Why does it not say approved on turbo tax

[BillM223]

We on the Community cannot see your tax return nor the screen you are in, so why have no idea what you are referring to. What is "it"? Where does it say (or not say) "approved"? More details, please.

[Critter]

TT doesn't approve anything ... they are the delivery service.  Once you send the return to the IRS/State they send an email stating the return was sent and then  another email is sent when the fed/state either reject the return  OR  accept it  for processing  ... after that TT is out of the loop.   The feds will not start processing any returns until 1/27/20 and all the returns filed before that date are in a holding "pool" waiting for the IRS to drain it.  The IRS has pulled a few returns for system testing however not ALL early filers will be pulled.  

Once a tax return has been Accepted by the IRS, TurboTax receives no further information concerning the tax return or any tax refund.

The dates for receiving a tax refund after it has been accepted by the IRS are only estimates based on the IRS target of issuing a tax refund after 21 days from the date it was accepted by the IRS.  This is a target only and not a guarantee.

After the tax return has been Accepted by the IRS (meaning only that they received the return) it will be in the Processing mode until the tax refund has been Approved and then an Issue Date will be available on the IRS website.