Why has my return not been processed yet, it has been almost 72 hours and it still is not accepted or rejected by the irs at all. I have never had this issue before.

[JC1000]

replying to daniellehutson

At least you know your return has been received by the IRS, which IMO is the most important issue.  Your situation is a little different from a number of us who cannot get acceptance/rejection, or even documentation that the TT efiled return was received by the IRS.  In your case there is no reason to refile elsewhere as the IRS actually has your return and as you indicated would likely cause even more confusion and delay if you filed again.

The IRS website indicates generally efiled returns with no issues are processed within 21 days (I suspect may be business rather than calendar days) which is quite a bit longer than in previous years when I always got an electronically deposited refund in no more than a week from acceptance when filing so early.  But it would seem you are past that time period.

I agree based on my previous experiences it is virtually impossible to get help from the IRS by phone or otherwise.  Even when you reach a live person, one year after calling 4 times (and being on hold for several hours each time) I got a yes, no, maybe, I don't know answer regarding the question I posed...at least the I don't know answer was honest.

In searching the internet, there are a number of financial sites appearing to wonder if return processing by the IRS is going to be delayed this year due to circumstances at or within the IRS.  There is a law/reg that after the IRS has received your return and if there are no issues, if it takes them longer than 45 days to refund then supposedly the taxpayer is due interest.  But for early filers, the date used apparently is the date the return is due not the actual date when filed early.  See for example https://accountinginsights.org/when-does-the-irs-pay-interest-on-refunds/.  I actually had this happen wrt a state return once, where there were no issues, filed very early, and it took a few months for the state tax agency to process the refund.  Felt sorry for the later filers as some of them had to wait nearly a year for their refunds.

[xmasbaby0]

@user5752033 If you are seeing "received" on the IRS site---the IRS has your return.  The IRS does not use the same verbiage that TT uses.   You do not need to look for the word "accepted" on the IRS refund site.  You are past that.   The IRS has your return and is processing it.  Now you just have to wait for that to be complete.

FROM THE IRS WHERE’S MY REFUND SITE:

https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund

How it works

Where's My Refund shows your refund status:

• Return Received – We received your return and are processing it.
• Refund Approved – We approved your refund and are preparing to issue it by the date shown.
• Refund Sent – We sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail. It may take 5 days for it to show in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.

[BSPENCER50759]

So I filed my taxes on 1/29/25 and my taxes and still pending. I don't know what the crap is going on. It's been way to long.. way pasted 72 hours for me. And my taxes still arnt accepted. I'm never going to use TurboTax again. 

[MarilynG1]

What does the IRS Where's My Refund? site say?

If you Efiled on 1/29/2025, your returns should be Accepted or Rejected by now.

Open TurboTax and confirm that you actually completed your Efiling.

Check your Emails.

@BSPENCER50759 

[mesquitebean]

 @BSPENCER50759  Also see the thread you started at the link below.   At that thread it's not clear how you are using the word "pending" and what/where you are seeing.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/where-is-my-refund/00/3549352

@MarilynG1 

[Frederick10]

I filled on the 17th of February. Got a email saying its accepted. But its still showing pending till now. When i go to track your refund its also not accepted or rejected, still pending. More than 21 days now. What could be the reason for this?

[xmasbaby0]

@Frederick10 The IRS does not use the word "accepted" on the refund site.  Do not look for that word there.

FROM THE IRS WHERE’S MY REFUND SITE:

https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund

How it works

Where's My Refund shows your refund status:

• Return Received – We received your return and are processing it.
• Refund Approved – We approved your refund and are preparing to issue it by the date shown.
• Refund Sent – We sent the refund to your bank or to you in the mail. It may take 5 days for it to show in your bank account or several weeks for your check to arrive in the mail.

[JC1000]

replying to Fredrick10

If the IRS site (as you indicated) shows that they have your return, any delays are now due to the IRS.

I previously posted a portion from the IRS site that indicates efiled returns are typically/generally (note no guarantees) processed within 21 days...but I suspect this is 21 business not calendar days and also I suspect days are most likely counted from date of receipt of return by IRS not date when sent to TT...and as some of us know, there were significant delays on part of TT central transmittal processing center in sending some of our returns to the IRS despite employee claims otherwise because hitting submit in TT only sends to the TT central transmittal processing center NOT directly to the IRS. So claims otherwise from TT employees (that TT has nothing to do with your return once you submit it to TT) was IMO nonsense.

And as I previously posted, a number of financial sites have been speculating that due to current circumstances processing of returns/refunds by the IRS may be delayed this year (but of course earlier you file the better IMO since at least you are at the head of the line so to speak).  If your return was immediately (ie same day) accepted by the IRS upon submission to TT then you are just at the 21 calendar days.  And furthermore the 21 days appears to be just an estimate by the IRS--assuming of course no issues wrt special circumstances (IRS won't begin processing returns having certain credits for example until specified date even if you file earlier)  or errors.

I know we all need/want our refunds ASAP.  But probably a little too early to panic unless like some others never received acceptance/rejection through TT or in searching IRS site only get error message about no such return found.

Good luck.

[Bmonell23]

It's been 34 days since I filed my taxes & I haven't got anything on my tax refund tracker other then it says it's still processing & taking longer than the normal time frame.i can't remember my password to the email on file so I can't even see if I've gotten a email & all the reset options are old(phone number etc)it says they took my state refund for money owed so they got they're money but Im Still waiting on my federal refund after 34 days,I tried calling the IRS but doesn't give me the option to speak to anyone & if I give my refund info it says they have no information on my refund(I don't know if thats because it's still in processing?!)I've never had a issue with waiting over 21 days let alone 34...anyone else having The same issue?

[CatinaT1]

Are you getting an error on Where's My Refund? Make sure you are entering the correct Federal refund amount and not the combined Federal and State refund. Also make sure you are entering your full federal refund amount, not the amount you would get if you had fees taken out.

Once your return is filed, TurboTax has no control over the processing of your return or the release of your refund.

Here are a couple FAQs to track your refund:
When will I get my federal tax refund?
How do I track my state refund?
Why does Where's My Refund say "approved" but TurboTax still says "accepted"?

Why do some refunds take longer than others?

What if my IRS refund is taking longer than 21 days?

[Bmonell23]

How do u even get a hold of someone at the IRS to talk to,I can't reach a live person for the life of me & it's been 34 days since I filed my taxes..they took all my state taxes for money owed but haven't got any info on my federal refund,tracker just says it's processing & taking longer than the usual timeframe,I used turbo tax & I've never waited longer then 21 days let alone 34+

[DoninGA]

@Bmonell23 

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.
See this IRS website for federal tax refund FAQ's - https://www.irs.gov/refunds/tax-season-refund-frequently-asked-questions

Call the IRS: 1-800-829-1040 hours 7 AM - 7 PM local time Monday-Friday
When calling the IRS do NOT choose the first option re: "Refund", or it will send you to an automated phone line.
So after first choosing your language, then do NOT choose Option 1 (refund info). Choose option 2 for "personal income tax" instead.
Then press 1 for "form, tax history, or payment".
Then press 3 "for all other questions."
Then press 2 "for all other questions."
- When it asks you to enter your SSN or EIN to access your account information, don't enter anything.
- After it asks twice, you will get another menu.

Press 2 for personal or individual tax questions.
Then press 3 for all other inquiries
It should then transfer you to an agent.

[user5752033]

This “advice” is the same advice everyone else has been giving and does not offer any solutions or new information. Even still nothing has been approved or rejected by the IRS. We’re all aware of the IRS link which is how we are able to see and know this. TurboTax sends several confirmations and fake emails saying “your return has been approved!” Shortly after completing the efiling though it is obviously not approved and just a TurboTax assumption that is incorrect. 

[user5752033]

I had the same issue. Seems to be impossible to speak to a human. Every time they said they were going to connect me with a representative the automated system would just wind up looping me back to the main menu. I got to speak with one lady who told me to call the number I had already called to reach her and that she could not help me. At this point the best option seems to be to reach out to an IRS tax advocate in your area. My return has been sitting for 32 days now. No approval or rejection, just permanently in limbo. Something tells me our president will be keeping all of our money. 

[user5752033]

Unfortunately this no longer works though I’ve seen it suggested on many other forums.