After a tax return is "Accepted" by the IRS, the next stage is Processing, followed by Approval. This means the return passed initial screening for errors and is in the queue for a full review. Most taxpayers can expect approval within 21 days, after which a "Refund Sent" status appears.
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.
The IRS states that 9 out of 10 refunds are processed within 21 days from the date the return is accepted.
They may see this status at two stages of processing:
Accepted means your tax return has passed a verification that reviews your basic information. This typically involves social security information for the taxpayer and dependents and more. It does not mean your return is approved. Continue to watch the status of your return for additional information.
The return was already accepted – The IRS will reject your return if they previously accepted a return with your Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN). If this happens, it could be a sign of fraud or tax identity theft.
Return Received: This is the same as the “Accepted” status. Your tax return is in the system, and the IRS is processing it. Refund Approved: This is the big one! It means the IRS has finished its review, and your refund is on its way.
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.
The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.
Essentially, 'balancing account' is a processing status used by the ATO once your tax return is lodged and in their hands, before the results, so to speak, are returned to you.
The IRS only updates your refund status information once per week on Wednesdays. If you e-file your tax return, wait at least 72 hours from the date the IRS confirms receipt of your return before checking your refund status, and at least three weeks if you mail the return instead.
The IRS $600 rule refers to a change in reporting requirements for third-party payment apps (like Venmo, PayPal) for taxable income from goods and services, where platforms must send a Form 1099-K if you receive over $600 in a year, intended to capture gig economy/side hustle income, though delays and phased implementation have adjusted the timeline, with current rules for 2024 using a higher threshold ($5,000) before fully phasing to $600 for future years, but remember all taxable income, regardless of form, must always be reported.
Refund delivery
Most refunds are issued in less than 21 calendar days. The fastest way to get a refund is by filing electronically and choosing direct deposit as the delivery method. Taxpayers who do this typically get their refund in less than 21 days.
Fast tax refund services allow taxpayers to access their refunds sooner than standard IRS processing times. By choosing the up to 5 days early refund delivery offered by TurboTax, you can receive your federal refund up to 5 days before the IRS would have delivered it.
A “return being processed” status means the IRS has your tax return, and your paper check, direct deposit or e-return is hopefully on the way. Your personalized refund date will be available as soon as the IRS finishes processing your return and confirms its approval.
This is money that could be used in better ways, such as paying off debt, putting money into emergency savings, or putting that money into a 401k, a Roth IRA or an HSA. Why is my tax return so big? In most cases, a big refund indicates you aren't taking all of the withholdings and tax deductions you're eligible for.
When the status changes to approved, this means the IRS is preparing to send the refund as a direct deposit to the taxpayer's bank account or directly to the taxpayer in the mail, by check, to the address used on their tax return.
Return Received – We received your return and are processing it. 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.
Acceptance simply confirms that the return passed the IRS's initial checks, but it does not mean the return has been fully reviewed or that a refund has been approved. Understanding how the IRS moves from acceptance to approval can make the waiting period feel a bit clearer and more predictable.
Here's what you can expect in terms of timing. IRS approval: The IRS works to review and approve refunds quickly and efficiently. In fact, historically, more than 9 out of 10 refunds are processed and approved within 21 days of e-file acceptance.