The first step is to make sure that the Federal return was successfully filed. Occasionally someone might not go all the way to the end and submit the return, or an efiled return may have been rejected. So first check the status as described below. It depends on how you chose to file the return.
If you filed a paper return by mail, TurboTax does not mail it for you. If you chose that method, you would have had to print it, sign it, date it, and mail it yourself. It takes at least 4 weeks for a mailed return to show up in the IRS WMR tool.
If you efiled, 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. What word is used there for the status: does it show as accepted, rejected, printed, started, ready to mail, or something else?
If that showed it was accepted, (or if you mailed a paper return), you can use the "Where's My Refund" tool at the IRS website below to monitor the status of your Federal refund. Is there any message there?
https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund
If that IRS tool says it's not finding your information, here are some tips:
- Be sure you enter the correct tax year, 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 summary screen.
- Look at your actual Federal return to get the Federal refund amount to use in the tool, i.e., your Form 1040, Line 35a.
