What are the stages of tax return process?

Asked by: Declan Wiza  |  Last update: February 19, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (36 votes)

The stages of an IRS refund are: (1) Return Received, where the IRS acknowledges receipt of your return; (2) Return Reviewed, where the return is checked for accuracy; and (3) Refund Approved/Sent, where the refund amount is finalized and issued.

What are the stages of refund status?

Where's My Refund? has a new look this year. The tool includes a tracker that displays progress through 3 stages: (1) Return Received, (2) Refund Approved and (3) Refund Sent.

What are the 5 tax filing statuses?

The five filing statuses are:
  • Single.
  • Married/Registered Domestic Partnership (RDP) filing jointly.
  • Married/RDP filing separately.
  • Head of household (with qualifying person)
  • Qualifying surviving spouse/RDP with child.

In what order are tax returns processed?

We generally process paper returns where a refund is expected before all other returns.

What are the 3 steps for IRS refund?

Taxpayers can check "Where's My Refund?" within 24 hours after the IRS has received their e-filed return or four weeks after receipt of a mailed paper return. "Where's My Refund?" has a tracker that displays progress through three stages: (1) Return Received, (2) Refund Approved, and (3) Refund Sent.

Understanding How Tax Returns Work in 9 Minutes

25 related questions found

How long after a refund is approved is it sent?

If you e-filed your return and chose direct deposit to receive your refund, you'll usually receive your refund in 8-15 days. However, you should allow an extra 1-5 business days for your bank to process the funds. If you chose the Refund Transfer option, the refund will come from the Axos Bank®, not the IRS.

How long does the preparing refund stage take?

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 I know if my tax return is being processed?

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.

What process does a tax return go through?

After the scan, your return is transmitted from H&R Block servers to IRS servers. The IRS will check the data in the return for mathematical errors. It will verify filing statuses, exemptions and deductions and ensure you are legally entitled to any credits claimed on the return.

How long can the IRS hold your refund for review?

See our Held or Stopped Refund page or our video for more information. If the IRS is reviewing your return, the review process could take anywhere from 45 to 180 days, depending on the number and types of issues the IRS is reviewing. Follow these steps if you know you made a mistake, before the IRS contacts you.

Which filing status gives the biggest refund?

Married filing jointly is the most common filing status for married couples. This status has the highest standard deduction and some of the most beneficial tax rate brackets. You file together and report combined income, along with your combined deductions and qualifying credits on the same return.

At what age does a taxpayer no longer have to file a return?

At What Age Can You Stop Filing Taxes? Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. People who are 65 or older at the end of 2024 have to file a return for tax year 2024 (which is due in 2025) if their gross income is $16,550 or higher.

What are the different status on tax returns?

The five main filing statuses are single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, and surviving spouse. Selecting the correct filing status is crucial as it affects the taxpayer's income bracket, deductions, and, ultimately, tax liability.

Which refund usually comes first?

The IRS and your state operate independently of each other and therefore, the time frame in which each return is accepted and processed can vary. It is not unusual that you received your state return before your federal. The IRS generally releases most refunds within 21 calendar days after the e-file has been accepted.

What is the status of refund under processing?

Refund processing by the tax department starts only after the return is e-verified by the taxpayer. Usually, it takes 4-5 weeks for the refund to be credited to the account of the taxpayer.

What is the order level refund?

If there are multiple items, and you enter a partial "order level" refund, eBay will split it up to a partial refund on each item, adding up to the "order level" refund.

What are the stages of an IRS refund?

The tracker displays progress through three stages: Return Received. Refund Approved. Refund Sent.

What happens after a refund is approved?

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.

How do I know if my return is 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.

What's the difference between being processed and still processing?

If their refund status changes from “being processed” status to “still being processed” status, the issue detected in the tax forms was likely resolved and the refund may be released when it is approved for a future cycle date.

How many days after IRS says refund is being processed?

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.

What are the steps for tax refund?

What are the stages of an IRS refund? The stages of an IRS refund are: (1) Return Received, where the IRS acknowledges receipt of your return; (2) Return Reviewed, where the return is checked for accuracy; and (3) Refund Approved/Sent, where the refund amount is finalized and issued.

What does currently preparing your refund mean?

This means the IRS has processed your return and has approved your refund. The IRS is now preparing to send your refund to your bank or directly to you in the mail if you requested a paper check.

What are the processing times for refunds?

To process your refund, it usually takes: Up to 21 days for an e-filed return. 4 weeks or more for amended returns and returns sent by mail. Longer if your return needs corrections or extra review.