How long does it usually take for the government to accept an e-file?

[JakailaLO]

After January, e-filed returns generally sit in Pending status for 24-48 hours before coming back as either accepted or rejected. If you e-filed your return in January, it'll stay in Pending status until the IRS starts processing the backlog of returns.

If you contact the government or try to 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.