How long does a refund stay pending?

Asked by: Mr. Frank Lemke DDS  |  Last update: October 19, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (14 votes)

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 working days for a refund to complete.

How long will my federal refund be pending?

The IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days for taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit. However, some returns have errors or need more review and may take longer to process.

How long does a pending payment take to refund?

Pending transactions are payments that would normally go into or out of your account within 7 days.

Why has my refund been pending for so long?

If you have just requested a refund, it may take up to 72 hours for them to inform you whether it has been approved or rejected. If the refund has already been approved, it may take between 3 to 5 business days to reflect in your payment method. This is why it shows as pending for either of these reasons.

Is it normal for a pending refund to disappear?

Sometimes the pending transaction may disappear from your transaction history and the amount returned to your available balance. This means the transaction has expired or cancelled and wasn't processed by the merchant.

How long does your tax refund stay pending?

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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).

Can I spend money that is pending?

A pending transaction can place a hold on your account balance and count toward your credit limit until it is processed. That doesn't necessarily mean you can't use your credit card or bank account. But it can affect your available balance—or the funds you're able to access.

How long does a pending refund usually take?

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 long are IRS payments 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 can the IRS hold your refund for processing?

If the IRS is reviewing your return, it may have questions about your wages and withholding, or credits or expenses shown on your tax return. The review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing.

How do I get my pending money back?

Ask the merchant or retailer to reverse the charge, cancel the sale or release the hold for the confirmed amount. The sooner you contact the merchant, the more likely the pending transaction can be canceled. If you suspect fraud, skip the merchant and call your bank or card issuer first.

How long can a payment stay pending?

A pending transaction is a recent authorised card transaction that is waiting to be processed by the merchant and can take up to 28 days but normally takes 2/3 days to clear onto your balance. Once a pending transaction has cleared, it will appear below in your list of cleared transactions.

How long do pending funds take to clear?

How long will a transaction remain in pending? Generally it takes about 3 to 5 business days to process a transaction, although it can take up to 10 business days or longer.

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 does a pending tax refund take in bank account?

The majority of taxpayers who choose this option will receive their refunds within 21 days. That means your bank will have your refund within three weeks from the day the IRS accepts your tax return. Then it may take up to a few additional days for your bank to make the funds available to you.

Why is my pending payment taking so long?

Key takeaways. Pending charges on credit cards are temporary holds to ensure payment for potential damages or incidental expenses. Pending charges typically take up to three days to clear with the merchant, but can take longer. Issues with pending charges should be resolved with the merchant, not the card issuer.

How long does processed pending payment 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.

How many days pending payment?

Generally, most pending payments are processed within 1–5 business days. Here's a breakdown by payment method: 1. Credit Cards: Most credit card transactions post within 3 business days, though some may take up to 5 business days.

Why is my refund stuck on pending?

by TurboTax• 762• Updated 5 days ago. Pending means that your e-filed return is on its way and that the government hasn't accepted or rejected it yet. If you e-filed your return before the IRS starts processing returns this year, it'll stay in pending status until then.

How long will my tax returns be pending?

Individual returns

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

How long does it take for pending money to go through?

Generally, pending transactions clear within one to five business days, but the exact timing depends on the type of transaction, the payment network, and the bank or credit card issuer.

Does pending mean you have the money?

When a payment is marked as “pending” it means that the payment process still needs to be completed. In most cases, this simply means that you need to wait for this to happen.

How do I get rid of pending money?

Canceling a pending transaction usually requires contacting the merchant who made the charge. Once a pending transaction has posted, contact your bank or card issuer to dispute it.

How long does a deposit stay pending?

A transaction typically stays pending for one to three business days. During this time, your bank or financial institution processes the request and transfers money from one account to another according to your purchase or deposit amount. After these steps occur, the transaction is no longer pending.