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The information in this article is up to date for tax year 2023 (returns filed in 2024).
You’ve done your taxes and now you can relax while you wait for your refund. Usually after 24 hours, you can start tracking your money using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on IRS.gov. You’ll need your social security number or ITIN, filing status and exact refund amount to check your status. Once you provide the required information, you’ll most likely get a message saying, “Your return is being processed”. You may even see the same exact message for days, weeks or months. But what does it mean?
The tracker goes through 3 stages
The “Where’s My Refund?” tool allows you to follow your return from the moment it’s received until your refund is issued. The tracker goes through 3 stages: Return Received, Refund Approved or Refund Sent. Here’s what each one means:
- Return Received – The IRS has received your return and it’s being processed.
- Refund Approved – They’ve processed your return and your refund has been approved. It will also provide an actual refund date.
- Refund Sent – Your refund has been sent to your bank for direct deposit or a paper check has been mailed.
The tool is updated daily, usually overnight. So, there’s no need to check multiple times a day.
When to expect your refund
Even though the IRS expects to issue most refunds within 21 days, some returns take longer to process than others. Your refund may be delayed if:
- Your return has mistakes or is incomplete
- The IRS suspects identity theft or fraud
- Your return needs further review
- You claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit
- You filed Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation (can take 14 weeks to be processed)
Your return will also take longer to be processed if you file by paper. To speed things up, the IRS strongly recommends e-filing your return and having your refund direct deposited into your bank account. Still need to file? ezTaxReturn is the fastest and ez-iest way to do your taxes.
Should you call the IRS?
It’s hard to be patient, especially when you’re counting on your refund for something important. But you should only call the IRS if it’s been more than 21 days since you e-filed or the “Where’s My Refund?” tool tells you to contact them.
File your taxes fast and ez with 100% accuracy.
The articles and content published on this blog are provided for informational purposes only. The information presented is not intended to be, and should not be taken as, legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers are advised to seek appropriate professional guidance and conduct their own due diligence before making any decisions based on the information provided.
FAQs
That is default answer after the IRS receives a tax return. It means your return is being processed. and you have nothing to worry about for now. If you have been waiting for longer than 21 days after your return has been accepted then you can contact the IRS to check the status of your return.
What does it mean when it says your return is being processed? ›
After: We have received your tax return and it is being processed. If the tracker status on the WMR tool changes from the PATH refund status to the processing message, this is a sign that your tax return is on track to be approved for a refund and no discrepancies in your filed information have been detected.
Does processing mean accepted? ›
It does not. It only means they have received your return and it's in process. It is not approved until you see a refund date.
What does it mean when your refund is processed successfully? ›
What does refund processed mean? Refund processed means merchant has completed the process and the amount has been transferred to your payment source.
What is the difference between IRS return accepted and processed? ›
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.
Should I be worried if my refund is still being processed? ›
That is default answer after the IRS receives a tax return. It means your return is being processed. and you have nothing to worry about for now. If you have been waiting for longer than 21 days after your return has been accepted then you can contact the IRS to check the status of your return.
How long will it say my refund is being processed? ›
(updated December 22, 2023) We issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. However, if you mailed your return and expect a refund, it could take four weeks or more to process your return.
Is being processed a good thing in the IRS? ›
It means your return is being processed. and you have nothing to worry about for now. If you have been waiting for longer than 21 days after your return has been accepted then you can contact the IRS to check the status of your return.
Does "processed" mean "completed"? ›
That has completed a required process. The processed data can now be used to generate statistics. The bank returned her processed application by mail. Wiktionary. Modified through manufacture such as refinement or food processing.
How do I know if my tax return was approved? ›
Use the IRS Where's My Refund tool or the IRS2Go mobile app to check your refund online. This is the fastest and easiest way to track your refund. The systems are updated once every 24 hours. You can contact the IRS to check on the status of your refund.
Food processing can mean taking produce from a field, washing it, bagging it, and sending it out to stores. Food processing can be minimal whereas processed food tends to have a more involved undertaking and eliminates nutritional value from the product.
Can a tax return be accepted but not processed? ›
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.
How long does it take the IRS to approve an accepted return? ›
Even though the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, it's possible your tax return may require additional review that may take longer to process.
What does it mean when the IRS says your refund is being reviewed? ›
Why is my return being reviewed? We select some returns to examine so we can determine whether income, expenses, and credits are reported correctly. This doesn't mean you made an error or were dishonest.
What does processing date mean on an IRS transcript? ›
The transcript also provides a processing date, estimating when your refund will be issued, often within 21 days of the cycle code date.
Why hasn't my refund been approved yet? ›
An incomplete return, an inaccurate return, an amended return, tax fraud, claiming tax credits, owing certain debts for which the government can take part or all of your refund, and sending your refund to the wrong bank due to an incorrect routing number are all reasons that a tax refund can be delayed.
