another menu.  Choose 2 for "personal".
• Then in the next menu choose 4 for "all other inquiries", and it should transfer you to an agent but expect a long wait.
• I usually use a speakerphone so I can work on something else while waiting.

[Zabec]

Same issue.

Filed my tax return back in January and had to wait for the 12th of February. About a day later received an email stating it was rejected. Verified the information and the submitted (literally didn't change anything). I was accepted within minutes. However, the status is still pending now 2 and a half weeks later. 

[scubie12]

It has been close to a month the irs still says tax return being processed. I never received email from you that return was received. What is going on? Also never received the $600.00 stimulus check now possibly van another $1400.00. is that at?

[Tish123love]

My taxes have been pending on the IRS sight for 2 weeks. Turbo tax sent an email saying both were accepted 2/17. But everytime I check IRS it says received and that’s it. 

I also received a rejection notice when I first did it asking me to enter my AIG from the previous year. U fixed it and then it was accepted by turbo tax a few minutes later. 

[CarissaM]

The IRS estimates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days after acceptance. 

If it has been 21 days, you can also contact the IRS directly by clicking here and they can provide an update. 

[Anonymous]

They don’t even show I have a return filed on their website and I have tried calling and there’s no option to talk to a person. 

[mesquitebean]

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@Anonymous wrote:

They don’t even show I have a return filed on their website and I have tried calling and there’s no option to talk to a person. 

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We can tell you how to get through the phone tree at the IRS.

If your efiled Federal return was accepted (you can check at your Tax Home if you used Online TurboTax), and if you don't find your info in the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool, I've posted below how to reach a live IRS agent if it has been 21 days or longer since you efiled.

By the way, in my previous answer to you in this thread, I listed some tips on using the IRS WMR tool to be sure you are entering everything there correctly.    So I assume you followed all those recommendations.

The IRS WMR tool has been very quirky this year and hasn't been finding a lot of people's returns.  It's a very common question in this forum.  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

If it's been longer than 21 days since your return was accepted, here's how to reach a live IRS agent.

IRS:  800-829-1040 (7AM-7 PM local time) Monday-Friday

When calling the IRS do not choose the first choice re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.

• First choose your language.  Then listen to each menu before making the selection.
• Then press 2 for "personal income tax".
• Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".  
• Then press 3 "for all other questions."
• Then press 2 "for all other questions." 
• It may then ask for your SSN, but do not enter it.  Just wait.    If it asks for SSN a second time, still do not enter it.
• Then it will get "tired", and you'll get another menu.  Choose 2 for "personal".
• Then in the next menu choose 4 for "all other inquiries", and it should transfer you to an agent but expect a long wait.
• I usually use a speakerphone so I can work on something else while waiting.

[Anonymous]

Thanks I will try it tomorrow and see if I can get a real person. I was doing the “1” and then it was all automated stuff. 

[mslatinlady]

JUST AS AN FYI --

The Where's My Refund on the IRS website is certainly having problems.  For example, my federal return was "Accepted" by the IRS on Feb 11 and I received my refund 5 days later.  However the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool still says "Received".  There's a disclaimer on the IRS website stating that the Where's My Refund tool is NOT working correctly.  Anyway, that's just an FYI for those of you wondering about the status of your federal refund if you try to check it on the IRS website. 

This is a crazy world we live in and the pandemic made it much crazier (low staffing at IRS and businesses across the country, sadly).

Blessings to all ...

[Tish123love]

You can’t get through the IRS at all at this point. The lines are too busy for you to even be able to get a chance to hit a prompt. 

[ReneeM7122]

You are correct, it can be difficult to reach the IRS directly by phone in order to see if your return has been accepted.  Here is a TurboTax article with helpful IRS links that can help you get updates.  

@Tish123love

[Tish123love]

I have seen that information as well. I guess I have to wait.  It’s really nothing else I can do.