What does it mean when IRS says your refund is being processed?

Asked by: Kylee Lemke  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.2/5 (43 votes)

This means the IRS has your tax return and is processing it. Your personalized refund date will be available as soon as the IRS finishes processing your return and confirms that your refund has been approved.

How long does it take when IRS says your refund is being processed?

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.

Why is my refund still showing being processed?

As the return is processed, whether it was filed electronically or on paper, it may be delayed because it has a mistake including errors concerning the Recovery Rebate Credit, missing information, or suspected identity theft or fraud. If we can fix it without contacting you, we will.

Does being processed mean approved?

Refund has been processed means that they have approved and are ready to send you your refund. Your return being processed mean that your tax return is being processed. Your status should change from being processed to accepted and then a date given for your refund.

What does being processed mean?

Depending on how you file your return will affect the amount of time the IRS will need to process your return. ... When you check the site you may see a message that reads "Being processed", which means the IRS must first process your return and then approve your refund.

What does it mean when IRS says your refund is being processed 2020?

17 related questions found

Is the IRS currently processing amended returns?

Status of Processing Form 1040-X, Amended Individual Tax Return: As of January 8, 2022, we had 2.3 million unprocessed Forms 1040-X. We are processing these returns in the order received and working hard to get through the inventory. The current timeframe can be more than 20 weeks instead of up to 16.

Why has my refund been accepted but not approved?

Accepted means your tax return is now in the government's hands and has passed the initial inspection (your verification info is correct, dependents haven't already been claimed by someone else, etc.).

How long does it take to get your tax refund direct deposit 2021?

Most refunds will be issued in less than 21 days. You can start checking the status of your refund within 24 hours after you have e-filed your return. Remember, the fastest way to get your refund is to e-file and choose direct deposit.

What time of day does the IRS send direct deposits?

Normally they sent to your bank between 12am and 1am. That does not mean it will go directly into your bank account. You bank can take up to 5 days to deposit it but normally it only takes a few hours.

How long to get tax refund direct deposit?

Most taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit will get their refund within 21 days, assuming there are no problems with the return, according to the IRS.

What time on Wednesday does the IRS update?

Tuesday: 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday: 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday: 3:30 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Friday: 3:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.

How do I know if my taxes were approved?

To check the status of your federal tax return go to Where's My Refund? at IRS.gov. It will say 'approved' if it is approved. Or go to our e-file status lookup tool to get your current status (pending, accepted, or rejected).

How will I know if my tax return is rejected?

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. ... When an e-filed return gets rejected, the IRS will often let you know within a few hours. It also sends a rejection code and explanation of why the e-filed return was rejected.

Why is it taking so long for my taxes to be approved?

What's Taking So Long? If you don't receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. The IRS may send you instructions through the mail if it needs additional information in order to process your return.

Has the IRS started processing returns?

The start of this year's tax season – which takes place earlier than last year's February 12 opening – signals the IRS is now accepting and processing 2021 tax returns. More than 160 million individual tax returns for the 2021 tax year are expected to be filed, with most before the April 18 tax deadline.

Why is the IRS so far behind on refunds?

Although the backlog is not too different from last season's, it is a far higher number than the unprocessed returns the I.R.S. ... One big reason for the pileup, according to the report, is that the federal government charged the I.R.S. with administering various stimulus payments and other programs during the pandemic.

How do I know if my amended tax return was accepted?

How can I check the status of my amended return? You can check the status of your Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return using the Where's My Amended Return? online tool or by calling the toll-free telephone number 866-464-2050 three weeks after you file your amended return.

Can the IRS reject a return after it has been accepted?

No. Once your return shows "accepted" the status can not change to "rejected". Please use the below information to check your refund status: How do I check my e-file status?

What's the difference between accepted and approved IRS?

Think of the e-filing/refund process like applying for a job: although the employer (government tax agency) has received (accepted) your job application, they still have to review (approve) your application before they grant you an interview (refund). Related Information: My return is accepted but still not approved.

How often does the IRS update where's my refund?

Where's My Refund? is updated no more than once every 24 hours, usually overnight. Checking your refund's progress once a day should be sufficient.

Why is my refund still being processed after 21 days?

The IRS will issue most refunds in less than 21 calendar days. This could mean that all of the necessary forms were not sent to the IRS for processing. ... Your return has been flagged for identity theft or fraud.

How does the IRS process tax returns?

Overall, the IRS anticipates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically if they choose direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically.

Does IRS process on weekends?

Does the IRS process and approve refunds 24/7, including weekends, for the 2016 tax year? Yes, the IRS states that they issue most refunds within 21 days, so that does include the weekends.

Does still being processed mean audit?

If my refund on the IRS website says still processing does it mean I will be audited? There's absolutely no reason to necessarily think that you're under review or that an audit is pending, so please don't worry. The "processing" message you see is perfectly normal. In fact, the messages and bars on the IRS.