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Missvoss
New Member

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

I got my state return today. My fed still says pending but is accepted

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

@Missvoss

Federal and state refunds come from completely separate entities,  There is no rule as to which one will come first or how much time there will be between their arrivals.

 

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 34of your 2020 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
Scott108
New Member

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

Well how about some returns that are claiming the child tax credit cannot be received any earlier than February 15th but is that the same for this year because they didn't even start taking returns until February 12th I received my state refund yesterday but still have an accepted in the status bar of my federal

MichelleLO
Intuit Alumni

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

From the IRS Website's News Release:

 

Under the PATH Act, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds and claims from being issued, including to identity thieves.

 

The IRS anticipates a first week of March refund for many EITC and ACTC taxpayers if they file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns. This would be the same experience for taxpayers if the filing season opened in late January. Taxpayers will need to check Where's My Refund for their personalized refund date.

 

@Scott108

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Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

I live in new York and submitted mine on the 10th got accepted on the 11th but is said they would start the IRS taking refile in the 12th so mine was a day early which was good anyways now its past 21 days I'm single I always got my federal refund about 2 weeks then same day or a day after my state anyways today I got my state and still waiting on my federal it shows it still.being processed with and waiting on a deposit date before it says still being processed so who knows I dont aim anything it's never took this long maybe because of covid 19?.

ChondelLO
Intuit Alumni

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

Not necessarily. Continue to check the status of your return by using the Where's My Refund Tool located at the IRS website.

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Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

@Seaninliny

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.  Many refunds are taking longer during the pandemic. 

 

 

 

 

 If accepted, they try to process it within three weeks but it can be longer.  if you have earned income credit or additional child tax credit, it will be at least the end of February before you see your refund, due to the PATH act that requires that they hold your refund longer.

 

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 34of your 2020 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

Is it normal to get your state first. My estimated date was yesterday but I got my state this morning and I haven’t received my federal yet

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

@Stephanielynn

 

Federal and state refunds come from completely separate entities,  There is no rule as to which one will come first or how much time there will be between their arrivals.

 

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 34of your 2020 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

no for the 2020 tax season they didn't start processing refunds til the feb 12 this year so it doesn't matter that u had it in on the 01/27 because they didn't start accepting them til Feb 12 so ur in same boat as me and FYI weekends do not count so u gotta count the 21 days not including the weekends 

Irene2805
Expert Alumni

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

The IRS states that they issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days from the date the return was accepted by the IRS.  This is in a normal year and is a target only--not a guarantee.   The IRS has had extra work lately distributing the first and second stimulus checks in addition to processing returns.  This might account for your state refund arriving before the federal.

 

 

You can check the status of your refund by going to the IRS Refunds  page. You can click on the Check My Refund Status link or download the IRS2Go app for your mobile device. Wait at least 24 hours after your return has been accepted.

 

@Stephanielynn

Syonah
New Member

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

If i received my state refund before my federal refund do that mean my federal refund is on the way?

AshleyLO
Intuit Alumni

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

@Syonah This does not necessarily mean that your federal refund is on the way. The best way to find out the status of your federal refund is to track it on the Where's My Refund? tool.

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ducks223
New Member

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

It was rejected then accepted on the 13th I got my state a couple weeks ago still waiting on my federal still says accepted?

BillM223
Expert Alumni

Tax Year Prior to 2020: My state return came before my federal what does that mean? Federal has always come first and the state return usually a week or two after. Did something go wrong?

So, the feds have your return and are doing whatever it is they need to do to either process your refund or do one of several things (like verify your identity, your EITC, Child Tax Credit and so on).

 

Unfortunately, we in the Community had no special insight into what the IRS is doing with your refund. It is all up to the IRS.

 

As noted above, taking EITC and Child Tax Credit slows your refund down, but won't kill it.

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