How do I know if my refund is pending?

Asked by: Kristina VonRueden II  |  Last update: April 22, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (16 votes)

Taxpayers can check the status of their refund easily and conveniently with the IRS Where's My Refund tool at IRS.gov/refunds. Refund status is available within 24 hours after the taxpayer e-filed their current year return.

How long does it take for a refund to be pending?

When your refund shows as "pending" it means the seller has issued the refund, but the money hasn't cleared their bank. It usually takes up to 5 business days for a refund to complete. If your refund is still pending after 5 business days, contact the seller for details.

How do I know if my refund is processing?

tool on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of the taxpayer's e-filed return. The tool also provides a personalized refund date after the return is processed and a refund is approved.

How do I know if my tax return has been flagged?

If the IRS decides that your return merits a second glance, you'll be issued a CP05 Notice. This notice lets you know that your return is being reviewed to verify any or all of the following: Your income. Your tax withholding.

How long will my IRS deposit be pending?

Electronically filed Form 1040 returns are generally processed within 21 days. We're currently processing paper returns received during the months below.

Refund Status: Your Tax Return is Still Being Processed| What to do if it's more than 21 days?

32 related questions found

How long does a direct deposit say pending?

When your direct deposit 1 is pending, it could be due to several reasons such as: Processing times: Banks often have processing times for direct deposits, 1 and the money may not be available to you until the bank has completed its processing. This can vary from bank to bank but typically takes 1-2 business days.

How long does it take IRS to release funds?

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.

How do you know if the IRS doesn't approve your refund?

The IRS won't email, text you, or contact you via social media. 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.

What raises red flags for the IRS?

Another easily avoidable audit red flag is rounding or estimating dollar amounts on your tax return. Say, for instance, you round $403 of tip income to $400, $847 of student loan interest to $850, and $97 of medical expenses to $100. The IRS is going to see all those nice round numbers and think you're making them up.

How do I know if my refund is being taken?

BFS will send you a notice if an offset occurs. The notice will reflect the original refund amount, your offset amount, the agency receiving the payment, and the address and telephone number of the agency.

How do I know if my return is being processed?

Step 1: Go to the e-Filing portal homepage. Step 2: Click Income Tax Return (ITR) Status. Step 3: On the Income Tax Return (ITR) Status page, enter your acknowledgement number and a valid mobile number and click Continue. Step 4: Enter the 6-digit OTP received on your mobile number entered in Step 3 and click Submit.

What is the child tax credit for 2024 IRS?

If you have a child, you may be eligible for the Child Tax Credit. For 2024, the credit is up to $2,000 per qualifying child.

How do I check my refund processing?

Step 1: Go to the e-Filing portal homepage.
  1. Step 2: Enter the user ID and password.
  2. Step 3: Go to e-File tab > Income Tax Returns > View Filed Returns.
  3. Step 4: Now you can check the refund status for the desired Assessment year.
  4. Status 1: When refund is issued:
  5. Status 2: When refund is partially adjusted:

How can I speed up my pending refund?

Request an expedited refund by calling the IRS at 800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD 800-829-4059).

Why does my IRS payment still say pending?

Your online tax account will indicate whether a payment attempt was rejected. If the payment is still listed as "Pending," check back after three more business days to see if the payment was returned or reversed. If it was, you can try submitting it again to avoid interest and penalties.

How long does pending processing take?

Pending transactions are charges that have been initiated but not yet fully processed or settled. They can take anywhere from a few hours to five business days to clear, depending on the charge. Restaurants, hotels, and car rental companies often initially list charges as pending until the payment is fully processed.

What looks suspicious to the IRS?

Unreimbursed Employee Expenses

Unreimbursed employee expenses are perceived to be one of the most common IRS red flags. The IRS frequently reviews unreimbursed employee expenses in audits, as they are widely considered a high abuse category for W2 employees.

What income is most likely to get audited?

High income

As you'd expect, the higher your income, the more likely you will get attention from the IRS as the IRS typically targets people making $500,000 or more at higher-than-average rates.

Is TurboTax accurate on refunds?

TURBOTAX ONLINE GUARANTEES. 100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee: If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest.

How do you know if your refund amount is approved?

Tracking the status of a tax refund is easy with the Where's My Refund? tool. It's available anytime on IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go App. Taxpayers can start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received.

How to expedite a tax refund?

If you're facing serious financial difficulties and need your refund immediately contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778. We may be able to expedite your refund.

Why would you get denied for a refund advance?

You need better credit.

For your tax refund advance to cover the loan, it must be substantial enough after factoring in interest rates, fees, and tax preparation expenses.

Why has my refund been accepted but not approved?

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. Therefore, the taxpayer must wait to see if more action is required.

What disqualifies you from earned income credit?

You can't claim the EIC unless your investment income is $11,600 or less. If your investment income is more than $11,600, you can't claim the credit. Use Worksheet 1 in this chapter to figure your investment income.

What days of the week does IRS release funds?

The IRS typically processes tax refunds and executes direct deposit transactions within 21 days after accepting your tax return. It's common for the IRS to issue them on business days, from Monday through Friday.