Why did I almost forcibly pay for TurboTax close to 50 percent of my return for a "quick and easy" process only to be labeled as "pending" from the IRS?

[missjessmckenzie]

I'd rather re-file with someone else. I feel TurboTax's process takes advantage of the common citizen and needs to be brought to the attention of a higher authority for bad ethics. Who can I contact about my experience?

[xmasbaby0]

Not sure what has you upset about being in "pending" status.   "Pending" is a routine and normal stage.  After you e-file a tax return, it goes into "pending" for a period of time until the IRS either accepts or rejects the return.   Then if accepted, the IRS begins to process the return.

When you e-file your federal return you will receive two emails from TurboTax.  The first one will say that your return was submitted.  The second email will tell you if your federal return was accepted or rejected.  If you e-filed a state return, there will be a third email to tell you if the state accepted or rejected your state return.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2840013-does-accepted-mean-my-refund-is-approved

Once you e-file your return, only the IRS is in control.   

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.  “21 days”  is not a promise from TurboTax or the IRS. 

First, check your e-file status to see if your return was accepted: 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/efile-status-lookup/

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 35a of your 2023 Form 1040) of your federal refund to track your Federal refund:   

https://www.irs.gov/refunds

To track your state refund:    

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899433-how-do-i-track-my-state-refund

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901548-why-do-some-refunds-take-longer-than-others

If you chose to have your TurboTax fees deducted from your federal refund, that will take some extra time, while the third party bank handles the refund processing.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2580357-who-provides-the-refund-processing-service

https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions