If turbotax says my return is accepted by the irs, can it still be rejected later? (2024)

FAQs

Can the IRS reject a return after it has been accepted? ›

No, once the IRS accepts the return, it will not be rejected after. However, they may request additional information from you at any time. If you have received notice that the IRS accepted your return, you can be confident they have it, though that does not always mean they have processed it yet.

Accepted is the status of your tax return—not your tax refund. Once your return has been accepted (received) by the government, they take over the refund status update duties, since they hold the purse strings. The status in TurboTax will remain as accepted.

"IRS Accepted Return But Not Approved" Meaning

If a taxpayer receives the status update that their tax return was accepted but not approved, this means that the IRS has received their tax return, but they have not yet evaluated the information.

It means your return was received and accepted by the IRS. Once the IRS takes a closer look, it should be approved provided everything was correct.

Your tax returns can be audited even after you've been issued a refund. Only a small percentage of U.S. taxpayers' returns are audited each year.

If you're getting a refund, the IRS will take a deeper look at your return after it's accepted. They'll look for math errors, check if you owe back taxes or unpaid child support, and more. If they need to make any corrections, they may offset (reduce) or increase your refund.

Accepted means your tax return is now in the government's hands and has passed the initial inspection (your verification info is correct, dependents haven't already been claimed by someone else, etc.). After acceptance, the next step is for the government to approve your refund.

Refund Sent

Updates to refund status are made once a day — usually at night. Even with the January 30 opening of the tax season, we expect refunds to be issued within normal timeframes. The IRS issued more than 9 out of 10 refunds to taxpayers in less than 21 days last year.

The most convenient way to check on a tax refund is by using the Where's My Refund? tool. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received. The tool also provides a personalized refund date after the return is processed and a refund is approved.

It will generally mail you a notice if there is a problem with your return. An IRS agent may call you or visit your home, but usually only after sending several letters first. When an e-filed return gets rejected, the IRS will often let you know within a few hours.

What if my taxes were accepted but never received? ›

You can check on the status of your refund at the IRS's Where's My Refund? page. Reasons why you haven't received your refund can range from simple math errors on your return to identity theft and tax fraud. Or it might simply mean an unusually high processing volume at the IRS.

A federal return that's been 'accepted' means it has passed an initial screening, which includes some basic checks. Once it has entered this phase, its status will remain the same until it has been “Approved.” This would mean it has been processed and that the IRS has approved the release of your refund.

Approval of the refund

They'll check your income reports, verify the deductions and credits you've claimed, and ensure everything aligns with the tax laws.

If you file a complete and accurate paper tax return, your refund should be issued in about six to eight weeks from the date IRS receives your return. If you file your return electronically, your refund should be issued in less than three weeks, even faster when you choose direct deposit.

To change your return after the IRS has already accepted it, you'll need to do an amended return, Form 1040-X. Sign in to your account and click the Amend Tax Return link from the Account menu in the top right. We'll help you to prepare your Form 1040-X amended tax return.

Remember, acceptance by the IRS doesn't mean approval of the refund yet—it just means you have made it to the starting line of the refund process. Keep an eye on the prize: most refunds, especially if you're using direct deposit, arrive within a 21-day window after acceptance.

Once you know that your return has been accepted, it's just a matter of waiting. According to the IRS, it takes 21 days or less for the agency to process most tax returns. However, there are instances in which the agency may require more time to deal with an individual return.

Any taxpayer who received a rejected e-filed tax return has a rejection grace period of 5 calendar days after the official filing deadline (usually April 15) to retransmit the return or extension.